No Wonder They Don’t Like Us
Have you ever wondered why America seems to be turning against Christians and Christianity? We see it in the news, hear about it in church, and encounter it on Christian TV and radio. Every day, it seems another group is challenging Christian beliefs, determined to erase the traditions of Christianity. They call us haters, hypocrites, and judgmental.
But what if—just maybe—these critics have a point?
Let’s be honest. Something has gone wrong in how the world perceives us. Instead of simply blaming society for rejecting us, perhaps it’s time to take a hard look at ourselves.
Most people genuinely want to leave a positive impact on the world. To do that, we must step into society’s shoes and examine how we, as Christians, respond to opposition. Too often, we meet anger with anger. We call out immorality and separate ourselves from “sinners” because they don’t live as we do. We return name-calling for name-calling when we feel attacked.
When it comes down to it, the world often sees Christians as just plain mean. And as Dr. Phil would ask, “How’s that working for us?”
All I can say is: no wonder they don’t like us.
Jesus, the Friend of Sinners
Jesus was called a friend of sinners (Matthew 11:19). Instead of focusing on their immorality, He chose to spend time with them and simply love them.
Consider Zacchaeus, a tax collector viewed as a sinner by the religious establishment. When Jesus visited him, He didn’t preach a sermon about sin. Instead, He spent time with him and shared about Himself. As a result, Zacchaeus experienced a complete transformation—he eagerly repaid all he had stolen and more!
Or think about the woman caught in adultery. An angry mob—church folks, by the way—was ready to stone her to death. But Jesus turned the tables, reminding them that none of them were without sin. One by one, they dropped their stones. Left alone with the one person who had the right to condemn her, she heard instead, “Neither do I condemn you.” Only after freeing her from condemnation did He say, “Go and sin no more” (John 8:3-11). That’s what grace is truly about!
Even as Jesus hung on the cross, He chose to love and forgive those who mocked and killed Him, saying, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing”
Luke 23:34
What Should We Do?
My fellow Christians, let’s take our cues from Jesus. Most people don’t match the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, but we can all improve in some way. Jesus didn’t spend His time reminding people of how bad they were or demanding that they change. The truth is, most people are already aware of their shortcomings. The last thing they need is someone rubbing it in their faces, making them feel even worse.
Jesus gave us two simple commandments to replace the original ten:
1️⃣ Believe in Him.
2️⃣ Love others as He has loved us. (John 15:12)
That means loving and forgiving others with unconditional grace, no matter what they have done or are currently doing.
It’s time to reintroduce grace into the church. The gospel is the “almost-too-good-to-be-true” Good News that we receive grace from God through Jesus. No matter who you are, what you’ve done, or what you’re currently doing, God is not mad at you. He wants you to believe that Jesus has made a way for you to be free from condemnation, guilt, and shame. Once you truly receive that, you can have peace with God and find freedom from sin. As Christians, don’t be angry at society. Instead, let’s focus on the two commandments Jesus gave us and simply share how amazing He is. As the saying goes, “You catch more flies with honey than vinegar” (Charlaine Harris).
“You catch more flies with honey than vinegar.”
Charlaine Harris
