An Appeal to All Who Hate, Distrust, or Are Angry With Christians

From my heart to yours

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

If you detest, despise, distrust, or are otherwise disappointed or disenchanted with Christians and/or Christianity, this is for you.

I’m a Bible-believing Christian — and a pastor.

I obviously can’t speak for everyone who identifies as a Christian. We’re a pretty broad and diversified bunch. And I don’t pretend to be anything close to perfect or somehow uniquely qualified to represent the entire Christian community.

The best representative of Christianity is (and always will be) Jesus.

Not me or anyone else who professes the Name of Jesus.

But…if you’ll hear it (or “read” it), I’d like to share my heart with you.

I professed Christ as a child. I went through a period of intense doubt in my twenties and again in my early thirties. But I now stand (in my fifties) solid in my identity with Christ. I believe in God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the Bible — and do so with passion and no reservation.

I don’t consider myself better than anyone else.

On the contrary, all human beings are made in the image of God. And I strive (as Jesus commands) to love my neighbor — and that is anyone God puts in the path of my life.

That means I am to love my Christian neighbor, Jewish neighbor, Muslim neighbor, Buddhist neighbor, Hindu neighbor, atheist neighbor, agnostic neighbor, pagan neighbor, straight neighbor, gay neighor, trans neighbor, Republican neighbor, Democrat neighbor, liberal neighbor, communist neighbor, libertarian neighbor, gun-owning neighbor, pacifist neighbor, vegan neighbor, gamer neighbor…. you get the idea.

Regardless of race, creed, color, gender, background, nationality, political persuasion, ideology, or any other consideration…

I strive to love my neighbor.

I don’t believe I have the right to look down my nose in personal judgment on other people who disagree with me or who deviate from biblical standards.

I am an imperfect person who has quite often let God down and let down the people in my life. I’m not the standard. And I’m not your boss…