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It seems to be that every week an “angry Christian” story hits the news. This week it’s focused on a church in England. This particular church decided to have people write in a Bible. Not just people from the church, but anyone who wanted to do it. The idea was part art and part an attempt to draw people into looking at the Bible in a new way. It was hoped that personalizing the Bible would make it more real for people. However what happened is that many people wrote “controversial” statements. This, according to the story, upset a lot of Christians.
Some of the comments were:
- “This is all sexist pish, so disregard it all.”
- “The biggest lie in human history.”
- “Mick Jagger and David Bowie belong in here.”
- “I am Bi, Female and Proud. I want no god who is disappointed in this.”
Okay, so I have no idea what the Mick Jagger / David Bowie comment means. Maybe it’s a British thing? But beside that, when I read those comments I don’t feel anger, I feel sadness. I don’t see a defaced Bible, I see breaking hearts. There is such bitterness and pain in those sentences that it betrays the authors.
I can’t imagine my life without God. I can’t imagine the loneliness, the hostility, the emptiness I would feel without that relationship. I understand saying that may seem “insensitive” or “ridiculous.” And a few years ago I would have agreed. But after having been on this revolutionary journey with God I have a new perspective. A perspective I couldn’t have grasped before I met God.
It’s that perspective that makes me see the pain in those sentences.
And it’s that same pain I wish Christians would pay attention to. Instead of reacting in anger about a “defaced” Bible, Christians should reach out in love. Yet so often we as Christ followers get wrapped up in our own views that we forget where we once were. That we once shared (and some still do) the pain and pride of the commentators.
It’s no wonder the world views us as so unChristian.
Believe it or not, humans don’t always want to deal with reality. Especially if reality conflicts with our lifestyle. Even when we know something is harmful to us (smoking) we still do it. Psychologists refer to the uncomfortable feelings two conflicting ideas create as as cognitive dissonance. One way we deal with this cognitive dissonance is by lashing out. We know, at some deep level, that the life we’re living isn’t how we were designed to live. But making a change seems overwhelming, too scary, or too hard. So we attack the message.
The Christian response should be one of love and compassion. Our truth should be matched by our grace. I say we should let more people “deface” the Bible like this. Their words can’t diminish the truth that’s contained in it’s pages. And it represents an opportunity to show them God’s grace. To me that sounds like a win-win situation. Not a time to get angry and defensive.
