I don’t know about you, but I hate stereotypes. You simply cannot group people together accurately by using broad generalizations. The problem, however, is a stereotype is grown out of many people acting the same way over a long time. Christianity has become stereotyped in this day and age. Listen to some with an opposing view, and you’ll hear some very negative things about those of our faith.
How did those views form? Why is it that Christians are labeled as bigots, closed minded, or full of hate? Why do non-Christians get heated when Christians stand for what they believe in? Did they just make up accusations? Of course not, they have seen people act in these ways over the years. For all too long Christians have, in the name of Christ, discriminated against people who did not match what they viewed as “good Christians.”
Jesus did not call us to discriminate. He did not ever say we are allowed to judge others. He never said that it was okay for us to leave those in a hurt and dying world in the state that they are currently in. By contrast, we are commanded to spread His gospel to and create disciples in the entire world.
So, how do you change the way Christians are viewed? Simple, live like Christ. Live oppositely from how Christians have been viewed over the years. Change minds by showing that you are different. It’s time for Christianity to come back to Christ! It starts with us. We are the future and present of the church. It will take many of us a long time to create a new stereotype for Christians, one which is more like Christ, but it’s worth it!
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