Look out for … Christians?

August 17, 2006

By Gary Rogers

According to news reports a while back, a deer was attacking people on the Southern Illinois University campus in Carbondale. At least seven people reported being either threatened or injured by this female deer. The school waged a safety campaign to protect students.

One sign read: “Keep your eyes peeled for deer, don’t approach them, and if a wild-eyed deer starts bounding your way, run.” I love this sign. Deer are considered to be sweet, docile, adorable animals. We picture little Bambi running through the woods with a butterfly landing on his nose. We don’t picture a deer as an angry predator attacking its next victim who made the mistake of entering its domain.

When we hear the word Christian our minds should picture a loving, kind, considerate, compassionate person. The identification of Christian implies the person has the desire to be like Jesus Christ. With Jesus as our example, we who call ourselves Christians should show respect, kindness, love, mercy and compassion to those we come in contact with.

Have you ever seen a Christian acting out a behavior that was totally opposite of what should be their spiritual instinct? Have you ever seen a Christian short-tempered, hateful, arrogant, impatient, unkind or being a bully? I wonder if in front of some churches or departments within the churches we should put up warning signs that read: “Keep your eyes peeled for moody, unpredictable Christians, and if a wild-eyed one starts bounding your way, run.”

“Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:31,32, NKJV).

Gary Rogers is senior pastor of First Assembly of God in Coweta, Okla.