| | I see you around campus almost every day and have heard you talking to all your friends. I've particularly noticed that you like to talk to each other about how important God is in your life. Frankly, I dont understand a lot of what you're saying. It's not that I'm not trying. I know that I think differently from you, but I'm still interested in the things you talk about and what you think and believe, especially when I hear you talking about God's love. The T-shirt you wore the other day said that you love each other because God loved you first. Wow! I've never been loved unconditionally by anyone and have always wanted to have a relationship like that. But that's where it gets confusing. Last week I saw you in the student center eating with your Christian friends. I couldn't help but notice that you were sarcastically imitating another group of students across the room and cackling with laughter at each other's mean-spirited jokes. The group you and your friends were laughing at also claims to be believers in Christ. I got sick to my stomach when I watched you enthusiastically greet everyone wearing your Christian organization's T-shirt, but you didn't make eye contact with me as I sat alone at the end of your table. It reminded me of the time I actually came to your church. I had heard a lot about this church around campus, especially about the way the church reaches out to students. I had been to church before, but I still felt nervous and apprehensive. When I came in, the minister introduced himself and welcomed me, but when he left to make announcements, I sat alone and felt so out of place. I wished this would have been the time that I could have experienced that unconditional relationship I hear you talk about, but it wasn't. If you say that loving God and loving others are such a priority, why do these things happen? Why don't I experience it in my friendship with you? I have come to the point where I've pretty much given up on understanding what's really important to you. What happened yesterday made me want to write you off completely. On the bus to class I sat across from a girl who had obviously been crying. I offered her a tissue and asked if I could help her in some way. She said she had just broken up with her boyfriend. I asked if she had any friends to talk to and, through her sobs, she said her friends had quit calling after she told them she had messed up physically with her boyfriend and wasn't sure what to do. She mentioned that she was a Christian. She knew this was wrong, and had broken off the relationship because of it, but her friends couldn't relate to her anymore or simply didn't know what to say. After that, I began to wonder if what you talk about really is what you live out in your life. It seems to me that if Jesus Christ is the foundation and top priority in your life, you would love other people and forgive them the way He did. If I remember anything about Jesus from my trips to church, it's that He loved even the prostitutes and the lonely outcasts. I really want to give you Christians the benefit of the doubt, but I can't get past the idea that some of your priorities aren't what you say they are. I believe actions and attitudes show a person's priorities and, going by what i see, it seems you value appearing religious, talking about the Bible, being popular in your own circles, and making sure I know your convictions. Sometimes I see that you love each other, but sometimes I see backbiting. I don't see that you love me. Friend, I'm willing to listen to what you have to say--really! But, please, show me me you're for real first.
Sincerely,
The World |
| | Posted 4/20/2006 12:04 AM - 4 comments
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