Think about it....

I have grown and taught in Christian faith to believe that God’s house is built on love, acceptance and forgiveness and everyone is welcome without being judged. However, a recent experience made me realize that this belief is not followed by all and there are some followers of Christ who have their own rules and views of how the house of God i.e. the Church should function.

Let me narrate this point with an example. Some Sundays back, my parents and I attended mass at a Church. The Church usher came to me, few minutes before the mass was about to begin and asked me to do a reading. As I am not comfortable reading in Church, I politely declined. What came as a shock to my parents and me was that she indirectly taunted me on my upbringing for refusing to read. I was stunned because it is these very people who show to the world how holy and peaceful they are at heart, when in reality the devil resides in their mind. This particular usher who knew nothing about my upbringing judged and condemned me because as per her views, I had committed a sin by refusing to take part in the liturgy. And this is just my personal experience, there are many among us who judge, rebuke and talk bad if something is not acceptable as per our mind and views.

Jesus taught us to love, accept and forgive one another for what they are. I don’t remember any of Jesus’ preaching where he tells us to judge or condemn another for their deeds. So why is this message of acceptance without judgment lost among us Christians? Why do we Christians judge another on the basis of how one contributes towards the Church, on one’s upbringing and at times even on one’s dressing and behavior? How can we call ourselves devoted and true Christians when the very basis of Jesus’ message is not followed and practiced among us? If Jesus welcomed and accepted the tax collectors, the woman who was considered a shame to society and even made Judas the betrayer one of his disciple, then why can’t we accept our family, friends or neighbors in the way God sees them? These are question we need to ask ourselves before pointing a finger at another.

I feel sad and disappointed to see that Jesus’ words and preaching have fallen on deaf ears as we no longer practice the virtue of acceptance and forgiveness in our faith. We are all one and equal in the image and likeness of God and he loves and welcomes us all. My sole purpose of this write up is not because I am hurt for being taunted by another Christian. Yes, I am hurt, because while trying to turn ourselves into perfect Christians, we have forgotten what our religion truly stands for – love, acceptance and forgiveness. Think about it.