Christianity

“If I say little about my own sense of insufficiency, do me the justice to believe, that it is not because I am not well aware of it.” J.C. Ryle

I like it when people like me. Is that such a problem? I’m a people pleaser…or at least I try to be. I like to be the good guy, the fun guy, the fun-ny guy. I want every body to say, “Hey, you know that Lee guy? He’s a hoot. What a guy!” Of course this desire to please people does not bode well when it comes to talking to people about religion, about God, Christianity.

I’ve never been one to walk up to people and shout, “You’re going to hell!” I’m not a fan of that approach, and I certainly don’t think it works. In fact, and this could be a bad thing, I usually don’t even bring up the subject of religion to someone who is…well, going to hell. That almost sounds rude, uncalled for, but that is my belief right? If you believe in a Heaven you have to believe in a Hell. My point is, I just don’t like pointing it out to people that they, if there is a God, which I believe there to be, are going to hell. Instead I just smile, be friendly, and let them know why I am smiling: God is good. God is great. I love blueberry pancakes.

But sometimes I do think it’s necessary to say something, especially to those who believe they are not going to Hell: fellow Christians. I’m just not sure how. Every time I try, I come off as a judgmental fool and that’s honestly not my attempt. It’s funny, because the reason I don’t talk much to non-Christians is because I’m afraid they’ll beat me up, but I’m afraid talking to fellow Christians might have the same, undesired, effect. The thing is: Christians don’t like you to point out what they’re doing wrong. Trust me, I know. I am one. Tell me what I’m doing wrong and I most likely will disagree. It has to do with pride. We all have it. But sometimes God puts it on my heart to speak up, to say something, and I want to. But how do I do it? I mean, and be the cool guy?

I see things like fellow Christians swearing, or getting drunk and partying, or talking about women in such unhealthy ways and I want to say something like, “Hey man…as Christians, we shouldn’t be doing that.” But isn’t that judgmental? Yes. Does it still need to be said? Yes. Will they still like me if I say it? No. Uh-oh.

I imagine the usual response would be, “Well, you’re not perfect!” And that’s true. I’m not…far from it to be exact. And the fact that I would be judgmentally pointing that stuff out goes to show how less than perfect I am, but I try. I constantly pray that God can steer me in the right direction, away from sin, so that one day I can be…well, a little less-less than perfect.

I want to “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)

I fear that “a few” is far less than we think. And the only reason I want to say anything is because I want others to understand.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matthew 7:21-23)

They need to understand. Heck, some of them are my friends, my family, people I care about. I just don’t know how to get that point across.

Perhaps I should just keep my mouth shut, let God do all the work. I heard He’s pretty good at that kind of stuff. Plus, I’m scared that if I ever decided to run my mouth I wouldn’t have any friends. Nobody would like me. We can’t have that now, can we?