August 16th, 2010 
Dana Fisher Last week a local newspaper headline began with the words “Bible Thumping Pastor…” A friend posted a status saying to call them and complain over the attack on Christians. Curious, I did a little searching and was able to find the article online and read it. After reading it, it didn’t seem so bad so I asked what was bad and if he had read it. His response: He hadn’t even read the article.
Proverbs 21:23 says “He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.” I have always read that and thought, “don’t call people jerks” or “don’t swear”, but this situation made me realize it also includes speaking inaccurately, and swaying peoples opinions on things I don’t know or fully understand. The comment itself wasn’t bad but swaying someone into believing a lie is, and brings that person to a point of hatred towards another that was unjust.
We don’t need to just watch what we say that is negative but also what we say without factual information. No wonder so many are quick to throw off Christianity as a religion hell bent on attacking anyone who doesn’t share their viewpoints. My goal is to show you what I have is real and true, but not by ramming it down your throat and spouting off that all you believe in is wrong. And yet that is how I operated my Christianity for most of my life, and perhaps that is how you have done it, or maybe how you have witnessed Christianity. I’m hear telling you thats not how it’s suppose to be.
My friend often wears a shirt that reads “Love is the Movement”. It’s from a song played by Switchfoot, a mainstream, yet Christian band. It strikes me that love is the way to share Christianity and yet it is the hardest thing to do. Jesus never crammed it down anyones throat, He offered it, as a gift. Today we talk to people like it’s government mandated healthcare and if they don’t take it we’re going to penalize them for it. But if that same person were offered free medicine and a doctor when they were sick, wouldn’t they take it? The words aren’t any different, it’s the approach that needs to change.
I noticed an interesting corollary today when reading. I was reading James 5 and then 1 Peter. James 5:20 says “Remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the way of error will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.” Later in 1 Peter 4:8 Peter writes: “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins.” It was sort of shocking to me, i had never read them back to back. The verse in James begs the question, How? And Peter gives us the answer, love. Love turns the sinner. Love sets them free. Love breaks bonds thought to be unbreakable. The love of Jesus is so deep and so wide, it immerses us, covers us, drowns out ourselves and leaves only Him to be seen. Doesn’t that sound more appealing?
“I am no better. Show grace, compassion and mercy”. It sits in the margin of my Bible jotted down in blue ink next to the following passage:
Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister
or judges them speaks against the law and
judges it. When you judge the law, you are
not keeping it, but sitting in judgement on
it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the
one who is able to save and destroy. But you -
who are you to judge your neighbor? – James 5:11-12
I judge before I know the full story, take action before hearing the facts. I make assumptions based on passed experiences and rush to judgement on those who don’t share my views. I’m not being like Jesus, I’m being human. I’m not showing love, but a disdain for humanity, and the seething hate that boils to the surface isn’t going to save any sinner from death but only quicken their pace away from Christianity. Love is the movement, and I need to hop on board.
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