It looks like Pat Robertson is at it again. He recently made some remarks about the Broncos picking up Peyton Manning and how he felt they treated Tebow poorly. In his remarks he said that if Manning were to aggravate his injury it would serve them right. In his mind, if this would occur, it might be God dealing out justice for the “shabby” treatment of this “upstanding Christian athlete”.
This wouldn’t be the first time that many think Pat is giving Christians a bad name. He’s said all kinds of awful things that are just complete garbage. And because he is somewhat visible, it gets talked about a lot and those of us who follow Christ have to explain to those we have contact with that He doesn’t speak for all of Christianity. In fact he doesn’t speak for most of Christianity.
Now whether you think what Pat said about Manning was in horrific bad taste or just another innocuous rambling of a crazy old man, he isn’t the one who does the most damage. The person who hurts what people think about Christianity most, Christianity’s biggest spokesperson is…you…and me.
Last month as I was watching the Super Bowl I was joking calling for the injuries of the opposing team. The joke is simple, less good players on the field the easier for my team to win. Now I didn’t really want anyone to get hurt but maybe even in my joking I wasn’t representing God the best that I could.
Last year when it came out that we had finally found and killed Osama Bin Laden I was shocked at all the Christians cheering and celebrating on Facebook. It doesn’t matter whether you believe he got what he deserved or not, no ones death, torture, or misfortune should be celebrated. Especially not by Christians.
Lets get back to Mr. Robertson. It’s easy to write him off as a kooky extremist. Maybe even a fringe caricature of Christian extremists. In heated conversations people might throw him at you as an indictment on Christianity but they don’t really believe we’re all like that.
Now what about you? You’re just an every day Jane or Joe. You work a job, maybe go to school, and hangout at your favorite establishments. Perhaps you go to church once or twice a week but you’re hardly an extremist. Most people, even if they don’t believe like you, think you are a sincere individual. What do people think when that Facebook status celebrating the misfortune of another shows up in their stream?
You are much more influential to the people you come in contact with than Pat Robertson. You are real, everyday Christianity. You are, regardless of what people say, what people think of when they picture Christianity. You are changing their perceptions, for better or for worse.