December, 2005

the world often accuses christians of not being 'tolerant' like jesus was - yet what they really mean is 'loving'. could there be a worse accusation against christians?

Spoken on a nationally televised christian program, December 31st, 1989-

"The Lord also tells me to tell you in the mid 90's, about '94-'95, no later than that, God will destroy the homosexual community of America. [audience applauds] But He will not destroy it - with what many minds have thought Him to be, He will destroy it with fire. And many will turn and be saved, and many will rebel and be destroyed. [more applause] " [source]

Apart from the fact that this was obviously a false prophecy, what is really disturbing is the hate for others expressed by those Christians present. Why would any Christian rejoice that any segment of our society could be "destroyed"? What is also disturbing is that this is unfortunately not an isolated incident. A similar response is expressed by some Christians whenever a natural disaster strikes some part of the "non-christian" world. Indifference to the sufferings of others may not be admitted as "hate" but we have to question whether the same indifference classifies as the type of "love" that Christ taught, sorry- I should have said: commanded, us to have for others- especially those who are different to us! Why would any Christian rejoice that another human being has suffered?

Tony Campolo, in his book Speaking My Mind, refers to a conversation he had with a Professor of Sociology. The Professor asked him what impression a meeting of a feminist, a radical muslim, a liberal academic and a Gay and Lesbian activist would have if they were asked for their opinion on "evangelicals". Tony Campolo said they would probably say "biggotted", "arrogant", "narrow-minded", and "hostile". The Professor then asked him what the same group would say about "Jesus". Tony Campolo said, "kind", "loving", "compassionate" and "understanding". The Professor then asked him whether he was troubled about the stark contrast between the feeling generated by the followers of Christ and Jesus Himself. "Yes" was Tony's reply. And "yes" should be our reply as well!

Even 2,000 years after Christ walked the earth, He still commands awesome respect. People have devoted their lives to study Him, His teaching and His impact- and not even come close to beginning to grasp Him or His life.
He was not a politician, but has changed the way nations are governed.
He was not a philosopher, but has inspired great thoughts.
He was not an academic, but He is the cause for the establishment of all the world's major universities.
He was not a scientist, but His pronouncements have baffled the greatest minds of humanity.
He was not an artist, but his life and teaching has filled galleries.
He was not a musician, but symphonies have played His music and singers sung His songs.

But look at how Christians are portrayed in movies, on TV, in magazines, newspapers and books. They are often mocked for their (genuinely) silly ideas, scorned for their narrow-mindedness, and despised for their judgmentalism.
I wince everytime I hear a Christian phone a talk-back radio program and declare God's wrath as having been, or about to be, poured out. I'm not suggesting that God can't, or doesn't, intervene in our world- but I do think that perhaps some Christians are all too quick to see God as wrathful so that they can simply justify their own selective type of "loving" (hostility, actually) instead.

As Christians do we see a fellow human being when we see an African AIDS victim, or a displaced Arab, or a philandering President, or a single mother, or a homosexual? When the 6 o'clock TV News reports that 25,000 Pakistanis were killed in the recent earthquake there, do we smugly think that they probably deserved it? I hope not. I wish Media Outlets would help out a bit by dropping unnecessary adjectives which highlight the differences between the peoples of the world either on racial, religious, or national distinctives. Listen closely to the next report about a disaster somewhere in the world and note how they often throw in the line- "no Australians were killed/missing/hurt in this tragedy". I wonder whether we sigh a national sigh of relief because of this or actually realise that whether there were any Australians who suffered in the tragedy or not is not the point?

.

Christians are often accused of being "intolerant". This is of course a silly and illogical claim. Everyone is intolerant of something- even if it is only of intolerance itself! But what I think people actually mean is that Christians don't always act in a loving way. How different things would be if we really knew how to love. But for some it's just easier to hate (even if it is just the refusal to positively love) people who "sin" or disagree them.
I was debating a fellow Christian recently about a doctrine he held which I consider to be dangerous. Rather than openly discuss the matter with me (loving relationships are characterised by dialogue leading to mutual understanding) he called me demeaning names and then accused me of not being truly saved! It made me wonder how he might debate a non-christian! Is it any wonder then that non-Christians form their opinions of Christians based on this pathetic level of engagement? Christian love is forebearing (refuses to take offence or seek retaliation). Christian love dialogues through differences rather than retreating to our differences and attacking the different. Christian love shows concern for those who sin, those who reject us, and those who oppose us.

Earlier this year I heard Tommy Barnett from Phoenix, Arizona, describe how the Gay community of his city had declared him and his church as enemy number one because of his strong reinforcement of what the Bible says about sexual purity.
But one day he received a phone call from the leader of that community who rang to thank Ps Tommy for all the work his church had done in providing respite and hospice care for the AIDS victims of their city. He then asked Tommy if he could organise a bus to collect 70 people from the Gay and Lesbian community to attend his church the following Sunday because he knew that Tommy and his church truly cared for them!

About this time last year I wrote why the Indian Ocean Tsunami was not the wrath of God. Too few Christians understand the geological necessity for oceanic earthquakes (resulting in tsunamis). There are a growing number of informed Christians who are experts in their particular scientific field who are often drowned out by other Christian proclaimers of divine wrath who are trying to point this out. Thus, the overall impression that Christians are better at hating is perpetuated by this type of wrath-ready teaching.

It's my hope that while we take a stand against wickedness in society we can do so in a genuinely loving way that avoids being blinded by intolerance for sin to the extent that we can't see another human being and their suffering or situation.

Merry Christmas, and thankyou for your supprt throughout the year.

Andrew Corbett, December 2005

© 2005, Finding Truth Matters

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