Don't Ever Call Me a Christian Again

Today I hate being called a Christian.  Try not to be too offended until you hear me out.

It hate it because of this guy and the people like him call themselves "Christian."  This is the face of the Angry Church Guy, the modern day Pharisee.

His name is the Rev. Fred Phelps, Sr.  The Chicago Tribune reports ... he is the pastor of the fundamentalist Westboro Baptist Church, a fundamentalist Christian group based in Topeka, Kan., has protested military funerals across the country with placards bearing shock-value messages such as "Thank God for dead soldiers." They contend that soldiers deaths are punishment for America's tolerance of homosexuality and of gays in the military.

At the March 2006 funeral of Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, who was killed in Iraq, church members waved fire-and-brimstone placards near the funeral motorcade. Snyder's father sued Westboro and three church leaders for emotional distress and won a nearly $11 million jury verdict Wednesday in Baltimore.

For years Westboro members have crisscrossed the country toting signs using "unvarnished words" such as "God hates fags" because they say the Bible teaches them to speak directly and simply. The church's 75-person congregation is comprised mainly of relatives of Rev. Fred Phelps, the founding pastor. (CNN interview with Phelps, truly the angry church guy.)

The group also blames disasters, including Hurricane Katrina, the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and AIDS, on what it views as permissive morals in violation of biblical dictates. Members insist that their protests, no matter how insulting to some, are constitutionally protected."

Unbelievable. It makes me sick. It makes me righteously angry.

So much pure evil done "in the name of Jesus" has left it's mark on a watching world's attitudes towards Christianity.  What Mr. Phelps does, and the abortion clinic bomber does, and what the racist fundamentalist says becomes automatically identified as the action of the Christians. It does not occur to the skeptic to distinguish between genuine Christ-followers and evil people who have hijacked the religion. Gross misunderstandings arise in people's minds as a result of such an over-simplistic world view. But as they say, perception is reality.

So I am separating myself from this hypocrisy and evil. I'm never going to call myself a "Christian" again. Insead I choose to be a "Christ-Follower." 

Consider this striking contrast between the "Christians" above and what Jesus actually says ...
   "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.
   "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
    "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."  Luke 6:27-38 (NIV) 

I identify with those who have surrendered their rights and become a voluntary slave, willing to obey whatever Jesus says, do whatever he commands, and be willing to trust Jesus for everything.  I want to be like him in my everyday life. I am a Christ-follower.

Comments

[Jim Herrington]

Thanks for clearly, biblically and passionately articulating the dilemma that so many of us face. I live in a community that is openly hostile to "Christians" though they really "get" Jesus and like being around people who are transparently trying to follow him. You encouraged me today to stay the course. I am a follower of Jesus - not a Christian.