please be real

This morning I had to run a few errands for work. On my way back, a light drizzly rain had begun to fall, and I was listening to a song about the wonder of God. I am having a good hair day, and I had just picked up coffee, so the combination of the elements and music were making for a distinct air of joy deep down inside. I felt glad for today.

As I pulled up toward the stop light, I noticed that the back of the car next to me was plastered with bumper stickers for political candidates, many of which were names I didn't recognize. For a fleeting moment I had to applaud the guy for making his voice heard, but wondered why you'd want to jade the look of your vehicle so much. To each his own, right? Once we stopped at the light, I looked over again and noticed that he was also making his religious beliefs known, wearing them loudly on the driver's side door. "Jesus Christ Already Died for Your Sins," it read. Wow, I thought, way to cut right to it. But what I saw next literally jolted me from my state of peace. On the back door of the car was this magnetized sticker, "Abortion is Murder."

Now, many people believe that abortion is a woman's right. I however, side with Mr. Political Statement. I do believe that abortion is murder, and I do believe that we should fight for the lives of the unborn. But I also believe that we should live lives of authentic faith, whether or not we drive a car that looks like a Bible billboard. We should shake things up a little, but who do we touch when we just anger them?

It's easy to wear a cross around your neck, it's a great fashion statement that anyone can make. It's more difficult though to present Christianity as a real, living, authentic and viable way of life. I think it's more important that people see Christ in our actions and love for people, than hear our shouts of why lost people are doing it wrong.

Can we just be real?