By Paul Goeke

It has become a discouraging reality to me that there are a large number of people who have a deep, profound dislike, even hate for Christians.  What is perhaps more discouraging is that many Christians have lived and spoken in ways that make such dislike understandable.

So, I feel the need to apologize for the times that I have misrepresented Jesus.  I am the king of selfishness.  I haven’t done a very good job of taking care of the sick and poor.  I have looked down on other people.  I have been arrogant and crass.  I have had long-term horrible attitudes and shameful thoughts.  I have been harsh and flippant and careless with my words.  And worst of all, I have spent portions of my life failing to communicate the central focus of what Jesus is about.   While Jesus has called us to walk in a certain way, the main focus is not what we can do for Jesus, but what he has done for us.  Jesus is about providing a way for frighteningly flawed people to be embraced by a perfect God, live a meaningful life, and enter a perfect place.   That’s what the cross is about.  That’s what the entire Bible is about. I am sorry that I have in many ways failed to communicate this.  I am genuinely asking forgiveness for this.

So, here are the pleas:

First, to those of you who have a genuine dislike for Christians – please forgive us for our failures and down-right rebellion.  Please don’t judge Jesus and the message of the cross by his imperfect and faltering and sometimes stupid followers.   Please continue to talk with us, do life with us, and ask questions with us.

Secondly, to those of you who are followers of Jesus – please serve people.  Love people.  Sacrifice for people.  Feed the hungry, take care of the sick.  Seek out and love those who are ostracized and looked down upon and have been written off as “hopeless.”  Please don’t loose sense of the gravity of what Jesus has done on the cross.  Please communicate the message of the cross in all its unique and graphic and beautiful reality.