Wikipedia defines a “Bible thumper” as someone perceived as aggressively imposing their Christian beliefs upon others. The term derives from preachers thumping their hands down on the Bible, or thumping the Bible itself, to emphasize a point during a sermon. The term’s target domain is broad and can often extend to anyone engaged in a public show of religion, fundamentalist or not. The term is most commonly used in English-speaking countries.

We have all experienced a good bible thumping haven’t we? How did the experience effect you?

Life is tough and it hits hard. Everyone has to deal with crises in life, including Christians and sometimes the reality of life can seem unbearable. But it breaks my heart that we who call ourselves Christians judge and beat people over the head with His word and even worse…our lives just don’t demonstrate what we say!

James Stalker writes of Jesus:  “His love to men…completely swallowed up self-love, filled Him with boundless pity for human misery, and enabled Him to go forward without once looking back in the undertaking to which he had devoted himself…All human distinctions disappeared…men of every class were only men to Him.”

Story after story it has been loving the unlovable or caring for those held in contempt by others that has brought Jesus into focus. It’s when our knee jerk reaction of “walking on by” is overcome by a risky approach to the world’s wounded that brings Jesus into focus. It’s when we step off the popular pathway of self-indulgence and travel down some arduous back road, that others avoid, that brings Jesus into focus.

So…

How about we begin by loving people!

How about we just listen!

How about we pause and step into their circumstances and walk a bit in their shoes!

Please hear this…

To those who call themselves Christian or Followers of Jesus Christ remember Jesus didn’t take the nails for only you! Stop the “holier than thou” attitude! Stop measuring on the pious meter! Stop with the self-righteous bull$@!%! Let people see Jesus in your eyes and BE a message to them!!

Do you love the way you’ve been loved by Jesus?

Oh, and quit running from challenging situations. The lives of people matter far too much, so journey with them toward freedom, toward healing, toward authenticity…in the name of Jesus!!