Dear Christian, I don't hate u cuz of Jesus. I hate u cause you're a jerk ~Non-Christian

'Gays for Jesus'.
'Prostitutes for Jesus'.
'Drunkards for Jesus'.
'Sex addicts for Jesus'.
'Drug dealers for Jesus'.
'Pimps for Jesus'.

Can you imagine those phrases plastered all over giant bill boards as you drive down the turn-pike?

I'm not taking about some kind of creative evangelistic strategy. I'm talking about gays, prostitutes and drunkards actually paying for such advertisements...

Seems far fetched doesn't it?

I mean, on a scale of 1-10, I think my shock value would be '11'.

The problem with that is, 2k years ago, the shock value would have been a '1' because Jesus was actually beloved and attractive by the most 'sinful' people.

Did u hear that?

I didn't say Jesus loved them (sure he did). I said they loved jesus. They really did.

They didn't necessarily agree with him. Some of them had not even prayed the prayer YET they loved him and wanted to be around him. They invited him to parties and went out to dinner with him.

One time, a prostitute crashed an upper-class party just to get close to Jesus.

Its the strangest paradox ever.

The most unholy people loved to be around the most holy person that ever lived.

Not so much today.

'Unholy' people want nothing to do with us 'holy' church people. They are not inviting us over for dinner and aren't particularly compelled to share life with us.

Can I just be honest with us?

[Sometimes] That's not because you love Jesus.

The world doesn't hate us cause we love Jesus, they hate us cause we're jerks.
And selfish.

Or because we're bad employees.
and we complain and gossip more than they do.

Or because we preach grace down at them from our sky scrappers of self righteousness...
and we are more known for what we are against than what we are for.

I'm not saying there is no persecution. There is.

I'm just saying we need to stop hiding behind Jesus because if Jesus were walking around physically at our work, school or hood, some of those 'sinners' who hate us might actually like him.

I'm not saying everyone will like us. Even Jesus didn't pull that off.
I'm also not saying the gospel isn't offensive.

I'm just saying someone(s) unlike you ought to be attracted to you.

'Unholy' people should invite you over for dinner or football.

Not because you don't stand for anything but because you love them so radically.

If none of that is happening then you might either be living in a fish bowl or you might be [gasp] like the be a modern day Pharisee. [Blinded by your self-righteousness and religion]

I love my Christian friends. I need my Christian friends.
But truth is, I'm more concerned and excited about sharing life with those who are nothing like me.

Are you?

Why do you think people who were nothing like Jesus wanted to be around him?
Why do you think people who are nothing like us want nothing to do with us?