The Wrong Attitude

     Before I begin this post, I want to say that I am by no means perfect. I have failings just like everyone else. I just wanted to share my thoughts with all who might be reading this. I think that many people who gather together in church have the wrong attitudes when it comes with reaching the lost.
      Less then a year ago I was sitting down with a group of Christians. One of the people in this group (whom we will call John) started talking about how the ex-husband of a friend of his was hurting  her.   I have heard about and met this friend before. Her ex-husband psychologically and emotionally abuses her and the children they have together. I have yet to hear anything good about this ex-husband. After John finished the story about his friend. Another Christian (whom I will call Carrie) responded by saying, "That man is going to be burning in Hell." John then replied by saying,"He sure does. I hope he burns in Hell." (This conversation actually happened) I have heard this ex-husband mentioned before. Every time I do it ends with "I hope he burns in Hell."
      Okay, first of all every single human that has ever walked this earth deserves to spend an eternity in Hell for their sin. Only by the grace of God we are saved through Christ. Paul writes in Romans 3:10 "As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one".  Paul also writes in Romans 3:22-24 that "This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,  and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." Alright, so even someone like Paul, Martin Luther, Charles Spurgeon, Billy Graham, or you the person reading is no better than the worst possible sinner imaginable.
      Second, when Carrie said "I hope he burns in Hell" scares me. I have a half sister. She hasn't spoken to me in almost two years. She cut of all connection to me and my family when she left her husband. I don't know where she is or how to contact her. Before she left her husband, we were never close.  She never treated my parents very well. She hardly ever called at the house.  My sister and I have rarely hung out. Her ex-husband and her took me to go see the Lord of the Rings in 2001. I remember her taking me to the mall once. Those are probably the only two times we ever hung out. She has driven my parents to cry many times. I say all that to say, I forgive her. I don't hate her. Heck, I barely know her. Yes, she hurt me. Yes, she hurt my family. But I have the love of Christ in me. And if I could contact her I would share Christ with her. I can not imagine hating some one so much that I would wish them to burn in Hell forever. There is no excuse for Christians to wish Hell on to someone. "Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." Colassians 3:13
     Brothers and Sisters in Christ, we are not to fortify ourselves in our churches. We are commanded to love and reach every single person on this earth. We are not suppose to love only people of our race or people who honored us. We are not suppose to love only  Love all. Hell is serious. Hell is real. Christians are suppose to reach people for Christ.