Have you ever had a bad taste left in your mouth? An experience bad enough that you wanted nothing to do with it ever again? Sadly, many of you that read this will know exactly what I am talking about. I am talking about something that too many people experience today.
When many people hear the word "Christian," they immediately get negative feelings. If you look at the news today, you will know exactly why. Many people have plenty of personal encounters with these so called Christians as well despite what goes on in the news. These Christians that I speak of are no where near what it truly means to be one. These Christians thrive on hate.
If you turn on the news today, you would be appalled at the things that you would find. For example, one group of so called Christians has become famous for protesting the funerals of American soldiers. This particular group is known as the Westboro Baptist Church. Even though these soldiers sacrificed their lives so that we may live free, they slander their names. As the family mourns during the procession, these so called Christians arrive and cheer their death as a godsend.
There are even more examples of this type of behavior in everyday encounters between non-Christians and these people who merely wear the label. Every day more and more people have bad tastes left in their mouths because of their actions. When you act hostile toward people who have not yet found Christ, you affect them much more than you realize.
In 1 John 4:7 it says, "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God." Love is the core of Christianity. Love is the reason that God sent his son to die on the cross for us. Christians who do more than wear the label know this. Love is what drives all Christian's actions whether they are alone or not.
If you've ever had a bad experience with Christianity, from the bottom of my heart I am sorry for everything you have seen on and off the news. If you're reading this and realize you are just wearing the label, please understand how your actions impact people. This world is crazy enough. I think one thing we could use a little more of is love.
