Life Outside the Bubble
I have lived my entire life in a bubble. Not an isolator containment center designed for those with the most extreme immune disorders but one that is often sterile, nonetheless. Many of my Christian brothers and sisters live in this bubble with me.
Born in a rural town in Texas, raised in a Christian family, and living my adult life in Dallas, I have always been surrounded by believers. Good, churchgoing Christians who seek God’s Word and strive to live righteously. Most of us have family, friends, and acquaintances who have rejected faith or are not strong in their faith, but because we’re surrounded by like-minded Christian folk, we’re pretty oblivious to those who peer into our bubble from the outside world. Even with today’s political and religious extremes played out in the news, we’re still a bit clueless as to how we as Christians are perceived outside our comfy, cozy cocoon. Or at least I was.
My husband and I recently purchased a second home that is well outside the Bible Belt. As we dine, shop, and interact with our neighbors in this community, I wear a cross, as I normally do in Dallas. There, few comment or even take notice of my statement piece. Here, eyes lock onto my Christian symbol of faith as if it were kryptonite. Then, without fail, people raise their gaze to look deep into my eyes (and yes—into my soul). On their faces is written, Are you one of those?
As I begin to establish relationships in this new area, a now-common statement made to me is “You’re not like any Christian I know.” The first time someone said this to me, I was caught off guard and asked, “Why do you say that?” Their reply: “You don’t make me feel judged.”
As the conversation was repeated with others over the weeks and months, God prepared my reply: “I’m so sorry you’ve been hurt. My job is not to judge you. Jesus sent me to love you.” You can’t even imagine the joy that lights up these faces! It’s like the weight of the world has been lifted from their shoulders.
Our personal Christian witness, indeed our Christian faith as a whole, is often disparagingly defined by nonbelievers as judgmental and hypocritical. Unfortunately, they’re often right. Our quest for living righteously can consciously or even subconsciously result in the unholy judgment of others. Not only does this affect the reputation of Christ-followers and our walk with Christ, but our righteous indignation can become the source of negative thoughts and actions that spread us thin—squelching the fruit of the Spirit that ensures lasting peace. Those who beat a drum of condemnation, either publicly or privately, will eventually experience an exhausted heart because this is not the role Jesus ever intended us to fill.
Christ could not have been clearer on the topic of judgment and love: In Matthew 7:1-3, he implored his followers, “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. . . . And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own?” [italics mine]. A bumper sticker sported by many who have suffered hurt and rejection at the hand of a well-meaning Christian reads, “Don’t judge me because I sin differently than you.” It’s not biblical, but it’s applicable.
But for every “not” that Jesus directed, he also provided us with a “do.” Christ was crystal clear in John 13 with this commandment: “Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” Paraphrasing, Jesus is saying, “Leave the judging to me, and I’ll let you do the fun part—just love on people.”
This is a call to arms, my dear Christian readers: Let’s change our reputation. Rather than being defined by what we don’t believe in, let’s be defined by what we’re called to be: outrageous lovers of Christ—and his sheep. Especially the lost ones.
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.
—Romans 3:23