Time Better Spent Elsewhere

I recently saw Macauly Caulkin on a late-night a talk show. The young actor many of us remember as the abandoned little boy in "Home Alone" is in the current film "Saved."

Since this film concerns a group of students at a Christian high school, Macauly did some research by attending a Christian concert. He joked about the U2 sound-alikes with "Christianized" lyrics and the other imitations of secular culture. But the incident that seemed to have the greatest impact on the young actor was the fact that Christians were picketing other Christians at the entrance to the concert.

"These people are picketing each other!" He told the host incredulously.

"You mean some Christians were protesting the evils of Christian rock and roll... to other Christians?" asked the host.

"I guess." Macauly shrugged. How could he be expected to understand what motivates Christians to oppose each other? What must he, and the rest of the observing world, think of such behavior?

Now I have never been one to be silent about negative stereotyping, in fact, I have written critiques of the entertainment industry's frequent anti-Christian bigotry. But too often, we bring this prejudice upon ourselves.

If you are reading this, and you do not consider yourself a Christian, I hope you will not take this as a license to support Christian-bashing, nor any other form of prejudice. And if you do consider yourself a Christian, I hope you will pay close attention.

I have edited this daily message since 1995. On only one occasion have I received criticism from an atheist. All of the other critical responses I have received - ALL of them - have been from Christians. At least the world does not witness this in-fighting, as they do with sad incidents like Christians openly protesting each other. It is even sad that I must take the time to write this article at all, but perhaps it will save time for myself and others in ministry to say these things just once more, instead of every time a well-meaning Christian decides the Gospel should be presented more this way or less that way. After this final paragraph, I will no longer waste time answering. Brothers and sisters, our time is better spent elsewhere:

I ask you to picture a person who has a vision for getting the Word out to the world in some new way. Now if you would consider the time it takes to craft a critical response to this message with which you may disagree, complete with Scripture references and softening your language to make sure it is known you are responding in love. Next, consider all the other "corrections" the originator is likely receiving. Then, multiply that time by the time it would take this person to respond to all these other well-meaning Christians. Next, consider if it would be possible for any Christian to present the Gospel in any way which would not draw criticism from some other well-intentioned Believer somewhere. And finally, consider how much more of God's work would be done if all this time and effort were spent actually presenting the Gospel to those who need it most, each of us in the way we believe God would have us present the Gospel, just as the original presenter is doing.

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Warren Kramer, Daily Wisdom Editor