As a Christian, I have always been told to love everyone as Jesus did. That means if they live in sin if they don't go to church on a regular basis, and even if they aren't believers. In today's society, that's about 85-90 percent of people I come in contact with. What if I treated them like a disease because they don't think like I do? I wouldn't have any friends, which would, in turn, make me a miserable person. So I choose to love those friends more, as I believe everyone should. How do I do that? I take the 'p' out of 'preach'.
The most common problem I have heard about today's Christians is that they preach contempt for the non-believers. We talk about a God who is there for His people, yet we turn away from those who truly need Him. We preach hate for those living in sin and how they're going to be condemned to hell for it. Instead, we need to quit preaching hate and reach out a hand to help them through this chaos called life.
Yes, God tells us to preach the gospel, but He never said to preach it with the intention of striking fear into people. So many are turned away from churches because of the fear of not fitting in with everyone else. We need to reach out to those people and let them know that they're not alone in this journey. Standing beside them and being the shoulder to hold on to when the path becomes uneven will speak volumes. Someone being there to encourage and nurture them could be the deciding factor in them becoming a follower of Jesus. It's easy to stand on a street corner with pamphlets about who God is and recite bible verses, but what about sitting with that homeless man you pass every day and praying over him? Those few minutes of prayer and love could be what he's been waiting for just to know that he is still loved and wanted.
Today's world is scary, especially for people who don't know where they're going or what they're doing. God created this world for us to be happy and healthy in, but we can't do that if we preach hate. We need to take the 'p' out of 'preach' and become the hands of God, reaching across oceans, or even a few inches to touch someone's life. Whether that means supporting a child in Africa so they can have food, water, and clothes, or taking meals to the homeless on the streets - do it. Reach out to those in need and be the good in the world. Be the one that shows God's love to everyone, not just the ones that you think deserve it.
