Dear Doomsayer,
I'll give you a description to make sure you know that it's you I'm talking to. You had a sign about judgement that you lugged over your shoulder. You had on a t-shirt that had some more judgmental slogans on it. You had a bible in your left hand. You didn't speak to a single person. You wouldn't even make eye contact with anyone. You just stood there in the heat of the day, ignoring everyone.
Now, before I get down to brass tacks here, let me introduce myself. My name is Emily. I'm 40. I'm a Christian. I have a bad temper. I have to ask for forgiveness a LOT. I'm so far from perfect, I can't even see if with a set of binoculars. So, this is a little out of character for me. I can call people out with the best of them. I'm smart, you see. I have a really high IQ and a command of the English language that can flay you to the bone. But, I hold back. Because I like to be nice to people. But, you are screwing up my groove, Doomsayer. So, here we go.
In the title, I called you a "Christian." Please, notice the quotation marks. Those are to let you know that I don't mean it. Sure, you go to church. One that has a cross on the top. And, you sing the songs, and you listen to the message, and most likely, you get told that if you don't bring people over to Christianity, you're gonna have to answer for it. But, you don't want to actually work at it. As I think of it, you don't want to get DIRTY.
You don't want to deal with people who aren't exactly like you. You don't want to be uncomfortable. You don't want to deal with "those people." You know, the ones like Jesus helped. The ones with diseases (lepers then), the ones who sin openly (hello, prostitutes), the ones who commit crimes (thieves). You know, the ones that actually NEED help. You can't stand that thought. So, instead, you put on a sign, you carry a very new-looking bible and you just hang out and judge people from a distance, and think that will work. You really think you are racking up points.
But, I can say, with a decent amount of certainty, that if it comes down to you... refusing to even make eye contact, and obviously having never read half of that book you're toting around... and the elderly man who was walking around handing out bottles of water because it was so hot, and giving them to you with a pat on the shoulder and a "God Bless You," I think I can guess who's getting in first. I can guess who people saw reflecting the compassion of a loving Christ, of a caring Savior, and of a Savior who asked us to "love one another." It wasn't the guy judging. It was the guy sharing love. No one saw Christ in you. They just saw someone else telling them how awful they were. They saw someone spouting hatred. And, I know what I saw. I saw the Devil himself, using someone like you to drive people further and further away from Christianity, because when people think of Christianity, they think of people like you. Full of hate and judgment, but saying you serve a God of love.
Since you haven't read much of that book, I'll leave you with some of it:
Matthew 7:1 Judge not lest ye be judged.
Matthew 8:3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. (please note: he held TOUCHED THE MAN. He didn't stand 50 feet away, with a sign, listening to his iPod and ignoring the man)
Luke 7:36-50 where a woman of sin comes and washes Jesus feet with her tears and he forgives her, with a rebuke for the man who thought he was better than her.
I know you will never read this, but I feel better getting it off my chest. I'll ask God to forgive me of the sin of pride in writing about how smart I am, and for the sin of judgment for judging you for judging others. But, mostly, I'll ask what I always ask. I'll ask him to do his will with me, and to help me be a better Child of God. I'll ask him to help me with my anger, and to help me see those who need me, and thru me Him. I'll also pray for you, Doomsayer. Because that's what my Lord charges me to do. Good Luck.
