What Message Are You Conveying?

I saw a car today with two bumper stickers. One said, “The more people I know, the more I like my dog.” I sort of chuckled inwardly at that. There are some people (me included) that are hard to love. Let’s face it most of us are hard to love in one way or another.

When I read the second bumper sticker I was silenced. It said, “Fight like a real man. Pray.”

Don’t get me wrong. I love a call to prayer. God’s people need to pray and fight the real battle on our knees. What struck me was the dichotomy between an apparent dislike of people and a professed love for God.

Jesus said the two greatest commandments are to love God and love others (Matthew 22:38-40).

It stands to reason that if we love God we are to love people – broken, sinful, deceived, stubborn, stiff-necked, irritating, people. In fact God loved us so much He sent His Son to die for us (John 3:16). If people are loved and cherished by God then should we not love and cherish people too?

Or are we as a church much like the driver of that car? Do we convey a love for God, but a dislike for people?

Don’t get me wrong. People are hard to love, but if we truly love God, He will change our hearts. He will give us hearts that long for all to know Him as Savior, hearts that yearn for none to perish. Oh brothers and sister in Christ may we not lose sight of people in our zeal for God. May we be covered in and oozing grace from every pore. Remembering it is only by God’s grace that we are saved.

So what do you think? Are you conveying a mixed message? One of love for God and dislike for people? Or maybe you have seen other mixed signals in the church. Join in the discussion.