There has been a recent controversy regarding our local Hamilton County elected officials and the topic of public prayer. A group has brought a lawsuit against the County accusing our officials of endorsing Christian religion.
This commentary isn’t about whether the lawsuit is valid or not. My frustration stems from the way people who claim to be Christians are representing Jesus. I have been watching the debate rage in social media such as Facebook; unfortunately I see very little behavior resembling how Jesus Christ treated others. Here are some samples of the language being used by local Christians from just two Facebook discussions concerning their opponents:
- I’m gonna have to take God’s side!
- Use your right to move somewhere else!
- Majority Rules
- Trouble Makers
- Communists
- If you don’t like it close your ears
- Get a life
- Suck it up
- Bunch of Cry Babies
- Get over yourselves
- If you do not like it you are “free” to leave the room!
- Grow Up
- Get a real life and get over it!
- Shut Up
- Idiots!
- None of their business
- Get a job and do something worthwhile
- Moron
- I have no sympathy
- Turn your ears off
- Ridiculous
- Low Lifes
- Clowns
- So-called men
- Devil Worshipers
This language might be suited for political debate but it is a far cry from how Jesus commands us to treat others.
1 Peter 3:15
English Standard Version (ESV)
15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
Where is the gentleness and respect in the inflammatory words Christians are using in this debate? It seems that public debate brings out the very worst in Christians. I am still somewhat baffled as to why praying at a public function is so important anyway. The most noted passage in God’s Word dealing with this doesn’t sound like a favorable endorsement:
Matthew 6:5
English Standard Version (ESV)
5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
I see no reason for insisting on praying a verbal prayer out loud as opposed to praying silently unless you want to impress the people around you, the very thing Jesus condemned.
Jesus’ Church loses influence every day in society because His followers refuse to act as He did. I pray that those who want to follow Jesus will truly follow His commandments and that their actions will show it. I leave you with the Bible’s advice on how to treat those who oppose the followers of Jesus.
Luke 6
English Standard Version (ESV)
27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.
