Clipboard Christians
I was in New Orleans a few years back and I ran into this woman who had “been sent by God to convert 1,000 souls.” She carried with her a clipboard on which she wrote down the names of everyone who “came to Christ through her. This experience has stuck with me for years. Is that really what Christianity is about? Are we called to go around with a clipboard trying to convince people that they need God? I think we’ve gotten this all wrong!
Think about it. What’s the message this portrays to people? How about, I don’t really care about you. This woman made people into a project. Did she truly care about them as a person or just another name she could write down on her clipboard? I’m pretty sure she did this out of love, but it just seems the complete opposite approach to showing people God.
So where does that leave us? How are we supposed to show our faith to those we meet? All the way back in the beginning of Genesis 12, God tells Abraham that “all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Basically, God wanted to use Abraham’s life to bless others. Why? Because God cared about all people (and still does). He didn’t tell Abraham to go wander the desert and write 1,000 names down in a cave. He expected the blessings he had given Abraham to “spill over” into the lives of those around him.
What would it look like for the church to just bless people? Not hand out water bottles with the name of your church on it, or approach someone on the street because your end goal is to convert them to your faith. What if we sincerely cared about people and wanted to meet them where they were in life for no other reason than the fact that they are a real person with hurts, pains, and dreams just like you. What if we stopped making it about what we can do and how good we can convince people of our faith, and leave that up to God? I truly believe that Christians would gain more credibility in the world if we showed more love for those not in our “clique”. And not love with strings attached. A revolution like that is something that transforms lives and something that others would want to become a part of.
As I said to you earlier, I see this type of judgmental behavior nearly every day in Manhattan. Whether at a subway station or on the street, you’re bound to run into people uttering words such as, “you need God”, “you need direction” to people that walk by.
I think the thought of handing out water bottles in the summer is quite nice, but I never take one as I feel guilty for not wanting to visit their church, because to me, it seems like what they’re doing is somewhat of a promotional campaign to advertise their religion.
fantastic thoughts.
love shows no discrimination..even regarding religious views and beliefs.
sadly, many “Christians” (and I use those quotes with reservation) may claim they love others, but that love is certainly not expressed or received as such
people are not projects. They are dearly loved children of God, created in his image
While I do believe that God has plans and purposes for every living being (and these are meant to bring peace, wholeness, fulfillment, and blessing), it is not my job to convince or convert people according to my agenda or what I feel is God’s agenda.
Let love speak for itself and then trust in the reality of God ( if you truly profess to believe in him) and give him space and room to speak to his people the way he desires