There has been a recent controversy regarding our local Hamilton County elected officials and the topic of public prayer. A group has brought a lawsuit against the county accusing our officials of endorsing Christian religion.

This commentary isn’t about whether the lawsuit is valid or not. My frustration stems from the way people who claim to be Christians are representing Jesus. I have been watching the debate rage in social media such as Facebook; unfortunately I see very little behavior resembling how Jesus Christ treated others. Here are some samples of the language being used by local Christians from just two Facebook discussions concerning their opponents:

·        I'm gonna have to take God's side!

·        Use your right to move somewhere else!

·        Majority Rules

·        Trouble Makers

·        Communists

·        If you don't like it close your ears

·        Get a life

·        Suck it up

·        Bunch of Cry Babies

·        Get over yourselves

·        If you do not like it you are "free"to leave the room!

·        Grow Up

·        Get a real life and get over it!

·        Shut Up

·        Idiots!

·        None of their business

·        Get a job and do something worthwhile

·        Moron

·        I have no sympathy

·        Turn your ears off

·        Ridiculous

·        Low Lifes

·        Clowns

·        So-called men

·        Devil Worshipers

This language might be suited for political debate but it is a far cry from how Jesus commands us to treat others. 
 
1 Peter 3:15

English Standard Version (ESV)

15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,       

        Whereis the gentleness and respect in the inflammatory words Christians are using in this debate? It seems that public debate brings out the very worst in Christians.I am still somewhat baffled as to why praying at a public function is soimportant anyway. The most noted passage in God’s Word dealing with this doesn’t sound like a favorable endorsement:

Matthew 6:5

English Standard Version (ESV)

5 “And when you pray,you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.

I see no reason for insisting on praying a verbal prayer out loud as opposed to praying silently unless you want to impress the people around you, the very thing Jesus condemned.

        Jesus’ Church loses influence every day in society because His followers refuse to act as He did. I pray that those who want to follow Jesus will truly follow His commandments and that their actions will show it. I leave you with the Bible’s advice on how to treat those who oppose the followers of Jesus.

Luke 6

English Standard Version (ESV)

27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.

Scott Pollard

* * *

They have toned it down a bit, Mr. Pollard. Some seem to have this amazing fascination with the "b" word, and I don't mean "baptizing" either.

And they always ended their rambling rants and tirades with "I go to church "every" Sunday." Wow! 

For my own protection and safety I started to save a few of the hateful emails I sometimes received over the years and unflattering, demeaning comments made on various local message forums about me and others some had developed a dislike for. Amazing I tell ya'll.  Just amazing.

Brenda Washington

* * *

Since Mr. Pollard wants to show just how "hostile" Christians are for defending their own beliefs in God, I thought it would be informative and only fair to show the choice word from the atheists and agnostics when regarding Christianity according to the same Facebook, Twitter, forums, and local news forum pages:

- I'm a God hating, anti Christian man

- The Nazi Party is behind you atheists!

- Why is abortion and killing babies so bad?

- Fairytales for a zombieland-like Christ fanatic

- Babbling like pagans...how about I force my fist down your throat?

-  If I track you down I will beat you so hard and then say where is your god now

- Keep lying, that only makes Christian idiots easier to spot

- Christianity is the ultimate tapeworm

- Hypocritical Christian b------ds who don't truly know what they're talking about.

- If God were real, I'd slap him with my penis so he could feel it too.

All lovely little quotes courtesy of your favorite and supposedly "docile" atheists.

"The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good"
                                                                                                                                                                  Psalm 14:1

Billy Thomas
Downtown Chattanooga

* * *

Thank you Billy for pointing out those very specific statements made by atheists. Could you please let us know where you found those "quotes?" I am having difficulty locating them in this forum or the related pages.  

While I think it is sad that any human being would feel the need to be so nasty to another, I believe Mr Pollard has a valid point in that Christians should at least make an attempt to be Christ-like. Otherwise, there really is no way to tell the difference between them and those "docile" atheists is there? 

Going on the assumption that God does exist (and trust me, I believe He does), I think He is probably pretty disappointed either way.

DJ Locke