The Evil Christians Do

There is no group of people more vilified in our society than the fundamentalist Christian. What is it about us that inspires such hatred? There is no answer to that question which is free of hypocrisy, but I ponder over it nonetheless. The reason for my curiosity might lie in the universal human need to love and be loved in return. No doubt there’s some truth in that idea. However, the real reason may be more practical; I am not free to do otherwise.

The Christian faith does not allow for love based upon personal preference. While I choose to live a monogamous, heterosexual, quiet, law-abiding life, I am not free to be indifferent to those who do not make the same choices. I am not compelled to agree with or approve of their choices. In fact, I am free to hate those choices. I am, however, bound to love and shelter from harm every man regardless of his choices.

I believe sin separates man from the love of God and condemns men to a literal, eternal hell. (That belief alone seems to be sufficient grounds for the world’s hatred.) At the same time that I believe in sin and hell, I am compelled by the love of God to desire the rescue of all those who might be in danger of that terrible fate. The fact that others choose not to believe themselves in danger is of no consequence--I still must love them and care what happens to them. I am not free to stand idly and silently by while fellow beings, made in the image of God, destroy themselves. Neither am I released from the obligation to care because I am hated in return. On the contrary, I am obligated to care all the more for my enemies.

Maligning my faith and my person integrity is not sufficient cause to turn me aside. I am persistent--and that really ticks people off. But, in truth, my motives are not completely altruistic. There is an element of personal gain in my love for God has said:

“When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.”