I've not blogged in quite some time, as those of you who 'follow' me well know; I have a significant series of posts beginning next week, but those are not yet ready. I'd resigned myself to simply not posting until that series is started.
And then I arrived at at stop sign behind this car and noticed this bumper sticker. Grateful, for the first time ever, for the line of cars preventing us from turning onto 31, I quickly grabbed my camera and captured this image and this entry began to form in my brain. After a series of unkind thoughts and words.
In case it doesn't come through as clear as it does on my screen, the bumper sticker states: "TRY JESUS: IF YOU DON'T LIKE HIM, SATAN WILL TAKE YOU BACK"
Ugh.
Grrr.
SERIOUSLY?
Why does the Church have a bad reputation? I happen to believe sentiments such as this are a significant factor. Why? See below:
1. Jesus is not a fad to try.
2. Jesus just is. The trying comes in learning to follow him--and Jesus welcomes that trying.
3. People who don't know Jesus don't follow Satan--it isn't a given. Stop making that assumption/judgment/haughty assertion, etc. If you aren't Jesus (you aren't), you don't get to decide if someone is hanging with Satan.
4. When learning to follow Jesus, one learns quickly there it isn't all sunshine and roses. In other words, you aren't always going to like it. Why encourage people to give up so easily and go back to something familiar and comfortable? That's terrible witness!
If you are a follower of Jesus, chime in and let me know how you react to bumper stickers and other platitudes such as this.
If you aren't a follower of Jesus, chime in and let me know how you react to bumper stickers and other platitudes such as this.
When Jesus came to this world and when Jesus left this world he knew this would be an issue. He knew there would be many who would twist his words and would limit his love and would put walls up between people groups he never intended to be present. Jesus knew it and he lamented it.
So, if you are a follower of Jesus, we have a job to do. Shut out the darkness and the hatred; be big in your actions and broad with your open arms and loud in your love.
Scratch that.
Whether or not you're a follower of Jesus,shut out the darkness and the hatred; be big in your actions and broad with your open arms and loud in your love.