“I love Jesus” oh, really?
Posted on October 12, 2007
Filed Under Some slightly auto-biographical stuff | 1 Comment
Today I walked into a government building. Since I’m unemployed, I do that sort of thing these days, more often than I prefer. I hate going to those types of places. I was hoping to get in and get out with as few “scrapes and bruises” as possible.
However, the moment I looked behind the massive reception booth and saw who was there, any hope I had of at least a moderately pleasant visit vanished. For you see, behind that counter was a middle aged man with thinning hair and a lanyard around his neck that says “I love Jesus.”
I knew I was doomed.
I knew from experience that this was not going to be a pleasant encounter. I remembered all too well what happened to me last time I met with Mr. “I Love Jesus”–indeed what happened to everyone that day. In fact, it was happening to the person in front of me, right there, today, while I was waiting my turn.
When she left, I braced myself, stepped up and said “I would like to apply for a training voucher.” (Ah! There he goes! There’s that patented move of his!) For upon hearing my request, he lowered his chin almost to his chest, looked up at me over his reading glasses, and then after pausing for impact, said very slowly….”voucher….. I have no idea what you are talking about. What is it that you want?”
Why, all of the sudden, does my self esteem feel about as tall as a hobbit?
I responded by trying to balance the defense of my dignity with being calm and non-argumentative and explained in more detail why I was here. He pierced me with a few more questions, then said, “follow me.” We went through a door where he met with two other government employees and proceeded to talk about me as if he thought I was a piece of furnature, making it clear to them that he was incredulous about my request.
“I love Jesus” Oh, really? Is that so?
After adequate amounts of information from “I love Jesus” the pack decided to turn their attention to me. We sparred, er, rather “discussed” my request, and then they finally (almost grudgingly) gave me information that I could act on in order to make my application, then I left.
“I Love Jesus” hmmm….
How does that song go? “They will know we are Christians by our….” something….
What really kills me is that there is a co-worker of his who is so nice. She is upbeat, patient, and seems filled with joy. Yet she has no outward symbols of her religious beliefs. I wanted so badly to ask her “how do you maintain such a cheerful spirit?” I hope that her answer would have been something like, “Jesus. His love for me has changed me.” Unfortunately, there was no opportune time to ask.
What I fear most is that Ms. Cheerful is not a Christian at all, but perhaps an atheist, or an agnostic or a Buddhist or Unitarian, or some other belief. What a contrast that would make! Mr. “I love Jesus” (but you irritate the snot out of me!) working along side of Ms. Cheerful. Based on they treat people which religion, philosophy or life style would you choose?
“I love Jesus” but all of the rest of you, I can’t stand!
Hey! I just remembered the hymn. “And they’ll know we are Christians by our lanyards– and our bumper stickers (especially the political ones) — and our jewelry…. and our harsh glares…”
If people are going to display their Christianity to the world, they better brace themselves for whatever fallout may come.
I don’t mean the damage they do to the reputation of Jesus, bad as that can be. No, I would hate to be some Christians who so openly display their faith via their shirts or their cubicle walls or their bullhorns yet are petty, judgmental, mean spirited, back stabbing or the like. I would hate to be them at judgment day. Based on what Jesus taught, I have a strong feeling that His conversation with them will go something like this: “I’m very glad that you were eager to tell others about Me, but why didn’t you put at least as much effort into loving them? I was always right there to help you. You needed to hand over to Me your fears, anger, pride and judgmental ways. Then you would have done so much more to bring My love to others. Those were people that I sent to you. They needed your love. I ended up having to send them to someone else.”
Matt. 25:45 “He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.”
We all falter, I know that. I stumble just as much as the next Christian, more actually (If you don’t believe me, just ask my wife, she’s seen it, she’s endured it). Sin happens. I’m OK with that. But something seems terribly prideful and “religious” about it all when people clearly put more of themselves into broadcasting their faith in Christ than they do in actually loving others in His name.
I would love to end this little diatribe with some plot twist where I eventually came away from my encounter with Mr. “I love Jesus” feeling compassion for him, and repentant over my own inconsistencies, but that’s not how I feel right now. For reasons that I am not all that clear on, I’m just ticked, ticked off at expressions of faith that are showy, or boisterous, or prideful, or pompous or zealous, or kingdom building (note the small “k”). In short, I’m bothered by people who seem to put a lot of energy into their “religion” but who just don’t seem to know how to love people.
Been there! Yesterday I was driving down FM 1960 (one of the busiest roads in Houston), singing along to a Jars of Clay CD, enjoying a nonhumid day. The car on my right decided my lane was the place to drive and drifted over, barely missing my front bumper. A fish symbol accompanied by an appropriate bumper sticker glared at me.