I think it's true.
I thought about it long and hard and it's true.
'Christians' have hurt the message of Jesus as much as the next 'heathen'.
Why? I think simply: we forgot to be the FIRST to love. Some of the worse people on earth are 'Christians' - not the sincere person of faith who makes a mistake, but the religious, self-righteous nut who is no fun. It's that person who is the huge bible thumper and is quick to tell you what's wrong with you before loving you. Case in point: I knew one man who worked with me at company and he was a Christian who was very brash and 'bold'. One day he was in the kitchen talking to another female co-worker who was overweight a bit. Somewhere in the conversation he said, "You're fat, and you should accept that. It's how God made you and you can't change." That female co-worker left the room in tears.
I was appalled and challenged him, "How could you say that?"
His arrogant remark was, "It's the truth, and Christians tell the truth."
Way to go. That'll win the world. I went to the co-worker and wrote to her, and tell her all men were not such numbskulls and told her "God made you beautiful...don't let the world tell you otherwise. P.S. I wouldn't hold much regard for a man who is still single and can't find a lunch partner if his life depended on it."
Jesus clearly stated, "The world will know you are my disciples by your love for one another."
What if you had a cause, but you were the first to comfort? The first to encourage? The first to nurture? The first to listen? The first to cheer? You are the first to LOVE. Instead of getting 'truth' out, or showing the world doctrine, how about being the first to serve?
Most people, including Christians forget early TRUE Christianity was the first to heal: hospitals were started in that manner. Universities were started FIRST in that regard: the first to educate. It was for the benefit of humanity regardless of their spiritual beliefs, their values, their political affiliation...it was simply being the FIRST TO LOVE. Instead you have religious nuts running around soiling the gospel more than helping. The one example that infuriates me is this one church that went to the funeral of a gay soldier who died in Iraq serving his country. That church protested the funeral because of the sexual orientation of that solider. That soldier was more noble to me than those so-called Christians. I guarantee you this: that 'evangelical effort' didn't do anything to win anyone. If they were the first to come along side of the family to comfort and help pay for the funeral - maybe that would be more winsome.
Christians should once again be the first to LOVE. Be the first to buy a coffee for a discourage co-worker. Be the first to help your neighbor or invite them to dinner.