Christians & Hate on Good Friday - where is the love?

On Good Friday I joined a number of Christians of differing denominations to follow the Cross between Westminster Abbey & Central Hall to Westminster Cathedral. It was a march of unity, remembering the cost of the Cross and the commitment of Christ to go even to death for the love and salvation of us.

Well, as we approached the Cathedral, we were challenged by a group of Christians giving out tracts telling us we needed to know the real Lord Jesus if we wanted to be saved. They really upset some older Afro-Carribean ladies in front of me, so I took the attention onto myself and had the following conversation:

"Why are you guys giving out tracts to Christians who are seeking to worship God"
"You don't know the real Christ"
"Sorry - are you telling me that I am not a Christian?"
"Sir you are a Roman Catholic - and you don't know the truth"
"Don't you think that on this day when we remember with affection that Jesus died today for us - that you could recognise that you do not have the right to judge me." "Do you not read in the Gospels of Christ's call for unity"
"You do not know the truth - you are under deception - you need the truth and turn from your sin"
At this point I was surrounded by 5 of them who stared at me with such anger. I did not back down, and eventually the Police intervened.

I just wanted to cry. That even as we remember Christ's death who died for our anger - I glimpsed such fanatical anger on a march organised as an act of worship - an anger of Christians towards other Christians. I have never felt such pain before - and tried to hold it together outside of Westminster Cathedral. How sad and broken the world can be. I then went back to St Matthews to lead a Good Friday service. The podcast of my heart felt homily will be posted sometime.

I am left feeling deep pain, that some Christians seem to be centred on negativity and anger. I thought it was all about following a God of Love? How did the faith end up being distorted by fear? I just wished that Christians could learn to love. I am sick of being judged by Conservative Catholic and Conservative Evangelical Christians - who always think they are right. I feel this way as a Christian - what must it be like for those who are not Christian and encounter this hate. I am just glad that God is bigger and better than me, because if they were my followers - I might be tempted to take them out! What chance does God have or the Church when we have Christians who behave like this?

There are times when you need to make a stand against intolerance - and I think I have just hit one. I will be writing a long letter to Westminster Chapel about this, in the hope that they might rethink what they are doing in the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

I am challenged by the need to love even those who are fanatical, but to make a stand never the less.