Are Christians Stereotyped Because of a Few Bad Apples? Westboro Baptist Church, Crusades, and KKK Harm Image of Believers

Westboro baptist church

The Bad Christian Blog posted a very thought provoking write up on how Christians get a bad wrap and get lumped in with some of the bad apples of Christianity. Pastor Joey Svendsen likened people's views of Westboro Baptist Church, the Crusades, and organizations such as the KKK as being the overall consensus of what people of faith are like - crazy, hateful, and even dangerous.

Svendsen wrote that not everyone who claims they are Christian is actually Christian. Therefore it is not right for a non-believer to stereotype and categorize Christians in that fashion.

He then lists 10 groups that can be used as an example of stereotyping. Some of the better ones include:

- "How would PETA like it if someone defended vegetarianism while eating jerky on a hunting trip? What if people then declared all ardent PETA followers as frauds?"

- "How would the makers of the bumper sticker, "Coexist," feel if the sticker's integrity is called into question after teens go joyriding to heckle homosexuals and Jews with the message glowing with contradiction pasted on the back of the car?"

- "How do Germans feel when they are still seen as Jew-haters because of what their ancestors did?"

- "How do Atheists feel when people say unbelief in God will always lead to mass genocide, pointing to the actions of Hitler and Stalin as proof?"

Bad Christian
(Photo : Facebook: Bad Christian)

These are all valid observations that no doubt, even with the absurdity of some of them, people believe them to be true and group them in as one. "Are you seeing the craziness here? And yet many persist to paint Christians, or even all religious groups, as evildoers. How should we deal with this?" Svendsen wrote.

He again drives home the point that not everyone who claims Christian is actually a follower of Christ. "Jesus is perfect, but Christians are not. Why else would we need a savior?"

Svendsen's last point hits close to home with conviction and a lot of truth to consider on whether Christians are doing enough good to outweigh the ones doing bad.

"There is still a level of responsibility that all people need to take for any evil done by their ancestors, race, country, or religious group. The Church can do a better job of owning its sins," he said, "But, what does it say about our society that Christians still need to defend themselves because of the evils done by a few? Furthermore, what does it say about us that the wrongs done by Christians eclipse the charity of Christians in the public eye?"

What do you think of Pastor Svendsen's thoughts toward Christians being stereotyped? Do you think Christians getting a bad wrap is as big of a deal as he claims, or do you think it is even worse? Sound off in the comments.

To read his full post, click here.

For more information on the Bad Christian ministry, blog, and podcast, click here.