I’m Not With Him.
Nathanael Berends July 8th, 2004
Heads Up! - This One Might Get A Little Long, And I Might Get A Little Deep.
…. So I know that the 4th was a while ago, but I keep thinking about something that I saw there. It really wasn’t what I saw there that started this, but it “rekindled” a fire that has been laying low. I have had some pretty interesting conversations reguarding this, and it seems that everyone has their own view, and most of them are very valid. About now, your probably asking “What Did You See Nate?”.
What started this … “episode?”… was very simple, but it seemed that I wasn’t the only one that was pissed about it. It was very simply a guy with a sign. Under normal circumstances, I would simply dismiss it as a guy with a sign - which it was. However this sign has some writing on it that cought my attention, and the attention of others.
After a short while it seemed that there was a circle of people from Christian High who were grilling this guy about his sign.
Again, your probably asking “NATE!?! - What Did The Sign Say?”.
The front side carried the message that the end is near, and all sinners (It listed them: Adulterers, Lyers, Idolaters, ROCK & ROLLERS, Dopers, Cheaters, Thieves, Etc.) must repent and fall before the vengefull God above. The backside said “The Wages Of Sin Is Death” - But it was arranged in such a fashion that letters from those words spelled AIDS. The essence of this side of the sign was that it you have aids, prepair to burn in hell.
That was what the sign said, what came from his mouth was much more offensive to any Christian of any variety.
Please take some time and consider what your reaction to this type of person would be. I did, and then prepared to bout with this guy. Luckily I had fifteen people - all raised in the CR tradition - surrounding me.
To start off, I talked for a while with people about the reverse of the sign. While I was doing this, others were already knee deep in a “discussion” of their own. What we discussed was interesting, but too diverse to create a transcript for. What I got out of the experience was more of a “big picture” message.
I came to the realization that being a Christian is one thing, and saying you are a Christian is another - duh!
What this guy was preaching was a hard, and un-understanding christianity. This guys world was black and white, you are saved, or not. Please take my word, this guy was extreme. He fell into the same league as Fred Phelps (Who is one sick person), and Gerri Falwell. If you are unfamilliar with either of the freaks, consider yourself lucky. Anyhow, I realized the scary fact that the world is plagued with Toxic Christians.
Thank God that I have been brought up in a CR tradition, and I have a foundation to build my faith on. However the horrific truth is that if I saw this guy on the street - if I knew very little about the Christian faith - I would have a great reason to never become a Christian. All the time that I listened to this guy, in the back of my mind I kept thinking about how many people have seen this guy’s “show”, and have been put off on the Christian faith?
A bunch of questions came to my mind reguarding this. How can this be? What is our responsibility - as Christians - to deal with these situations? What creates this kind of a situation? All of these questions came to me, and I realized that there are no really easy answers here - I can’t go to Schulers, and pick up “How To Deal With “Christians” - For Dummies”.
I guess that these questions are why I am writing this.
Now, For This To Make Sense Please Do As Follows:
Step One: Go To My Archives.
Step Two: Go To July 9, 2003
Step Three: Laugh Heartily