"Jesus Loves You, Everyone Else Thinks You’re a Jerk"
Chad Blankenburg –
“Jesus Loves You, Everyone Else Thinks You’re a Jerk”
This is a bumper sticker found behind a bar in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Actually, it uses more salty language than that, but hey, this is a Christian blog!) Unfortunately, it is an accurate description of how many unbelievers view Christians. For the Christ-follower, finding common ground in a relationship with a friend, neighbor, or co-worker is essential to earning the right to share the hope you’ve found in Christ. Otherwise, they may see you and me as a “jerk” and never want to hear about the Jesus who loves them.
My friend Greg recently said, “Chad, I’m not sure I want to go to heaven one day if Matt’s gonna be there!” Matt is a mutual friend of ours who often “shares his faith” in an abrasive way. Greg, on the other hand, is just beginning to “kick the tires” of Christianity and is having a difficult time separating the Jesus who loves us from Matt’s hurtful approach.
Maybe this is why the Apostle Peter reminds believers: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15).
Sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ should sound like an invitation, not an angry threat or warning. The gospel is, after all, an invitation to enjoy eternal life with God through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Heaven is often described in Scripture as a feast, dinner, or banquet. If we are inviting folks to “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8), let’s flavor our speech with grace (Colossians 4:6) so that people want to take another bite—not spit out what we’ve said.
So how about you? Are you fostering positive relationships with unbelievers that lead them to ask for the reason you have hope in Christ? And are you answering them in a gentle and respectful way?
Chad Blankenburg has been with Search Charlotte for 8 years; married to Debbie for 29 years; their sons Griggs and Kent are students at Auburn University. He is active in F3, enjoys watching sports with family and friends, loves yard work and gardening with his bride.
