Aug 06 2008
Dear Followers of Jesus Christ,
…
Sitting in a Christian coffee shop by the U of M, drinking my coffee, a disheveled woman shuffled in with her cane, carrying a colorful array of bags filled with a variety of her belongings and treasures. It was 95 degrees outside, and she came in to cool off. “I hope they don’t kick me out,” she said to no one in particular. “Why would they kick you out,” I asked? Looking at me with sadness in her eyes she replied, “Most people don’t want people like me hanging around, you know.” She paused, “I understand. I wouldn’t want to hang around me either.” Then she smiled and laughed. “But I heard these people were real Christians,” she went on, “so maybe they’ll let me stay for a while to cool off.”
What is a “real Christian”?
I was about halfway finished bottling my “Pastor’s Pride” for the beer tasting when three college age guys came bursting in to bottle their first ever batch of beer. We started up a conversation about the characteristics and qualities of various beer styles and their preferences for certain styles for different seasons. I listened to them talk about the music festivals they were going to attend, and the troubles with their girlfriends. Then something made me ask them a question from an evangelism book I am reading, “Hey guys, can I ask you a question?” “Sure, dude,” they replied. I asked, “What do you think about Jesus?” After staring at me like I had tentacles coming out of my head, they slowly started telling me what they thought. “Jesus was a really cool guy. He taught about love.” “He was a wise spiritual teacher and healer.” “He was all about loving and accepting people.” Pretty interesting answers, I thought.
Then I asked the follow up question, “What do you think about Christians?” This time they let loose with a barrage of complaints and sarcastic comments. “They’re all a bunch of hypocrites!” “All they care about is judging others.” “They are all right-wing conservatives.” “They don’t act like Jesus,” was the comment that really hurt. How did Jesus act? What does it mean to be a “real” Christian? What does it mean to “act like Jesus”?
As individuals and as a community, we are still learning and striving to follow Jesus, and by following Jesus to learn from Him and to become like Him, so that others would hear the call to following Jesus too.
A Follower of Jesus,
Pastor Kent Claussen Gubrud