Cannibal Christians

What is your reaction when you see someone hurt or sick? Is it sympathy? Are you heartbroken? Or do you have a sudden desire to pounce; to really let them have it? They shouldn't have let themselves get hurt, right? They should have taken absolutely every precaution to keep themselves healthy, huh?

Even the most careful people get hurt, they still get sick. Yet, is it humane to make them feel worse? To make them feel like less of a person because they happen to get sick or hurt? What has happened to Christ's church that some of us do just that, only it's spiritual rather than physical. There are Christians out there, many of them in fact, that attack the wounded; maim the sick; and kick the sick when they are down.

Let's look at this in a different sort of light. While reading this, just replace the word "sick" with "sin". I think you'll get the picture; it's pretty self-explanatory.

Once there were two people who didn't know each other, but both came down with the same kind of cold. The first of the two really didn't want to see a doctor and tried to heal themselves on their own. They knew a doctor would be able to cure them and all they could do for themselves was mask the symptoms.

Well, one day this person was visited by a friend who just happened to have the urge to see them. When this friend arrived, they couldn't help but notice that their friend was ill. They asked their friend if they were okay and they say no, and that they have been fighting a cold that just wouldn't go away. Well, this friend urges their sick friend to see a doctor, because all they care about is their wellbeing. The sick friend says they can't afford the appointment or the medication the doctor might prescribe. The friend offers to help in any way they can, they don't care what it costs, they just want their friend to be healthy. Finally, they give in and, in time, their illness is gone.

What a great testimony of God's love. Let's see what happens with sick person #2...

The second sick person also avoids going to the doctor due to financial issues. They resolve themselves to home remedies that don't work for long. This person is also visited by a friend, but this friend didn't have an urge of concern. They had been watching their friend from a distance for a few days and noticed that their friend had been missing work due to illness. This just wasn't acceptable. They needed to get better so they could work and pay bills. Bills just couldn't go unpaid; it was totally unheard of!

This so-called friend bangs on the door until they are let in. Once they have forced themselves in, pretty much uninvited, they immediately go on a tirade of how irresponsible they are and that they can't believe they let themselves get sick.

The sick one tries to defend themselves but the finger-pointing one continues on their list of things that must be done to rectify the situation, saying, "You better see a doctor! It's what I do every time I even think I'm getting sick. How did you get sick anyway? What were you doing to cause this? How could you have done this to yourself? Well, you'd better get yourself to a doctor or you'll never get better! It shouldn't matter how much it costs! And since you obviously brought this on yourself, I'm keeping away from you until you're better. I can't associate with you because you might get me sick too. Good luck with the doctor. I'll pray for you."

Have you picked your chin up off the floor from astonishment yet? How rude of a so-called friend, huh? Could you imagine someone telling you to do things a certain way or you won't get better? How about if you really were wrapped up in sin that has gotten out of control. You know you need Jesus but you're afraid of the cost and afraid to face it alone. Aren't other believers supposed to be there to help you get out of those things? Which friend would you rather confront you? The one who helped carry the burden or the one who told you what to do and expected you to do it with no help at all? Let's look at another situation. This one I will put into more of a dialogue between two characters.

James and Conner are hanging out like always, playing a game, watching TV, listening to music...Whatever it might be. Well, James remembers a time he was sick.

James says, "Man, one time I got so sick, I sneezed in the middle of class, blowing snot everywhere! I thought it was funny at the time, but I felt really bad when I realized it got in the hair of the girl in front of me. I learned to cover my mouth after that."
Conner looks at him with disgust and says, "I can't believe you said that. How could you say you sneezed all over someone?"
James is confused and reminds him, "I said it was in the past, what's the problem?"
"A healthy person shouldn't say things like that. You need to take it back and never talk like that again."
"I didn't say anything wrong. There's nothing to take back."
"You should probably question your health."

Okay, what's wrong with this picture? Think of it in the context of someone who just shared their testimony with someone they considered a good friend. James shared something from his past and how he had learned from it, but because the event was so offensive to Conner, Conner missed the point of the story. He ignored the lesson learned and only saw the "sin" in it. How can there be a personal salvation story without sin to be saved from?

Talking about past sins is not a sin, no matter how detailed and accurate you get. If anything it is a confession of something and that should be commended not condemned. We should all be striving to be like the friend in the first situation. The one who chose to love their friend and do what they could to help. Let's stay away from focusing so much on someone's sins and lead by example and in love. At very least, love people, don't attack them when they're down. When someone is in sin, it is then they need love the most. Don't kill the wounded. Be Christ to others, not a cannibal seeking flesh to devour. We already have Satan for that.