Christians who are engaged in works of justice and compassion make a tremendous difference in the world, but usually do not receive considerable attention from the media. Over the last few days several stories have put on display behaviors that can only be viewed as unhelpful, unhealthy, and un-Christian. Three such stories are
- Fake church kidnapping;
- Black couple denied church wedding ; and
- Puppeteer who performed at churches sought to become a cannibal.
So What?
For all readers, especially those who do not follow Jesus, I want to make it clear that these actions are not representative of Christianity. Recognizing that sensationalism sells and acknowledging that media outlets feature stories that enhance market share is important, but inadequate. What are you doing to live and share what you understand to be an authentic version of living as a follower of Jesus? How is your congregation involved in a similar venture? your network of churches or denomination? (Winning the Story Wars is great resource for learning to tell better stories. Read my review here.)
Note: While this trio is troublesome, these stories have received far less publicity than another troubling tale: Chic-fil-A (I will write more on that matter on August 1, which is now something of a “line in the sand” day for those on both sides of the issue).