Every day, I walk past a house in my neighborhood that makes me uncomfortable. The curtains are drawn, and for a long time I wondered if anyone lived there. Then, a few weeks ago, I saw some kids outside, bringing groceries in from the car. I said “hello” and asked if they were new to our neighborhood.
They’ve lived here longer than we have.
To each this own, I suppose, but this family also has a big sign in their window protesting Planned Parenthood. And a little fish on their car, symbolizing that they’re Christians.
Of course they are.
This bothers me because I’m a Christian too. So, it's kind of like we're on the same team, but, well, we're not.
Don’t advertise you’re a Christian then never come out of the house or let your children play outside or walk to school with the rest of the children. In case you haven't noticed, this is a vibrant neighborhood. We live life together and rely on one another. We celebrate together and grieve together.
And if the only thing your neighbors ever know about you is that you’re a Christian and you hate planned parenthood? Yeah. Skip the advertising. Please.
I'm tired of sharing my faith with people who have experienced nothing but Christian weirdness. So, please. If you want to be weird, fine.
Just don't blame it on Jesus.
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13 comments:
How long have you walked past?
And Amen. And Hallelujah to that!
I've walked past the house since the boys have been in school...so three years? Plus countless bike rides to TCBY. :-)
So, I know I'm a journalist and that automatically makes me suspicious of everything.
But.
Some of the things you are talking about here are what we in the nosy-business would call: red flags.
As a favor to me, could you please say a prayer the next time you walk by? I will also pray from this side.
Something here sounds slightly amiss. Espcially from your first line in the your blog. Love you.
Good point, Marmot Mom.
It's the sign that makes me uncomfortable, but you're right...red flag city.
My assumption is just weird christian homeschoolers...but I don't know. I'll see what I can find out.
I share your angst at sharing faith with people who have a fortress mentality about their faith. I grew up that way. It isn't fun on the inside and it sends all sorts of bad messages to those on the outside.
Amen. Weird Christians are just weird, but unfortunately, too common. I remember preaching a message one Sunday on exactly this theme.
Get out of your house people and relate to your neighbors. Go love them. It is crazy that the only time people here from some Christians is when they want to say what they are against. Loony!
My advice. Pray for these "christians" but never count on them for anything until they they have a "come to Jesus" moment and repent of their fortress mentality.
I completely agree. And at the same time I think I am probably someone else's "wierd Christian neighbor." Last weekend at a big outreach workday for our church, I was working alongside fellow church members that seemed SO different from me. It really is amazing what "Christian" means to different people.
I do completely agree here. You just have me thinking . . .
Charity -- you raise an excellent point. "Weird" is a subjective term, and I'm sure to some, I am weird too.
I guess I was just reacting to the thought of being defined by what I don't believe in -- the anti-abortion sign. Walking by that sign, I feel bothered every time. And the fact that they have children, but I never see them outside playing just strikes me as odd. I assume they homeschool since the children don't go to our neighborhood school.
Who knows, maybe they have terrible allergies or something. This was a pretty judgmental post for me to make, and yet as one who tries to live out my faith, I get frustrated by christians like this. Because we share the label "Christian," people assume we're alike.
But we're not alike.
Does that make sense?
I am so glad to see that you think that this was a judgmental post. I was so sad to read it and to read some of the responses. There has been so many assumptions and judgments made on this family. Are they "Christians"? Have you stopped and asked?
I need some coffee -- I'm so sorry this post rubbed you the wrong way. I know assumptions and judgments can be dangerous, and I shouldn't have made them here on the blog. Truly. It's all the signage that kills me -- the fish on the car and the big JUST SAY NO to Planned Parenthood. Without even coming outside, they've been destructive.
As one who has also been very hurt by "Christian judgments," I should know better.
Sorry I am just now getting back to this . . . I didn't mean to point a finger. I have just wrestled with this myself. Thanks for working through this "out loud" where we all can struggle together.
It is a free country and Christians should be able to live out their faith any way they see fit. You are the one in the wrong for being so hateful and judgmental instead of loving and compassionate. That, to me, is what being a "christian" (being loving and compassionate that is)is all about. Christian parents raise their children by their own convictions as placed there by the holy spirit. Maybe that mother was called by the Lord to do homeschool. And who cares if they hate abortion? You should too because God hates abortion. You just never never know what people are going through. Above all love each other deeply because love covers over a multitude of sins-1 peter 4:8
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