Here, You Throw This Away.

Mitch Hedberg, a stand up comedian who sadly died in 2005, wrote a prescient joke. He said, "Whenever I walk, people try to hand me out fliers, and when someone tries to hand me out a flier, it's kinda like they're saying, 'Here, you throw this away.'" Very funny and very true. Fliers and even tracts get handed out every day by random people who seek to perpetuate their cause. That cause can be a concert in the next few days, a bake-sale for the local boy scout troupe, or even--heaven forbid--a Christian message.

It's easy to see why the two former examples would want to advertise, but why in the world would someone of a certain religious faith feel the need to advertise that message to others? Why would someone worry about how I live and feel the need to intrude upon my own autonomy to express their own, perhaps seemingly--and sometimes (unfortunately) actually--condemning views, upon me? Why don't they just mind their own business and let me live my life while they continue along with theirs?

The answer is love. The unfortunate and deplorable truth of condemnation and self-serving legalism aside, most Christians who hand out tracts to random people do so out of a sense of altruism that would rival any charity you may have ever contributed to. Many charities seek to help the poor and diseased and downtrodden. Evangelical Christians do this as well, and then attempt to do so much more.

If you had the cure for cancer, would you not try to get that message out? If you had the answer to world hunger and violence, would that not be a priority on your list of things to tell others? Some, I'm sure, would use that information to set up a corporation with its own marketing strategies replete with a media blitz to capitalize on the idea and make a fast and easy buck. Christians, however, who believe (whether you agree or not) that they have THE ONE AND ONLY way to salvation freely provide this information to others. There are many reasons behind this. The idea of love that I brought up earlier is but one.

Jesus Christ, who hung out with tax collectors, prostitutes, and other "unworthies" was the paradigm and example of how we should live our lives. Judging others has no place. Love for one another is, on the other hand, the single greatest and most important of any commandment within the tome we call the Bible. He modeled that within his own life, and we--as Christians--are commanded to emulate Him. This is good news. In an age of war, violence, hatred, murder, etc., wouldn't it be nice to have love?

All of you who may balk at the idea that people desire and seek out love might consider whether or not you live in a vacuum. Do you have a wife? girlfriend? child? Isn't love a part of this? Would you have a girlfriend or wife if you didn't have any use for love? (The desire for sexual relations notwithstanding.) Would you care for your child and seek the best for her if not for love? How many songs, poems, movies, books, magazine articles, (I could go on) deal with this very theme? The Beatles sang "all you need is love," and the world bought those records in droves.

There are exceptions to every rule. There are plenty of bad parents. There are plenty of people who have relationships (as I alluded to earlier) for the benefits of the physical nature. These, however, are in the minority. The argument could also be made that people such as this simply love themselves. But isn't that merely a warped version of what I am describing? Either way, love is pervasive and an indelible part of the human psyche and condition in general. This very thing, love, is what prompts people to share their faith in Jesus with complete strangers who may or may not give a crap. And with the antagonistic nature of many responses to any type of evangelism, it is clear (and sad) that many don't feel comfortable sharing their faith with others at all. But I digress.

Jesus, though, didn't simply teach us to be kind and love one another. He also commanded Christians, in Mark 16:15, to "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation." This is a necessity and an integral part of what being a Christian is all about, not to mention where the popular argument put forth by the many detractors of Christianity that its single path to salvation is exclusionary is easily and obviously broken down. (That, however, is a subject for--perhaps--my next blog.)

We, as Christians, are called to tell others the good news. This good news includes what we are all seeking: love. This good news takes all of the bad in our lives and transforms it for good. This good news gives us the ability to fail and fall short and not be doomed because of it. Moral subjectivism aside, can we not all agree that we are not perfect? Have you never done anything wrong? I know I have. It's nice to know that I have someone who, by his sacrifice, has atoned for anything and everything I will ever do that is bad. This is not a license to sin, but a license to hope. And who, after the last presidential election, can claim to care nothing for hope?

Pushy people forcing religion and condemnation are not what I am talking about here. I don't like those people/tactics any more than you do. But if we are honest with ourselves, we will see that others advertise in far more intrusive ways than the basic tract that is my subject. How often are you forced to sit through commercials on TV and radio about products you will never have a need for, never use, and possibly even deplore? At least Christians just hand you something you can either read, or simply do as Mitch Hedberg suggested, and throw away. This requires even less time than that commercial for feminine hygiene products or a myriad of others inconceivably placed between segments of male-viewer-dominated television shows. (Sorry, I can, in truth, only speak from my own experience.)

It's a bit refreshing, though, to think about the fact that those who seek to propagate the love of Jesus at least do it from a standpoint of caring and love, and not from seeking any sort of profit. The gift of grace we have in Jesus Christ is not a marketable commodity like the next sports drink or ipod. Its a gift extended to all who call themselves human to revel in an unconditional love, freely given by one who knows us better than we know ourselves.

So the next time some random person hands you a religious tract, try thinking about it in a different way. Try thinking that maybe that person cares about you. Try thinking that maybe you are worthy of love and acceptance by an amazing God who loves ALL of his children, whether they love (or even acknowledge the existence of) Him. And whether you believe or are an ardent atheist, try thinking that, if you don't agree, at least all you have to do is simply throw it away.

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As an addendum I would like to say that I do not think tracts are necessarily the best way to go about sharing your faith with others. Many people have come to faith through tracts, and for that reason I obviously do not object to them. That said, though, I believe people are relational and built that way for a reason. Handing out some reading material to a random person you do not know and may never meet again can lead to some issues.

First of all, do you trust everything a random person gives you? Is it real to you in any meaningful way? With the comments I've heard about people that hand out tracts, it clearly is not more times than it is. Second, what can Jesus do in my life? The idea of salvation may appeal to someone, but without anyone to model what can be done for an individual personally, this may seem more like a fairy tale we wish to be true rather than something real and transforming. Third, who is there to answer questions? I've yet to see anyone confronted with what Jesus could do in her life that did not have serious questions and maybe even misgivings that need to be addressed. If a person does not know anything about Jesus or maybe even hostile to the idea, she probably doesn't have a lot of strong Christians she can or is willing to turn to in order to answer her questions, concerns and doubts. Being told about the love of Jesus and salvation by a friend answers to all of these concerns.

As I said before, I am not against tracts and do not find them to be "wrong." I just think a more relational approach can and will be more effective in the long run. It is, albeit, harder for someone to talk to a friend. It is easy to say something controversial to a stranger you may never see again. (Check out the comments on internet posts for paradigm examples.) And even easier to simply hand someone a piece of paper they no doubt will not read until after you are gone. It is clearly more difficult to discuss things of this nature with friends or coworkers who may laugh at us, make fun of us, and even hate us for what may be perceived as crazy, stupid, and/or exclusionary. This is where relying upon the Lord for wisdom, strength and some bravery will come in very handy.

Love, God, Murder

It really doesn't surprise me that people are disillusioned with religion. In a time of extremism bordering on the insanity (if not boldly and unrepentantly crossing that particular line) it can be hard to fathom how in the world someone would want to commit their lives to anything so legalistic, exclusionary and hate-filled as that which masquerades as a message of salvation. I, for one, can agree. If joining up means hating others, killing oneself and others for the cause and discounting the very validity of another's right to her beliefs and feelings, count me out.

I am a believer, though. I hold a faith in something stronger, greater, and inherently better than anything humanity can attain of its own volition or power. How can that compute? The difference is that I subscribe to a religious tradition that may be even more misunderstood than Islam. If for no other reason than the fact that Christianity is more prevalent. (For the record, I don't presume to speak for any other society than the one in which I live. And that happens to be America.) After 9/11 America largely committed itself to a knee-jerk reaction that labeled all Muslims as terrorists. Very sad, but very typically American. I am sorry and upset by this.

More and more, though, I am coming to terms with the fact that people just don't understand what Christianity is all about. And this is manifesting itself in various ways that far overshadow what Muslims in this country may be feeling (if for no other reason than sheer numbers). Most of this, unfortunately, is perpetuated by so-called Christians, themselves. Legalism, hypocrisy and a holier-than-thou attitude from the Religious Right and other religious groups and people are the culprits that have contributed to a general disgust and even hatred of anyone who professes belief in a higher power, let alone Jesus Christ.

Quoted in the Indianapolis Star, Robert M. Price, a former fellow with the Jesus Seminar (a group of scholars who raised questions about the truth of parts of the Christian Bible) said,

"I get the impression that [people] have just sort of had enough of the Taliban and Jerry Falwell and people like that saying, 'I've got the word of God in my pocket, and you better do this and not that or you are going to hell," Grouping Jerry Falwell with the Taliban is a bit dubious, but in many ways I have to agree. Not with Price's premise or his beliefs about the Bible and its veracity, but with his general feeling about the job religion (mostly "Christianity" of one sort or another) has done in this country and others. Anyone who believes in God and professes to know the mind of the Creator must be taken to task for trying to be the child who wants to rule the house. If you believe in God, you must believe He is greater than us. And if He is greater than us, how can we presume to judge on His behalf?

I look to the Bible to find the answers. The Bible is many things: allegorical, mythological, sometimes contradicting, and even oftentimes offensive. It has something that no other text in history can hold a candle too, though. Truth. The Old Testament can be seen to condone slavery, oppression of women, and a sense of legalism that makes anything in current times seem minuscule. It has been used in and out of context to justify numerous atrocities. If we still had to live by Old Testament Law, we would stone our children for misbehaving and keep women in "their place." Jesus, and His actions which inspired the New Testament destroyed all of that.

Although I believe the Old Testament still has much to render in this debate, no longer are we expected to sacrifice an animal to atone for our sins. No longer are women subservient or even sub-human. No longer are purveyors of atrocities (who repent and believe) doomed to hell. And that includes the average person on the street doing what humans do best: wrong. Instead, we are given a gift. Jesus' death was the greatest gift anyone has ever given. He has taken our wrongs, and misdeeds unto himself and paid the price for us. It is a price that calls for death. But Jesus has called us OUT of death, by dying in our place.

This is the very definition of love. Love is wanting the best for someone else. Love is not judging, but accepting and caring. Love is taking the bad of someone else so they don't have to keep it within themselves. What has Jesus been given in return? Hopefully our love for Him.

This is grace, my friends. This is what true Christianity is all about. Love. Hatred plays no part. Legalism plays no part. Holier than thou plays no part. Judging plays no part. No one earns their way into heaven. Because no one can. Along with a belief in Him, we are given a gift that allows us to be horrible people, but still loved and accepted by our Father, God Himself.

Something else is important to realize, though. We have been given free will. We don't have to believe. We can choose to do whatever we want. We are allowed to hate God. We are allowed to reject His gift and attempt to do it on our own. We are even allowed to deny his existence and decide that there is no higher authority and therefore nothing to live up to. The subjectivism of this notwithstanding. Hating someone or killing someone for contrary beliefs has NOTHING to do with Christianity (or true Islam, for that matter). Jesus Christ, the namesake of the cause, did not do this. He loved his enemies. He killed no one. He spent time with people who were horrible and hateful and unrepentant in order to show His love. And He was sacrificed for them. Not just the so-called "good." Not just for the preachers and the purveyors of Christian wisdom. He didn't die for Billy Graham alone. He died for the lost. He died for the fallen. He died for the doomed and the hated. He died for ALL of us. No exceptions. None.

Religion sucks. Dogma sucks. Legalism sucks. If we had to live by that I don't even know where I would be. I am no saint. But religion is something man has taken and perverted in his own image. God and His son Jesus are good. God is love. God is there for everyone without worrying about the color of your skin or your profession or your particular faults or even your particular sins. God sent Jesus to atone for every person on the face of this earth and (pay attention Christians) loves EVERY person and values EVERY person as well. Those of us who already are Christians should spend some time contemplating this and lose our own prejudices in favor of love and the amazing grace of God. For those who don't know, don't acknowledge or even hate God, I pray for you to find a love that is more than any love on this earth, and accepts and even loves, even you.