Recently, there was an incident involving a local 'Christian activist'. This woman went over to China for the beginning of the Olympics in order to protest something and stand up for human rights. While her intentions may have been admirable (misplaced, but admirable), her actions were unwise. This woman simply went to Tienamann Square (spelling??) and unfurled a large banner that said "CHRIST IS KING". She was immediately detained. Her banner was taken away. And she was deported back to the US.
Things like this happen all the time. And they all happen under the title of "Christian activism". There are many other things that happen under similar 'Christian' titles, as well. Violence and gross protests at abortion clinics. Money-grubbing televangelists. Affairs and indescretions from top leaders. Really dumb Christian t-shirts. All of these things happen within the name of Christianity - and that is usually all that everyday people see about Christianity.
The reputation of Christianity is built upon the things we do that make the news and that are interesting to people. I mean, I know that Christians do lots of good things in the world. But these types of things are not in newspapers and on magazines and debated in talk shows. Nope. The things that are on the news and in the media and engrained in people's psyche are these other things that make us look so bad. But who's fault is that? Is it the everyday person's fault because they only know about Christianity what they read on the newspaper and see in the streets? No. It is Christianity's own fault that our reputation is so bad.
We have to be more mindful of our overall reputation. The local 'Christian activist' who I referenced at the beginning was nnot thinking about the overall reputation of Christianity. Her actions did not help anyone over in China. They did nothing for anybody over there. And her exploits were plastered all over the news here in the US. So the reputation of Christianity being a religion that does not respect other countries, does not do anything to really help people, and has selfish and oblivious 'activists' is furthered and cemented. Basically, this woman's actions did more to hurt Christianity's reputation than to help anyone.
We have to protect the reputation of Christianity. We have to value the reputation so much that we do not allow other people to ruin it. We need to do all that we can to restore the reputation of Christianity so that it accurately reflects our heart, beliefs, and personality.
And we have to do it now.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
The Reputation of Christianity...(and the things we do to destroy it)
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Given the opportunity, what flavor of Christianity would you promote in order to boost its reputation? And more importantly, what of your understanding of Christianity makes you certain that God does not support"Christian activism" regardless of the short-term reputation it might spur?
It's funny that I happened upon this post. I wrote a post of my own on a similar subject recently. I think we come to very different conclusions.
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