Am I A Christian Bigot?

by Melody Balcao

Put your thinking caps on: I have a few questions that puzzle me and, I believe, directly affect my witness to those around me. Here's the scripture reference: "A new command I give you; Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13: 34-35).

Here is my question: Do we know how this "Love" thing works? We speak about reaching out to the community with God's love and compassion, but can we effectively do this if we do not know how to love one another? I am speaking of the Christian church as a whole; our brothers and sisters in Christ, who worship in other places, have chosen to serve Christ, love God, and worship Him with their whole being. But we disagree with them.

Do we hold on to grudges and allow bitterness to be the lens by which we view these people? How does this affect our witness? It is said that often those we know best hurt us the deepest, but as a Christian I think the scripture speaking of love, holding no record of wrongs (1 Cor. 13:5) might apply.

Do we judge? Call names? Box in with stereotypes? How do I step into, or out of, this place without condemning myself in the process (i.e. becoming judgmental)?

Share your thoughts. Give us a time when you, perhaps, were that person.