Hey, Christian! Get your foot out of your mouth!

I know that Christians aren't perfect. I know firsthand because I AM a Christian and I am not even close to being perfect. What drives me nuts and makes me extremely angry (Godly anger, I hope) is when Christians say things and do things without thinking about the repercussions of their words or their actions (or "Putting your foot in your mouth!"). I am not talking about accidentally speaking out of turn or even saying things in jest. I am talking about Christian leaders who have an enormous amount of influence making purposeful statements about world events that are inflammatory enough to drive people away from God.

Have you been listening to Pat Robertson lately? I listened to his statements about the people of Haiti and I believe that he is true in doing something for the suffering of the people in Haiti, but what good does it do for anyone for him to bring up this so called "pact with the Devil" the Haitians made to free themselves from the oppression of the French? I don't know whether they actually had made such a pact, but I do know that someone needs to pull Pat Robertson aside and inform him that he is not helping Christianity out by recalling such things. Really Pat? Did you really have to say that? Now all of the news agencies are taking your words and plastering them all over the TV, the radio, and the internet quoting you correctly but misconstruing your intentions. What you have done was create one more hill for us to climb. One more hill for those of us who are trying to show people that Christianity is the best way to live.

This is not the first time Mr. Robertson has done this. Remember the terrorist attacks of 9/11? He and Jerry Falwell decided that it was all the ACLU's fault and the "pagan's, abortionists, feminists, gays and lesbians" fault that terrorists flew two planes into the World Trade Center towers.

My friends, evil is all around us. We live in evil times. Evil things happen because we have made historically wrong choices. Everyone. It started with Adam and Eve and it continues in us to this very day. If God is punishing the world it is not about a handful of outright groups that promote sinful agendas. It is about our apathy, our slothfulness, our gluttony, our selfishness, our spiritual farsightedness that can only see the sliver in our neighbors eye while we have a log protruding out of our own. The blame for the unchristian character of our nation (or any other nation for that matter) does not lie on the shoulders of the unchristian - it lies on the Christian shoulders. It is our fault we are where we are today. We should not be surprised when bad things happen. Our selfishness allows them to happen. Maybe we need to stop trying to thrust our spiritual morals onto our government. Instead of trying to get Roe v. Wade reversed why don't we fulfill the Great Commission and shower individuals with so much love that abortion wouldn't even be an option. Instead of trying to write that marriage is between a man and a woman in our constitution maybe us Christians should have marriages that show the passionate and selfless love between Christ and his church (his bride)! Maybe Christians should stop getting divorces at the same rate as non-christians.

Maybe if we would just get back to the basics of loving God, loving our neighbors, and loving our enemies - maybe, just maybe, some of this evil will go away. So instead of pronouncing judgment, Christian, let us be agents of compassion and sincere love. It is time to shut up and be the church instead opening up our mouths and saying things that cause division and distrust among those who don't know Jesus.

So Mr. Robertson and my fellow Christian lets get our foot out of our mouth and be what God has called us to be!