Why is it that Christianity has gotten a bad reputation?  Especially here on Cafemom I have seen that to announce yourself as Christian is like a wet blanket has been thrown on the conversation.  It turns people off.  I think I know why.  Because lots of Christians are very concerned with legalism and the eternal souls of those around them.  They have gotten away from a very important point that is made over and over in the word of God. LOVE. 

Yes, there are many things that Jesus taught about in his messages, but one of the overriding factors of all of his teachings was love.  Read through the gospels and you will see this.  The parable of the prodigal son, when Jesus dined with tax collectors and other sinners, when Jesus talked to the Samaritan woman, just to name a few - the overriding message in all of these incidences is love and grace. 

We can't call it persecution or hatred that closes peoples minds to his message if we aren't giving the correct message to begin with.  If we are not showing the love of Jesus Christ in the world we are missing the mark. We need to (each of us) examine out hearts and see if our motives are pure in our portrayal of Jesus. 

We can't use Jesus as a weapon to wound the spirits of other people, that is not what putting on the armor of God means.  The armor of God is meant to protect your own heart, not to drive an arrow through the heart of someone else.  Being Jesus in the world means to love those you come in contact with so that they will walk a way with the feeling of hhmmm...there was something different about her...I can't put my finger on it...

 "Real Christianity is lovely. There is a quality about a Spirit-filled, radiant Christian that draws and attracts others and causes them to ''enjoy favor with all the people.'' The truth is that the gospel is not nearly as offensive as some of its proponents!"

O. S. Hawkins

1 Corinthians 13

    ¹If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ²If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.     ⁴Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  ⁸Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

Passage Romans 13:8-10:

   ⁸Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. ⁹The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet,"and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." ¹⁰Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

I Believe - Building 429