This past weekend, my girls and I
visited New Orleans! It was so much fun catching up with them, joking around,
and making wonderful new memories which I am sure we will talk about for years
to come. This was my first visit to New
Orleans. I’ve always wanted to go there
to experience their culture, eat beignets, and listen to live jazz on the
streets (and I did just that!)
The first night my friends and I
decided to grab a bite to eat and explore the infamous Bourbon Street. There was so much activity on that bustling
street! I felt like I was experiencing sensory overload! The crowd was diverse
with many races, ages, and backgrounds.
There were hundreds of people walking, laughing, and dancing down the
street. It was quite a lively
atmosphere! Some of the things I saw shocked me, though. There were strippers and half naked women
prancing and dancing down the street (which was a lot for a small-town girl
like me to see). But overall, it was an
animated and interesting experience.
Also on that energetic street was
a small Christian group. They stood in
the middle of the street with a makeshift cross they had erected. This group was not smiling. They did not appear to be friendly or
approachable. They did not attempt to “converse” with others. They just stood there talking among themselves
around the cross. Many people passed by them and I did not notice them speak
directly to anyone. Yet, there was an
unspoken message that resounded loudly: You
are a sinner. You need to turn from your
wicked ways and follow The Lord.
When I walked passed the group an
older gentleman handed me a small flyer which read “God loves you.” That was it.
No conversation. No
greeting. No smile - just a piece of
paper with a message that did not match the old man’s demeanor. Now, to some this may not be a big deal
because God does love me. But, I felt
slighted and instantly judged as a sinner.
Yes, me…a believer…with an inspirational blog…who attends church
regularly…and has a relationship with God…felt judged.
This led me to wonder how
non-believers and those who may not have been introduced to Jesus yet may have
felt when walking past this group. Did they also feel judged? Did they feel
labeled? Did they feel uncomfortable? Let me be clear, I respect the Christian
group’s intent and I think it is wonderful that they want to share God’s word
with the lost. However, I believe that
their approach could be improved. I wonder if that group influenced any to
accept Jesus during that weekend. The
message they handed me is absolute good news and this good news is something that
should be excitedly shared! However, it’s
difficult for non-believers to accept our message if we are not examples of it. Our God is compassionate towards us (Psalm
103:8) and He loved us while we were still sinners. He demonstrated that love by sending His Son
to die for us (Romans 5:8). His love
covers a multitude of sins and He keeps no record of wrongs (1 Peter 4:8 and 1
Corinthians 13:5). There are many who
are living in opposition to God’s way mainly because they do not know that God
truly loves them. Let us show them God’s love and His desire to
have them become a part of His family. Let us
share God’s word and speak His truths with joy and with a smile. We need to do more than just make a statement
on Facebook, or post a picture on Instagram, or wear a cross to show forth our
relationship with God. Instead, let us
mirror His love. You know how the
expression goes, actions speak louder
than words. So as believers, we
can’t just talk the talk…we have to walk the talk! I believe the group of believers would have
been more effective if they stood there with the cross and smiled at people and
engaged them in conversation about the faith.
So today, I encourage you to
reflect on how you share God’s message with others. More importantly, does your lifestyle and
demeanor mimic God’s message? Remember,
we are stepping up this year. But as we
elevate spiritually we must not exalt ourselves and look down on those who are
struggling. #BreakOut
