Several months ago, I learned via a phone call that a particular religious group was going to be picketing at Cross Point’s Nashville campus. This religious group based out of Kansas is famous for showing up at churches, religious organizations, and funerals of service men with what I consider to be vulgar picket signs. A few of the signs I’ve read before have said…
- Thank God for 9/11
- God hates fags
- God hates Jews
- You’re going to hell
I don’t know any other way to describe them other than religious bigots.
They didn’t show up on that particular Sunday. They did come to Nashville, as expected, but stopped at another church. There was a part of me that was really looking forward to confronting them. I’d rehearsed my speech to them in my head over and over. I was a bit embarrassed though by just how harsh my rehearsed speech had become.
I remember hearing Matt Chandler say, “We must be gracious to the grace killers.”
I honestly hate that. I really do. I deeply struggle with this concept.
Grace to sinners? Yep.
Grace to screw-ups? No problem.
Grace to self-righteous, pride-filled, judgmental types? Um, not so quick.
I’ve found that it’s much easier for me to show grace to the homeless drug addict than it is the person who thinks our music is too loud at church.
It’s easier to show grace to the unwed pregnant mom than it is the lady who’s barking about the church not doing enough for her kids.
It’s easier to show grace to the guy who’s had the affair than it is the person who thinks Christians should never watch TV.
The problem is if you don’t extend grace to the grace killers…well…you are them.
Who do you struggle extending grace to these days?
