Are Christians Really So Rare?

Mary, Jesus's mom, "Returning the Nails" to the government after the crusafixion.

A Florida catholic parishioner requested a mass be said today to pray for Osama bin Laden. Prayers are often said for the dead, so that's no surprise. What's so remarkable about it is that it made national headlines! At a moment when gloating over the death of our enemy is a national obsession it feels wrong to give bin Laden any respect. But this is exactly what Jesus tried to get across to us in saying "pray for those who persecute you": no one is on the outside! That one man following Jesus' admonition makes even an eyebrow twitch– let alone garnering national headlines– makes me sad for the state of the faith.

Forgiveness is the most transformative act a person can undertake. That it's perhaps the most difficult stands to reason. It's also one of the distinguishing factors that separates Christianity from other religions. So you would think that in a very Christian nation, and especially the home of so many rabidly self-proclaiming Christians, forgiveness would be the very first order of business, wielded with shameless pride. BUT WE'RE NOT EVEN TALKING ABOUT THAT! I'm talking about the simple act of praying for a bad guy (who is still one of God's children).

If real Christians can't follow their own "beliefs" then at the very least I hope non-Christians are smart enough to be able to tell the real followers of Jesus from those who just like the brand name.  Hey, maybe the rapture DID happen but nobody noticed because nobody qualified!