Shame, shame, shame, shame, shame, shame, shame, shame, shame, shame, shame, shame, shame!

Get the message? No? I'll explain.

I've been privy to several conversations lately that make me want to wag my finger at Christians. First of all, there seems to be a lot of finger waggin' and downright condemnation by so-called Christians who are leaving nasty, accusatory comments on different blogs that I read. They want to give failing report cards to people they don't know. They want to tell them how wrong a Christian the bloggers are and how, if they lived their lives the "right" way (according to themselves) they'd be better off. How would you like to get this in your comment box:

Havent you never heard the saying let go and let God? Well you need to do that. I bet if someone were to go and pick through your past wed find all sorts of things that werent very positive and I bet its because you insist on controlling your own life and not letting God control it. You have huge satanic influences in your life and thats why you make yourself sick. its Gods way of trying to get the evil out of you. Almost every person who has an eating disorder has some sort of issue and needs to let go and let God. You should probably get down on your knees and thank God for the blessings you do have and give your life back over to him. Atone for your sins and ask Jesus back into your heart. I bet things will be right as rain in no time.

This was in the "In" box of one of my favorite bloggers. What do you think of this? Does that make you want to jump on the Christian bandwagon? What do you mean it makes you want to run in the other direction? Does this make you feel like Jesus could be your Homeboy? Do you feel the love? Nah, me neither.

You have huge satanic influences in your life and thats why you make yourself sick.

Now, isn't that the kind of thing that makes you want to change your life? Isn't that just the greatest thing to have someone say to you? Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside (insert eye roll here). Does it make you want to say, "Hey, thanks. That was just what I needed?"

its Gods way of trying to get the evil out of you.

Oh. My. God.

Yup, that's the way to bring people to Jesus.

Somebody please tell me what kind of stupid this is. Please.

I just don't get it. Did they miss the part in the Good Book about the Great Commandment? You know, the one about loving God with all your heart and all your mind and all your strength and loving your neighbor as yourself? Just sayin'. This comment doesn't speak love. It speaks condemnation. And what good will that do? No good. Do they think this is helping the cause? IT DOES THE OPPOSITE. Shame, shame, shame on them.

The other thing that has cropped up around me lately is the comment about Christian churches being unfriendly places. Several people have mentioned around me lately that when they have visited certain Christian churches for the first time, they have not felt welcomed. Yikes, this drives me crazy! How hard is it to extend a hand in greeting? Don't give me the excuse that you are shy. A visitor has much more to lose and may feel much more trepidation. Hosting people at church is just like hosting people at your home. When you have new visitors, do you wait for them to introduce themselves to you? Do you wait for them to come to you? Do you expect them to make you feel good and comfortable in your own home. NO, you don't! A good host welcomes his or her guests. A good host makes them feel comfortable. A good host goes out of his or her way to ease the discomfort or fear of a guest.

Excuse me, I just feel like growling.

Snap out of it, friends! Help the cause! Be kind, be loving, be welcoming, be patient, instill hope, spread joy, share goodness, be faithful, exude patience, exhibit self-control, demonstrate gentleness. Those are the fruits of the spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 (New International Version)