this will make you think...

Bumper Stickers

I live in Colorado Springs, home of God. There are more Christian ministries in this town than you can shake a Harry Potter book at. Apparently, this makes us some sort of Christian Mecca. I’m not buying it. The ugly truth is that we are a town divided by hate. It’s the granola-eating, pacifist, pro-homosexual tree-huggers versus the holier-than-thou, flag-waving, pro-life, bible-thumpers and we have been divided for a decade. We don’t have time to stand in the park and yell at each other, so we wage war with our bumper stickers. “FOCUS ON YOUR OWN DAMN FAMILY” is a popular bumper sticker that reveals more about our community than about any organization.

Being a Christian conservative, I am keenly aware of this battle. Today I saw a bumper sticker that made me spew my latte. It read, “DOING MY PART TO PISS OFF THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT.” While that would make some wish they had a shoulder mounted grenade launcher, it made me laugh out loud. Personally, I love controversy – not for the sake of confrontation, but because it makes people think. I wanted to kidnap the owner of the bumper sticker (with my grenade launcher) and buy them a beer. I would ask them how they feel about the religious; how they feel about the right. Then I would ask them how they feel about Christians. I would then do something so radical, it would completely freak them out. I would listen; no arguing, no defending, just listening. In fact, I might just be nodding my head in agreement. You see, I am one of the religious right and I don’t like us. Our ranks are filled with arrogant know-it-alls who wear the label “Evangelical” like some kind of medal; people who think “right” refers not to their political stance but to their level of correctness. If you are not a member of the club, you probably know what I mean. As soon as they figure out your label, you get the distinct impression that you have dog doo on your shoes.

I am still laughing about the religious right sticker when it hits me. If Jesus had a car, he might have had that bumper sticker on it; right next to the one that said “WHAT WOULD I DO?” Hear me out on this. Whenever Jesus went on the attack, who did he launch on? It wasn’t the liberals; it was the religious right, the conservatives. It was the religious leaders who knew the scriptures like they were written on their underwear. The pious people who were convinced that they had the corner on being right. Instead of giving them a good old boy slap on the back, he got in their faces at every opportunity. Time and again Jesus said, “Have you not read?” He knew darn well they had not only read it, they had memorized it. When he repeatedly remarked, “You have heard it said this, but I say to you that”, he purposefully challenged their authority. When Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath, he was not ignorant of rabbinical law. He did it to force the issue.

I find it very interesting that he never seems to hang with the religious right. He ends up at parties with the wild crowd while the conservatives hover outside and talk about what he is doing wrong. He intentionally spent time with those whom the conservatives looked down on.

What does this say about us as evangelicals? Perhaps we don’t have the corner on being right (be still my heart). Possibly, we have been unwilling to see our weaknesses because of our own arrogance. Could it be that the bumper sticker, “THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT IS NEITHER” is more than just a word play? We need to be willing to honestly ask ourselves if we have been wrong. No, I take that back. The question should not be “Am I wrong?”, but “Where am I wrong?”

Now that I have voiced these heresies, I may get thrown out of the club. That may be OK. If you’re a pro-homosexual tree-hugging pacifist, let’s talk. I actually like granola.

Aimee - wow girl, you do have a way with words!  and I agree mostly - I do agree that God hates Religion - he didn't mean for us to get so wrapped up in our man-made rules that we forget the main deal - the Gospel of Christ - that Jesus died on a cross (for everyone) and bore our sins, was buried and three days later rose again.  And all who believe he was raised again and lives today - will be saved from our eternal destination of hell (because of our sin) and will live instead eternally with God the Father in Heaven.   

It does seem that we christians are so busy trying to make others follow the rules - when many aren't following the rules themselves - which is exactly what got Jesus so angry with the "religious" crowd of his day.  I read in Paul's letter to the Romans this morning - that LOVE fulfills the law! Another part says - they will know us (followers of Christ) by our love for one another.

So - yes - there is no room for hate.  But we can hate the sin and still love the sinner - like God did for us (While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us) 

There are a lot of people who call themselves Christians today and yet are seriously devoid of a relationship with Christ.  I much rather call myself a "Follower of Christ".  I try to check my fruit daily and make adjustments when I find myself acting like one that doesn't have the Holy Spirit and hope living inside of me.

But, even though Jesus did eat with sinners (and came to save those who were lost) He did still promote God's ways - He said he didn't come to condemn the world but with all he encountered - foremost on his mind was their sin condition and would tell them - Go and sin no more - or you're sins have been forgiven.   So, I think one our problems in the "christian community" is a repentance problem.  King David, when living in sin with Bathseeba, acted no different than anyone else - until he repented. 

So, yes - I can see sitting down with the tree huggers and homosexuals - not to condemn their thinking and behavior, but to introduce them to Jesus our savior. But if asked if their behavior is wrong - I would have to say yes. It's not what I think is wrong, but what his word says is wrong.  I know I am still not perfect, nor will be until I leave this earth - but we can still strive for it in our own life.  and getting real with my own shortcomings and sinfulness has helped me to have more compassion on others who are lost. 

I hope you'll share some more - this was a great observation - and is certainly a great topic for discussion.

Oh, my gosh!!! I love this. I have been saying this for so long. You are so right!!! People love to offend "the religious right" so much because we are soooo offend-able. Yet if you asked God, he would say give me a sinner any day over the religious. You rock!!!