Embarrassed to Be a Christian

Being a Christian, I have to say that sometimes I am embarrassed to be one. In my heart I realize that I shouldn't feel that way, but it's hard to feel any other way in the face of what I see.

As Christians, we are supposed to model love and forgiveness. When I look around me, I see very little evidence of either one. I see a lot of finger pointing and judgmental attitudes. Self righteousness abounds, and those who would seek to know Christ slither away into the background never to be seen. Is this the way Jesus wanted it to be? I don't think so. Jesus was the man who hung out with the biggest sinners. He loved them in spite of any wrongdoing. He knew that the only way to reach them was to love them first as they were.

But so many Christians look down on others. They look down on those who are addicted or diseased. They look down on those who are divorced or those who are gay. They look down on those who struggle with mental problems, and those who suffer with financial difficulties. It is very difficult for someone who is not a Christian to be attracted to Christ when he sees no evidence of Him in those who proclaim Him.

Many Christians will say that God does not tolerate sin, and therefore it is their duty to speak up and tell others that what they are doing is wrong. Personally, I think this is hogwash. It is true that God abhors sin, but our first obligation is to love our neighbor, not point out the error of his ways. It is only through the love of Christ that he even has a chance of turning from his sin. It is our job, as Christians, to plant that seed of love. It is God's job to cultivate that seed and make it into something beautiful.

The thing is, none of us are perfect. It doesn't matter how "Christian" a person professes to be, he is still a sinner. The only difference in a Christian and one who is not a Christian is the fact that one has accepted Christ into his heart and the other has not.

Yes, it embarrasses me when I see my Christian brother pointing out the fault of one who does not even know Christ. But I must accept that none of us are perfect. As a Christian, all I can do is love others despite my imperfections...and in spite of theirs.