Being a priest puts me in a position to have many interesting conversations with people.
One topic that seems to come up quite a bit is: Christians behaving badly.
SOME CHRISTIANS DON’T KNOW HOW TO ACT!
Some people I speak with (on- and off- line) say that they couldn’t be a Christian because Christians behave so poorly.
I think we’ve all witnessed someone doing something “un-Christian,” then someone else saying, “And they call themselves a Christian!”
Or, we’ve all seen a Christian behave poorly and then think to ourselves, “What a hypocrite!”
CHRISTIANS HAVE A HIGH MORAL CALLING!
Aside from the ideal that we aren’t to judge others (“Judge not, that you be not judged.” [Matthew 7:1 RSV]), I agree! It is a HUGE problem when Christians behave badly.
Christians are to be the light of the world (Matthew 5:14), the salt of the earth (5:13), and advocates for the poor, the widows, the orphans, the hungry, and the naked (Matthew 25).
Christians are called to turn the other cheek when someone wrongs them (Matthew 5:39), go the extra mile when forced to do something (Matthew 5:41), and to pray for their enemies (Matthew 5:44).
CHRISTIANITY IS ALL ABOUT FORGIVENESS
When Christians do mess up, we are called to ask for forgiveness (Luke 17:4); the Lord’s Prayer asks God to forgive only as we forgive others!
The Christian’s example should be the publican, who cried out to God, “God, be merciful to me a sinner!” (Luke 18:13 RSV) Indeed, it’s countless times that Christians cry out, “Lord have mercy,” at the Liturgy.
When Christians do behave poorly, we do unmeasurable damage to the name of Christ! Especially when we don’t admit our mistakes and repent.
CHRISTIANITY IS REALLY ABOUT CHRIST DYING ON THE CROSS!
However there’s also the flip side.
It’s easy to confuse the action of followers, who are fallible, with the action of a loving God, who empties himself out of love – even to death – for our salvation.
God’s revelation of love for the world is in the person of Jesus Christ. His revelation is not in his followers; though that doesn’t excuse us because, as Christians, we should be “paying it forward” with God’s love.
Scripture says,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 RSV)
It does not say, “For God so loved the world that his followers are perfect!” Though we are striving to acquire the Holy Spirit and become more like Christ.
THE HUMAN REVELATION IS THAT WE NEED HELP!
If there’s any revelation about humanity in scripture, it’s that we are all jerks and that we mess up quite a bit.
St. Paul states it this way,
“…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” (Romans 3:23 RSV)
However, the Good News, the Gospel message is that despite us messing everything up, God still reaches out to us! Christ still died on the cross for our salvation.
Now we, as Christians, are asked to do the same for those around us. As God loves us, so we love others.
In other words, we are to extend a hand to those jerks around us; this is when they will know we truly follow Christ (Matthew 7:16).
This is the power of the gospel message!
P.S. CHRISTIANS MESS UP, BUT THE MESSAGE IS REALLY ABOUT CHRIST, NOT US.
Yes, Christians behave badly sometimes. Shame on us! We know better, and we have no excuse…after all we have the example of a loving God and a crucified savior!
If we have messed up, offended you, or failed to be “Christian,” please forgive us!
However, please don’t confuse our actions with what Christianity is all about: the Son of God becoming man and willingly giving himself up for the life of the world.
Come, this Sunday to St. Elias (click here) and hear the Good News of Christ – not us! (9:30 am, 2001 Asbury Rd, Dubuque, IA)(or click here to find your nearest Orthodox Church.)
We Christian are always growing in the faith. We come to church to receive the power of Christ through his love for us via the body and blood of Christ. We acknowledge we never end growing into a strong Christian. We accept His gift to us to perhaps, stay the course
The thing is that everybody behaves badly. Some more publicly, some more offensively, some less.
The mistake Christians have made, I think, is conveying the idea that their behavior has made them righteous. If we always stand before God asking for mercy, we might be better able to convey clearly to people that we too do wrong, but that we have found in Christ the source of new life and ongoing transformation.
That’s a very good point! Everyone behaves badly at some point, somehow.
I think you’re absolutely right about our example for others by standing in front of God asking for mercy. The other aspect is that God’s grace is offered free of charge!
Thank you Father. I hate it when I have messed up and those around me (Christian & non-Christian alike) see it. God, do have mercy on us.