That statement, made by Jennifer Lee, a young mother with three children, was recorded in the "Faith and Values" section of a Wichita newspaper. A friend of mine read it aloud one day and my reaction to Jennifer's statement was one of sadness.

Why did this woman have such a paranoia in regard to Christians, I wondered. What about them was awful enough to make her skin crawl?

I concluded that perhaps Jennifer had met a fraud, a counterfeit Christian. But hypocrites exist in all vocations. And to discount the good people in a profession, because some are corrupt, would certainly be unfair. There are bankers who embezzle and lawyers who are sharks, but at some point in life, most people will seek the services of honorable professionals, and be glad for them.

After more thought, I decided that perhaps Jennifer had come in contact with a zealot; a Christian who needed a little toning, taming, or training---someone whose zeal overrode their good manners, someone who needed to learn to communicate their values more effectively. Perhaps Jennifer encountered a Christian who overwhelmed her, causing her unexpected discomfort. As a result, she may have developed a bias.

I recalled an experience of my own, when I felt overpowered by a religious person's fervor.

I was attending a funeral in a distant city. During the time set aside for visitation, the family of the deceased gathered near the front of the room, beside the lifeless form of the one they loved, to remain there for the majority of the evening.

As visitors came forward to pay their respects, they spoke to the assembled family members, offering words of condolence.

In observing this throughout the night, I noted the surviving spouse was often in tears as she responded to those about her. Distraught, exhausted, and traumatized, the least of her miseries seemed to be her aching feet.

I spoke with her son that evening, a former childhood playmate. "I don't see how you do it," I said. "I'm not sure I could stand there and handle what you're going through." I knew the kind words of well-meaning friends would launch from my eyes an avalanche of tears, and break my heart all over again.

I expected a response to what I said, but not the one I received. As I sat facing the person to whom I was speaking, near the front of the room, he suddenly knelt before me. Thrusting his face just inches from my nose, he gripped my shoulder, stared intently into my eyes, and intoned dramatically, "By the grace of God, Mary, by the grace of God!"

Totally unprepared for the intensity of his response, and the invasion of my "space," embarrassment crept over me. My immediate thought was, "How can I relieve the awkwardness of this moment?"

Maybe Jennifer Lee met someone like that, a person who unsettled her, and thus feels her apprehension of "Christians" justified.

Or, it could be that she's simply uninformed, and therefore unappreciative. She may be unaware of how much Christianity has contributed to civilization in a positive way. Perhaps a few historical facts and some study would change her point of view.

For instance, I wonder if she realizes the direct benefit to her as a woman because of the Bible principle that everyone is of equal value before God? (Galatians 3:28.)

In reading James Kennedy's book, What If Jesus Had Never Been Born? I learned the following facts. Prior to Christian influence, a woman's life was very cheap. In ancient culture, a wife was considered the property of her husband, and according to Aristotle, a woman was somewhere between a free man and a slave. If you consider how valueless a slave was in ancient times, you get a glimpse of how bad a woman's fate was.

Baby girls were killed simply because of their gender. When missionaries came into lands unaffected by Christianity, they found appalling practices of female infants put out as food for wild dogs and wolves, or just left to die, exposed to the elements. But Christians placed value on human life, taught that value and saved many of these babies.

Christians then went on to create orphanages, missions and countless charities.

Inspiration for some of the greatest works of art, music and literature sprang from Christian influence. As a result we have the great cathedrals of Europe, the melodies of Bach, and the work of men like John Bunyan, John Milton and Charles Dickens, whose last published book, The Life of Our Lord opened with these words:

"My dear children, I am very anxious that you should know something about the history of Jesus Christ. For everybody ought to know about Him. No one ever lived, who was so good, so kind, so gentle, and so sorry for all people who did wrong, or were in any way ill or miserable, as He was."

The influence of Jesus Christ led to the abolition of slavery through the lifelong effort of the evangelical William Wilberforce, and through members of the abolitionist society, two-thirds of whom were ministers.

Almost all of the first colleges and universities in the U.S., including Princeton, Yale and Harvard were Christian in origin. And in Third World countries, it was primarily Christians who educated countless millions in literacy and health care.

In view of these facts, and innumerable others, it is unquestionable that Christianity has improved our lives and the world in general. We sometimes forget, however, what life might be like without its influence.

James C. Hefley tells the story of an American soldier stationed on a remote island in the Pacific during WW II. The soldier met a national on the island who could speak English, and who was carrying a Bible. The soldier pointed to the Bible, grinned, and said, "We educated people don't put much faith in that Book anymore."

The islander grinned back. "Well, it's a good thing for you that we do," he said, patting his stomach, "or you'd be in here by now."

Now there's a thought that could make your skin crawl. A society without a Saviour would be dangerous indeed. It's not Christians Jennifer Lee needs to fear, but the woeful absence of them.

NOTE FROM JERRY:

Here's a response we received to the above titled "talk"...We felt it would be helpful to consider. While we enjoyed and agreed with the "talk"...on the other hand, we see the need to look at the "lesson" shared by one of our subscribers. We hope you will enjoy this:

Dear Jerry,

Let me tell you MY own reasons for feeling pretty much the same way this person did, but perhaps not for the same reasons. My skin may not "crawl", but it's like my senses go on "high alert" when someone says to me, "I'm a christian." And I will tell you why: it has never failed--as surely as they make the statement, they are trying to impress me. Impress me with their status, trying to find some "common ground" on which they and I stand, to either sell me something or con me out of something!

Just recently, a young man pulled into my driveway. He approached me and asked, "What happened to the sign you used to have in that tree?" indicating an old tree in the side yard. I answered, "I don't know what you are talking about." He said, "It said, 'Jesus Saves' on it, and when I would drive through here, I'd be so tired. But when I saw that sign, 'Jesus Saves', I wouldn't feel tired any more." I looked at him, and said, "You're a politician, right? You want to put up a 'vote for me' sign in my yard, right? Then I asked him, "Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your PERSONAL Savior? Is your name written in the Lamb's Book of Life?" His answer? "I attend the XXXXXXXX church here in town, when I have time." I said back to him, "Sir, you did not answer my question." He answered, "Well, that's a private matter." I said to him, "No sir, it's not a private matter. If you are ashamed to acknowledge Jesus Christ in your heart and life, He will be ashamed of you before our Heavenly Father. Next time, don't lie to somebody about why you are taking up their time. If the truth won't serve you, don't be a slave to lying."

4 years ago, reverse went out in my car. Where we lived, there was a slight slope as you pulled into the parking space--it wasn't very difficult to put the car in neutral, stick my left foot out the door, and push backwards to get it out of the parking space. For several months, I put up with it. One day I went into the local transmission repair company to get an estimate of the cost to fix it. One of the first things the owner said to me was, "I'm a christian. I'll fix your car and stand behind our work." Dumb me. All the other gears worked fine, mind you, including overdrive. When I got my car back, it did go into reverse, but overdrive has never worked right since. I took the car back to him; he refused to talk to me and his cronies acted like they had never seen me. Now I paid this 'christian' exactly what he said he wanted to fix my car, in cash, when I picked the car up, but standing behind his work? The closest he came to that was when he stood behind it and handed me the keys to it.

Anytime a person feels compelled to announce "I'm a christian", watch out! Watch out! Gather your little ones close, get a firm grip on your wallet, and be wary of every word that comes out of their mouth. This is NOT placing all folks in the same bucket, as the writer in your article implies. When I hear a person say, "I'm a christian", every sense I have is warned, "Watch out! Watch out!" Or as Sherlock would say, "There's a game afoot."

As we have stated before, and will state again, a TRUE follower of Christ will rarely, if ever, have to make such a statement. Their lives will show it in what they say, how they act, what they do, where they go, etc. Their spirit will confirm it, their attitude will display it. Matter of fact, there is so much fraud and bunko going on with so-called "christians", I avoid using the term, "I am a christian." I gladly and freely acknowledge that I am a follower of Jesus Christ, but it's not just semantics.

A local car dealer, just 2 years ago, had John 3:16 painted over his store entrance; a television interview showed him saying, "I am a christian". In less than a year of having opened his used car dealership, he was under indictment for extortion and fraud. He took peoples' cars on "consignment" and sold them, but never paid them for them. Yet he lived in a "mansion" ($400,000) house in Brentwood.

I don't know the reason the young mother said what she did, but I know how I feel whenever I am around someone who announces, "I am a christian". Call it judging, but it's not: I immediately start looking for the fruits of their claim. Let me put it this way: a man I once worked for said to me one day, and I agree with him, "I would far rather do business with someone who I KNOW is a sinner, than to deal with someone who professes to be a christian. For the most part, you know what to expect out of a sinner; in many cases, they will be far more honest and forthright in their dealings than someone who insists they are a 'christian'. I have found it to be true.

I liked the article, Jerry. I pray, sincerely I pray, it will stir the hearts and minds of all those who read it, to examine themselves to see if what they are saying is what they are doing. [ The End ]