Into the Fire

I got behind a pickup truck the other day in my travels. The bumper sticker placed on his tailgate read in large blue letters on a white background: JESUS. Underneath in small blue letters it read: Protect me from your followers.

Whoa. Wow. Huh.

Well, I’d never seen one like that before, so as I happened to be headed the same direction as the truck for awhile, I contemplated the volume of such a statement. Placed in a prominent place, attractive lettering, a clean “sign”, an overstated warning to believers, an understated accentuation to many unbelievers.

We’ve all talked to, heard of, or been the victims of so-called followers of Jesus who are condemning without cause, outspoken without any measure of grace, ignorant but vocal about supposed Biblical principles, and zealous do-gooders who have no idea how to really be one. And some of us at some point might have even been one of the aforementioned people before the Holy Spirit got a hold of us and sent us to school back in Tarsus.

Think about the selection of that bumper sticker. Where did the driver find it? Why was he drawn to it? Obviously it spoke to his experiences enough to paste it on his tailgate. I don’t recall seeing any other stickers on the pickup—but then I was plenty distracted by that one.

Which is worse? Being a silent witness with an observable lifestyle difference from the world or blabbing about Jesus without having a firm knowledge of His Word and an urging direction from the Holy Spirit? Neither speaks well of so-called Christians.

It’s a given that some folks who once walked with the Lord have zero desire to feel that conviction which sin produces in their lives. So when another Christian makes contact and the conversation drifts to God, there are those who will bristle and accuse a Christian of “preaching” to them when they have done nothing even close to it. The inherent guilt that sin produces in our lives easily creates tension toward another person where none necessarily need be. It’s like Adam in the garden: the discomfort of sin, the desire to hide from the One who sees it unabated. The nature of man wants to run and hide, even knowing instinctively it’s impossible to get away from the feelings and from the One who sees it all.

So . . . I can’t help but wonder where this individual stood with our Savior, but more important: How about me? I am careful to listen to the Spirit, but it’s impossible not to offend once in awhile even in obedience.

When we get a little cocky about our status as Christians, it’s good to be reminded of who we really are in our “natural” state.

“Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him. It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: ‘Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.’”
1 Corinthians 1:26-31 (NIV)

That about says it all, don’t you think? Follow Him, and then no one will need “protection” from us Jesus followers. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.