Who Were the “Religious Protesters?”
On Valentine’s Day a group of Christians from out of town held a demonstration on the university campus. It’s reported by the UNR’s newspaper and others who were there that they were generally yelling out condemnation. A lot of people heard them that day; I don’t know how many actually listened.
I know what many of Christians (I mean, the ones who actually live here in town) are thinking. These “evangelists” have undone a lot of what we’ve accomplished on the campus in terms of connecting with those who don’t follow Jesus. We’re going to have to explain that’s not what trusting and following Jesus is all about. And in the explaining we may end up disowning the religious protesters/preachers, but the truth is, they are us.
Are they believers in Jesus Christ? Do they profess Jesus’ deity? Would we break bread with them? If the answer is yes, then they are a part of the Body of Christ. They are as much a part of our family as those who participated in things like the Crusades. It’s no use saying real Christians wouldn’t do or say such-and-such. We all know sincere followers of Christ who have done or continue to do horrible and decidely un-Christ-like things. God knows of the potential of wickedness in my heart.
Eric says:
February 28th, 2006 at 11:11 pm
You’re exactly right Jos’. They *are* us.
Yet God chooses to use us still to further the church, even in the midst of our wickedness. Even when our “piety” is self-motivated and incomplete. Even when we’re way off-base. It’s a mystery to me, but it gives me an idea…
I very recently read the beginning of Hosea, and was amazed at the fact that God told Hosea to do something (marry Gomer), knowing full-well that it would fail God’s original intention, (Gomer would commit adultery, prostitution, and run off), and God even *tells* Hosea this beforehand. Yet God tells him to marry her anyway, because it will be a demonstration of what Israel was doing to the Lord.
My aim is not to be preposterous, but would it be inane to consider the possibility that those “evangelists” did exactly what they did so as to serve as an example to the rest of us of what *not* to do? Just speculating here, mapping Hosea to 2006.
smlwoman says:
March 1st, 2006 at 8:49 pm
In the bookcrossing group, I have been working my way to showing a Christian life without legalism. Just living my life. They know I am without a doubt a strong Christian. At least at the moment. But they have often made comments like, you have a sense of humor, or you don’t seem to be a hypocrite, or preachy, etc. Just little remarks here and there as we play games or what not. They are still trying to figure me out. And one of them is even going to try a left behind book on tape. A big deal in this group as it was the book they all wanted to have burned when I first went to the meeting. They have made comments of “christians” doing things that have been very hurtful, or just made them push Christians even farther away from them. And yet God keeps putting Christians in their way. Maybe this one will break through some barriers with the help and guidence of the Spirit.:roll:
jack says:
March 2nd, 2006 at 7:40 am
Eric, I don’t know if God specifically led them to “preach the good news” that way as a negative example to us. But I do know that God has used it to teach many people.
smlwoman, what do you say to them when they bring up Christians that have been hurtful? That’s kinda my point in this post. Do you disown those “hurtful Christians?”