Jesus Needs New PR
Our copy of the Answers in Genesis newsletter came in last week. I was looking forward to reading through it. I am not very familiar with Ken Ham’s works, but as I understood it, he represented a good mixture of science and theology. Within the first couple of pages, I was disgusted with the publication and threw it away.
It wasn’t his lack of scientific knowledge or the arguments against evolution (He has my support in that area). What made my stomach turn was the condescending attitude this newsletter had towards other Christians whose view varied from his. In one cartoon, the artist went so far as to make fun of “Christians” who held theistic evolution positions and hinted at the fact that they weren’t true Christians. Regardless of your perspective on the debate, we should never come to blows with other Christians because the scriptures indicate that others will know we are Christians by our love. Jesus puts it this way:
The answer lies somewhere in the depths of love. I will have to agree to disagree with the preacher spewing his version of Christianity. I will most likely have to tell a friend that their behavior is not acceptable and have the patience to deal with the emotional reaction.
Reader, what about you? How do you respond in love?
It wasn’t his lack of scientific knowledge or the arguments against evolution (He has my support in that area). What made my stomach turn was the condescending attitude this newsletter had towards other Christians whose view varied from his. In one cartoon, the artist went so far as to make fun of “Christians” who held theistic evolution positions and hinted at the fact that they weren’t true Christians. Regardless of your perspective on the debate, we should never come to blows with other Christians because the scriptures indicate that others will know we are Christians by our love. Jesus puts it this way:
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” - John 13:34-35, ESVMixed with this view of loving one another is tension. A quick read through the Christian Nightmares tumblr and I found video after video that either angered me or embarrassed me as a Christian. How do I respond in love to the preacher who is telling me that my “rock-and-roll” is sending me to Hell? How do I tell the person who is singing badly, very badly, that perhaps they should stop (if nothing more than to save the sanity of the listeners)?
The answer lies somewhere in the depths of love. I will have to agree to disagree with the preacher spewing his version of Christianity. I will most likely have to tell a friend that their behavior is not acceptable and have the patience to deal with the emotional reaction.
Reader, what about you? How do you respond in love?
To these? Generally I'm a bit too gruff as it stands. In this case, I let them tend to their own business and only deal with it if it intersects with people I know (and then I deal with it harshly). Let it roll off your back like water. You can't help them directly (you can pray), and focusing on it does no good. He isn't a member of your congregation or circle of friends, so there's no need to rebut him. Basically, you don't have a horse in the race. There are always other races :)
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