Josh Hatcher's Blog
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Why Do They Hate Us: Part III
I haven't posted in awhile, because I've been quite busy!
But I thought I'd better hit up Part Three, so I can move on to other things.
Again, let me reiterate, that as Christians, we're automatic targets for people's scorn. "Religious" people feel threatened by genuine faith, because it wrestles control from their fingers... and skeptics hate us for any reason they can.
Jesus promised us that people would hate us. So let's get used to it.
But... not everyone hates Christians, and our church in particular has seemed to generate some positive feelings in the community, which is a good thing.
A lot of people don't like Christianity, because not only do we not understand them, but they don't understand us.
So often, Christians are prone to our own language, our own subculture, our own music, hairstlyes, clothing, and language.
You doubt it?
Just go to Perkins for lunch one Sunday....
and see how many people like this you see...
and these are all RECENT photos..
but lest you think that just because Open Arms is cool, and hip, don't get so proud to think that anyone out there understands you..
because they don't ....
when we talk about God, we have to strive to use language that they understand...
sometimes, we think that since we've been "saved", we're somehow better than them, or holier than them.. and again, don't think Open Arms doesn't do it, because I've seen it.
Without saying, "THIS IS HOW IT HAPPENED".. lets just all examine ourselves, to be sure that we're like Jesus, and that we meet people at their level.
Remember, we don't exist to keep ourselves sanitized, and pure.. we exist to honor God, and he's asking us to pursue the lost sheep.. to rescue the dying from the fires...
and if you chase after lost sheep, you get muddy, and get sheep crap on you...
and if your pulling people from fires, you smell like smoke.....
I'm not saying we should ignore God's call to holiness.. I'm saying that we shoudl put our theology, and our agendas aside, and just love people, and try to relate...
people don't want a sermon... they want a meal.. they want a jacket, they want a friend.
hope i'm not just rambling today....
But I thought I'd better hit up Part Three, so I can move on to other things.
Again, let me reiterate, that as Christians, we're automatic targets for people's scorn. "Religious" people feel threatened by genuine faith, because it wrestles control from their fingers... and skeptics hate us for any reason they can.
Jesus promised us that people would hate us. So let's get used to it.
But... not everyone hates Christians, and our church in particular has seemed to generate some positive feelings in the community, which is a good thing.
A lot of people don't like Christianity, because not only do we not understand them, but they don't understand us.
So often, Christians are prone to our own language, our own subculture, our own music, hairstlyes, clothing, and language.
You doubt it?
Just go to Perkins for lunch one Sunday....
and see how many people like this you see...
and these are all RECENT photos..
but lest you think that just because Open Arms is cool, and hip, don't get so proud to think that anyone out there understands you..
because they don't ....
when we talk about God, we have to strive to use language that they understand...
sometimes, we think that since we've been "saved", we're somehow better than them, or holier than them.. and again, don't think Open Arms doesn't do it, because I've seen it.
Without saying, "THIS IS HOW IT HAPPENED".. lets just all examine ourselves, to be sure that we're like Jesus, and that we meet people at their level.
Remember, we don't exist to keep ourselves sanitized, and pure.. we exist to honor God, and he's asking us to pursue the lost sheep.. to rescue the dying from the fires...
and if you chase after lost sheep, you get muddy, and get sheep crap on you...
and if your pulling people from fires, you smell like smoke.....
I'm not saying we should ignore God's call to holiness.. I'm saying that we shoudl put our theology, and our agendas aside, and just love people, and try to relate...
people don't want a sermon... they want a meal.. they want a jacket, they want a friend.
hope i'm not just rambling today....
