They watched from a distance as the protestors diligently painted their outcries on pieces of cardboard before nailing them to wooden stakes. One-by-one, the men and women grabbed a sign and began their walk down the street yelling at anyone and everyone to listen to what they had to say.
“God hates…,” one said as a car horn blocked out the rest of his sentence.
“Your day of judgement is coming,” another said.
A small boy struggled to hold his sign high. “The end is near! Repent!” appeared in black lettering on a neon pink background.
Others began to sing, “Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord…” at the top of their lungs.
More car horns blared in either agreement or disagreement. It was hard to tell.
“Here they go again,” one onlooker said. “Those Christians are always protesting something.”
The other shook her head. “I know. What do they think they’ll accomplish?”
“Nothing, as far as I’m concerned. They’re all wacko if you ask me.”
The group turned their backs and walked away, laughing at the protestors in the process.
As a Christian, don’t you get tired when we’re all labelled as “wacko” or “rotten” when it’s only one apple that spoiled the bunch? We’re always hearing about a Christian organization or a religious leader protesting something in a bizarre fashion. Take for instance this man who supposedly predicted the end of the world? Or the pastor who burned the Quran? Or the…I could go on, but I won’t.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not talking about someone who is genuinely evangelizing on the street. I’m referring to those who are taking a stand against something in a negative light. The world doesn’t see that as positive. Then, they lump all Christians into one loony package. We’re “all the same.” Hardly.
What would happen if we put down our picket signs and picked up our Bibles instead? What if we became effective witnesses for Jesus Christ by living our faith, not by protesting? By showing people what we believe in, not what we don’t.
Can you imagine?
I believe if we did this, the world would begin to see who “we” really are. People who truly care. Those who want others to see Jesus in us.
People who love people.
Supporters, not protestors.
Let’s stand up for Christ. Hold your sign high.
John 13:34-35 (The Message)
“Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.”
Right on Sissy!!!This scripture is one that Our church’s Vision is based on. Love ya