How Will They Know?

I was eavesdropping on a conversation in a check-out line at Walmart last week between two 30-something adults. There was headline on a tabloid about the Phil Robertson/Duck Dynasty mess and how angry it made Christians- and this couple was discussing it. They were either not believers themselves or were just simply disgusted with Christians despite their own beliefs. While I didn't record the conversation (I'm not THAT tacky!) and I don't claim to have Dr. Sheldon Cooper's eidetic memory, the discussion went something like this...

MAN: Christians get worked up over the weirdest things. Duck Dynasty? Really?
WOMAN: Well they have to defend people who bash gays. It's in their constitution or something.
MAN: Yeah first it was Chick-fil-A and now this. So much for the "love one another" sh*t.
WOMAN: It seems like they are always fired up over some cause that makes no sense to me. They seem to always be boycotting something or somebody. I don't have a clue what a Christian is anymore! 
MAN: Oh that's easy. A Christian is a Duck Dynasty watching, gay-bashing, Chick-fil-A eating, Obamacare-hating republican. Oh and anti-abortion. Just bring up any of those topics and you'll get a sermon for sure.
WOMAN: I thought it had more to do with following Jesus....I guess that's old school.
MAN: Yeah, it's less about religion and more about politics now.

My fellow Christ-followers, we have a PR problem. Certainly some of those descriptions apply to many faithful women & men, including myself. I love eating at Chick-fil-A. But if those are the things that most easily identified us, I believe Jesus is weeping. It's no wonder people are turning away from the church in record numbers. How will people know if we are followers of the Christ? I think I read somewhere (John 13:35), "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Jesus said that. Maybe it's time we started paying attention.

Because of Jesus,