A good friend shared the following quote with me this week. He thought that not only would I enjoy it, it would give me something to write about and express my feelings.
According to a profile in Christianity Today entitled "The Positive
Prophet," Campolo would often begin a speech this way: "I have three
things I'd like to say today. First, while you were sleeping last
night, 30,000 kids died of starvation or diseases related to
malnutrition. Second, most of you don't give a shit. What's worse is
that you're more upset with the fact that I said shit than the fact
that 30,000 kids died last night."
Prophet," Campolo would often begin a speech this way: "I have three
things I'd like to say today. First, while you were sleeping last
night, 30,000 kids died of starvation or diseases related to
malnutrition. Second, most of you don't give a shit. What's worse is
that you're more upset with the fact that I said shit than the fact
that 30,000 kids died last night."
I seriously appreciated this quote because it gave me a lot to think about. When I talk to non-Christians, they normally tell me about how Christians are so hypocritical, saying one thing and doing another. While this quote may only touch on that, to me it says something else. Campolo makes a statement about the death of children. He follows up the statement with a sentence using a word that is considered bad, something we don't use in our everyday language. My favorite sentence is the last. Campolo says that what's worse is that we as Christians are more concerned about the fact that he said, "Shit" instead of the children that died. Now that is the problem with that picture.
Another instance this week made me think about the way that supposed "Christians" get caught up on themselves and forget about others. One of my students shared this story with me. She told me that when she first moved to this university she was placed in a dorm room with a very sweet girl. It just so happened that the girl was Muslim. She prays five times a day to Allah, fasts during Ramadan, reads the Quran, and so on. When my student went home to her host family, she began telling her host mother about her new roommate. She shared just how sweet the girl was, how they look out for each other, and then she added that the girl was Muslim. Do you know how this supposed "Christian" host mother responded? She looked at my student and said..."Well that's great that you get along so well. But your roommate and her family are going to Hell." My student left that conversation saddened because here she was half way across the world from her home, she has finally found a friend and her host family tells her they are going to hell. What a way for a Christian to act.
This story brings up way too many deep issues for me to get into today, things like Muslims going to heaven and are they praying to the same God I do? I have my own set of opinions and would be glad to share if you ask.
There is a group of students on this campus, that shall remain nameless, and I feel that they believe they are the ultimate in the faith. They walk around this campus going after students that are not Christian. They even go after students that are Christian, they just feel they don't act like it. Since I work with international students, many of my students are not Christian. I do not judge them, I do not force them to convert, I allow them to live out their beliefs in their own way, all the while I behave as a Christian. Since the students have been back on campus, about 6 weeks, numerous students have come to me crying. When I ask them what is wrong, they explain to me that students from this "group" have confronted them. In their confrontations, they tell them that unless they believe the way they do, they are going to hell. Now... what a way to reach someone for Christ. There was no love in their statements, no saving grace, just an explanation that unless they change their ways, Hell is their destination. I truly believe these people are out to get numbers....to convert students and then let them be. I've asked several from this group...are you scaring people to death and making converts, or are you making true disciples of Jesus Christ?
So as I think about Campolo's quote...I wonder. As Christians, are we more concerned about the word "shit" (or various others) or do we truly care about humanity?
Another instance this week made me think about the way that supposed "Christians" get caught up on themselves and forget about others. One of my students shared this story with me. She told me that when she first moved to this university she was placed in a dorm room with a very sweet girl. It just so happened that the girl was Muslim. She prays five times a day to Allah, fasts during Ramadan, reads the Quran, and so on. When my student went home to her host family, she began telling her host mother about her new roommate. She shared just how sweet the girl was, how they look out for each other, and then she added that the girl was Muslim. Do you know how this supposed "Christian" host mother responded? She looked at my student and said..."Well that's great that you get along so well. But your roommate and her family are going to Hell." My student left that conversation saddened because here she was half way across the world from her home, she has finally found a friend and her host family tells her they are going to hell. What a way for a Christian to act.
This story brings up way too many deep issues for me to get into today, things like Muslims going to heaven and are they praying to the same God I do? I have my own set of opinions and would be glad to share if you ask.
There is a group of students on this campus, that shall remain nameless, and I feel that they believe they are the ultimate in the faith. They walk around this campus going after students that are not Christian. They even go after students that are Christian, they just feel they don't act like it. Since I work with international students, many of my students are not Christian. I do not judge them, I do not force them to convert, I allow them to live out their beliefs in their own way, all the while I behave as a Christian. Since the students have been back on campus, about 6 weeks, numerous students have come to me crying. When I ask them what is wrong, they explain to me that students from this "group" have confronted them. In their confrontations, they tell them that unless they believe the way they do, they are going to hell. Now... what a way to reach someone for Christ. There was no love in their statements, no saving grace, just an explanation that unless they change their ways, Hell is their destination. I truly believe these people are out to get numbers....to convert students and then let them be. I've asked several from this group...are you scaring people to death and making converts, or are you making true disciples of Jesus Christ?
So as I think about Campolo's quote...I wonder. As Christians, are we more concerned about the word "shit" (or various others) or do we truly care about humanity?
1 comment:
So for a while I've wanted to post a blog about a quote, but I kept putting it off. You're blog gave me the umph to do it. Good quote, good thoughts.
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