America is the land of the free, the home of the brave, the place where all the rest of the world desries to come. Or, is it?

We all have a view of America -- especially those of us who are Americans, or live here? We all believe that the USA is the greatest nation in the world! We celebrate this joint belief this Tuesday, July 4th.

It comes as a shock when someone else disputes this view. Of course, we know in the back of our minds the terrorists of the middle East disagree with us, but we want to think that it is only the few leaders who really hate the US. All the followers would love America, if only they had a chance to experience it.  That is why we attempt to instill democracy where ever possible. Democracy is the heart of America, according to the politicians, so democracy in that other country is the next best thing to being in America.

We are more shocked, however, to learn that some "normal" person dislikes America. They must have something wrong with them, so we reason. I came across a blog from a Bristish site where the author has just experienced America and finds her rude and paranoid. The article is here.

Of course, we can push such views aside on the basis they are just one person's experience and we can discover a multitude of others who come to America and just love her. After all, look at all those illegal Mexican immigrants attempting to cross into the US.

So, is America really lovable, the way we view her?

I read this article and pondered the notion of lovability and Americans, then changed the characters to Christians. There is no group in the history of the world who should be more lovable, more upfront, more likely to be copied and desired than a Christian. If a true Christian were lovable and honest, always seeking the good of others, desiring to help others and lead them to Christ, Christians would be the most sought after people in the world.

Strangely enough, Christians are not only sought after, they are persecuted. The American world attempts to push our practices out of sight. Slowly, but steadily, Christians are losing the right to practice their faith any where except in their own homes and their churches. Public prayers, the public reading of Scripture, the placing of our icons (Crosses, nativities, the Ten Commandments, etc.) are all disappearing under the concepts of free speach, separation of church and state, and other similar arguments.

So, why isn't everyone flocking to the Christian world? Why do people not want to be recognized as a Christian. Part of the answer lays in concepts such as pride, selfishness, and free will. But, some portion of the answer sits on a pedistal similar to the story above about the American who is rude and arrogant. Too many Christians become unloving, rude, and arrogant. If your attitude and manners drive somone away, how will you ever tell them about Christ?

The world watches us. We need to be different. That difference come in the fashion by which we love each other as Christians and then carry this love across to a sinful, unbelieving world. Go read the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). If we love our enemies, more people will think it "cool" to be a Christian.

As long as we act like the world, no one will be interesting in imitating you.

Christians, it is time to be "cool," in the same fashion as Jesus.

Jim A