Yelling works

So, as you can plainly see, I am well on my to making a large pile of cash by updating my blog frequently and driving lots-o-traffic this way!

I was flipping channels the other night and rolled past a clip that made me press the channel down button a few times really quickly to see if I saw what I thought I really saw (fun sentence). When I reached my channel of desire, I saw a guy standing outside of a Motley Crue concert yelling at everyone going in to the show. He was yelling, "God hates Motley Crue. God hates people who go to Motley Crue concerts." What? Why? Then, just to make sure everything is even-handed, they showed a clip of one of his fellow shouters explaining something to the effect of the concert goers shouldn't feel singled out because they also do this at John Mayer concerts and others. Oh, good. I thought is was just the Crue listeners God hates. I am so glad he cleared that up for us.

I am going to let you in on a little secret: God does not hate Motley Crue, John Mayer, any other singer or listener. What he hates is sin. My sin, your sin, everyone's sin. No one is above this or singled out.

That got me to thinking again about these blog posts I wanted to write about how Christians are, many times, perceived: haters, not lovers.

I see video clips of protesters outside of abortion clinics and I shutter at the image portrayed. God fearing people shouting at scared, pregnant women as they enter a clinic to do something so emotionally tough. The mothers are probably scared to death. However, inside they find love and caring and acceptance. They have "sanctuary". Funny isn't it? The run through a bunch of Jesus freaks to find calm and safety. Maybe some reading this will find my use of the term "Jesus freaks" a little troubling here, but I think that the people outside those clinics truly believe they are doing what God wants them to do. I just think somewhere along the way, something went off course.

You see, we are not to be haters. We are to LOVE! The scared women walking into that clinic need to find peace. They need to feel secure. That baby inside of them scares the crap out of them. They don't know how they could possibly have that baby. While I have no first hand knowledge of this, I would bet a dime to a dollar most of them are not taking that action because they can't be bothered by a baby. I bet a fly-on-the-wall in one of those counseling sessions would tell you they just don't know how they could raise it alone or afford it or how they could accomplish goals they have set with a baby there or how they could handle the emotions of going full-term, delivering a baby, and giving it to another family to raise.

So, someone patiently, calmly, and lovingly tells them how an abortion is an alternative. Why aren't we patiently, calmly and lovingly telling them about God's love for them and that baby and about the other options they have if they are unable or unwilling to raise that child themselves? Do some really think that shouting, "WHORE", "KILLER" and "SINNER" at some little girl is going to make her stop and think, "Oh, you know, you are right. Nevermind. I will go home now"?

We need to show love. Not lip-service. I need to not just type up some blog full of my thoughts. WE need to go out and show the broken-hearted and scared we care for them. Not superficially, but that we, and more importantly, God truly care for them.

When the Pharisees brought to Jesus the woman in adultery, he didn't yell at her. He didn't call her a whore. He didn't shame her. He, after addressing her accusers, simply showed her love and compassion. For all we know, due to the lack of birth control back then, she may have even been pregnant. Man, I want to be like that. Let's all be like that.