But I didn't hear the words love, longsuffering, patient, and forgiveness. I wanted to hear those words but they never came. There he was along with his sidekick holding up the ten commandments and the rest of his crew passing out tracts. I wanted to ask him to be quiet, because I was somewhat embarrassed by his tone and his methods. I wanted to tell him that he wasn't helping people to come into a genuine transforming relationship with Jesus. He was just making people angry and feeding a stereotype that all Christians are judgemental and unloving. I wanted him to shut up!
But then I got a bit conflicted. I can only assume that he was following his convictions, and maybe he felt called to do this. You know, a voice of one crying in the wilderness! Who am I to judge, right? But at the same time, I think he is so totally off base in his approach. Where's the relationship that gives him the right to be heard? Where's the compassion for the fallen human condition? Where's the love? And then it hit me. Where are we? Where's the church, who should be loving and relating to a sick and dying world? If we were doing our job, then the preacher guy on his 2 foot step ladder in front of dairy queen wouldn't have to do his!
--God, please give us a heart that breaks for the things that break your heart!
