More often then any other objection to Christianity passing through the mouths of non-believers is the complaint that we do not practice what we preach. As I was listening or reading, I don't remember which, the speaker/author pointed out that he did not believe that Christianity would ever be successful in India unless we as Christians began to live by the tenets given to us during the sermon on the mount.
Small is the fraction of believers in my personal experience about whom I can claim that their Christianity, their Christ-likeness, was evident. When I look in the mirror and review that duel lifestyle I have led, I know that I would not make that list in very many people's eyes, and even if I somehow were to make that list, it would be only because those making it out had only seen the better half of my character.
It is not hypocrasy that I sat down to write of. Rather, it is those few individuals who seem to be nearly immune to it. To my credit, I recognise and praise those people, rather then accusing them of being overly pious or puritanical. To my horror, I find myself resisting the desire to manipulate those people because I know that they will allow themselves to be controlled even as they are aware of my attempts to do so.
We have have grown rather soft living in this society of individual rigthts. Let me make it clear from the outset that the idea of individual rights owe's a great deal to religion. In our western society, we may call that religion by it's proper name, Christianity. The eventual outworking of the Protestant movement after Luther nailed his ninety-five thesis to the church door was not only a break away from the theocratic establishment, but an awakening of the realization that the lower class had worth. Our country was founded largely by protestants who brought this concept of freedrom from opressive authority with them. Not only that, but Christian ideas themselves, when properly carried out, demand a respect for each and every person. It was Christ who gave his attention to the poor and the rich alike.
The despairing fact is, we have carried with us to this day a semblence of these Christian ethics. I say it is desparing because it is only a poor image which we have retained, an image which is smaller, dirtier, and a bit corrupted. Where Christ insisted on the individual rights of others, we insist on the individual rights of ourselves. Where Christ pushed humility, we push self-esteem. The golden rule has been distorted to apply only to self. Treat yourself as you would like others to treat you. Even if it is left in it's original form, it is robbed of its context and taught in a way that twists it to mean that we should treat others well only out of the hope that we will in turn be treated the same way.
Even many Christians echo this sentament. I go and listen to bible teachers tell me that Christ expected us to be humble, not doormats. This idea is a foul mixture of Christianity and modern human rights that is plainly not biblical. Christ went to the cross. Tell me sir, was he, or was he not, a doormat at this point? He was wrongly arrested, beaten, and crucified. He never said a word in his defense. Was he, or was he not, what we would label a doormat?
My charge is that we must recognise that the kindness taught to us by Christ demands the humility of a doormat. We must realize that we will be manipulated, controlled, and used if we persue the truly Christian life. The concept of individual rights applies to the way we must treat others, not the way we should expect to be treated.