Last Wednesday, I was walking to upper campus with a friend of mine. We were headed up to the Peterson Hall buildings, and as we were walking up the lawn, we saw you. I heard you call people “ignorant and pathetic.” What was written on your sign is unrepeatable. You were shouting Bible verses and telling people that they were going to hell. You seemed to be a very unhappy man from the way you were talking to my fellow Cal State Long Beach students.
I was filled with feelings of anger and frustration. This was because I’m a Christian. I knew the verses you were yelling. We both talk about Jesus and God and the church. But even though we share those similarities, I have to disagree with you in how you are talking to my fellow students.
One passage from the Bible that you claim to read and preach, 1 Peter 3:15-16, comes to mind.
The passage reads, “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, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.”
That’s what I see lacking in what you are preaching. I see a lack of grace and compassion in you. That’s extremely sad to me. You see, one thing that should be emphasized about Christianity is that it is all about grace. God loves people on the basis of what he has done and not what we have done. You’re not showing the same grace to other people that God has shown you.
Even though I was angry and frustrated, I felt sad more than anything else.
Why?
Well, because you really do feel like this is the best way to communicate this stuff to us. The thing is, though, you’re alienating all these people. All these students are all thinking that you are crazy and probably hate you. The opportunity to have a wonderful and respectful conversation is now gone forever. As a Christian and a human being, I feel deeply for both parties.
Christians are supposed to be marked by their love. Paul, one of the early church leaders, writes in 1 Corinthians 13 that if you don’t love people in whatever you do, you are a “noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” Sir, in all respect, on that Wednesday, you were a noisy gong. You claimed to be a Christian and a messenger of God. I have ask you, how is anyone supposed to understand that you love them by your speech and conduct that day? Put aside your message. Did anyone actually receive your message with thanks? The reactions I saw were quite the opposite.
I don’t know if you’ll ever read this letter. I’m not sure if anyone will be able to tell you these things face to face. I hope someone does, though. I hope that you come to be respectful in your dealings with other people. I pray and hope that somebody reminds you to love people.
Signed,
A Christian who needs love as much as the next guy.
Brian To is a junior mechanical engineering major and a contributing writer for the Daily 49er.
