What....I'm not a Christian??

Last week I was at the market place in my usual hang out spot. Every Tuesday I go there for practicing my language skills, meeting people, and ministering /praying for people if possible. Although most people I meet have the desire to practice their English and I usually end up speaking more in my mother tong than in the local language. I normally let the conversation be lead by those around me which is very interesting to see where the subject’s always end up. I am there just to hang out, build relationships, and love on the street kids. Yet every Tuesday for the last few months it never fails, the conversation always drifts to the subject of “what does it mean to be a Christian, and what does that look like?” Most of the questions purposed to me are around this topic. I say questions because the conversation usually goes like this. I am surrounded by 20to30 locals from various denominations also including non Christians (or as they say in Africa pagans). They continue to fire away questions at me about religion, God, church, and what it means or looks like to be righteous (aka Christian).
In many if not all African counties, knowledge/ information is viewed as valuable. (Example) when driving in Africa and you get lost or are looking for a certain location. If you stop to ask for directions from a local, many times they will want to jump in the car with you to show you instead of just telling. It is looked at as I have valuable knowledge or information that you don’t have, therefore I should possibly get something for it in the end. This principal works on many levels, hence the people are very thirsty for knowledge/information/education.
The other day my good local friend told me that everyone around the market is talking about me. I asked him what he meant. He is a 25 year old guy that I met on one of my first visits to the market and now has been going with me every week. We have developed a great friendship. He said “I am there every day as I am passing from school and many people come to me, asking who you are and what you are doing in Burundi. They want to know why this Muzungu (white man) is coming every week just to sit at the market. They tell me that you must be an amazing man and love so much the Burundi people.”
When he told me this I was shocked, I never thought that this action would affect so many people. He began to share with me how so many people were touched with me coming and just being around them. That you don’t see bazungu (white people) doing such things. They are always in there cars or walking from here to there with their agenda’s very little or no interaction with the people. He said “Travis you just hang out, you come just to be”…
So last week I was at my usual spot, I was talking with many people on the usual subject. It was getting late and about time for me to be going when this woman broke through the crowd and with an angry expression on her face asked me, where is your bible? I tried greeting her as this is customary in the culture. She again asked me where is your bible. Followed by, are you a Christian? I said “yes I am”. She yelled “No, that is not true! You are not Christian. Where is your bible?” I told her that I have it in my home. She fired back, “how can you leave your sword at home? You are not a Christian, you are a pagan! Look at you… you have ear rings; you don’t carry your sword with you. I turned to the even larger group of people that I now had around me due to her unusual outburst and rude comments and made the comment that I was feeling a little bit judged at that moment and thought it was time for me to go. She then blurted out again “you are not a Christian, you are an antichrist!” At this I turned to her and told her that I was sorry she felt that way. Then I turned back to the crowd and told them good bye, I was going home now. Then sarcastically I said “I have to go home and repent because I just found out that I am not a Christian and this has deeply affected me, so I must go think about this and repent for not being a Christian.” Many people laughed and said their good bye others confirmed that they would see me later.
While I was driving home I was thinking about what had just happened and was very sad. It made me realize that it is incidents like this that keep people away from the church and God. I saw how we so called Christians are so darn good at ripping apart, chewing up and spitting out even our own. It is no wonder that Non Christians want to stay non Christian with public displays like this and countless others no doubt. It has made me ask a lot of questions myself. What the hec is wrong with the body of Christ?
Some picture of Christ we represent. It is so sad to see this happen. The more I thought about this the more it has disturbed me. That we brothers and sisters of Christ can bet so darn ugly to one another. What kind of bride was he coming back for again?? Then I had a strange thought come in my head and I had to laugh. It was “In every family you have a few nut’s!” All of a sudden I felt such a love and compassion come over me when I thought about this woman that was hireling the judgments and insults toward me. I got this picture of a little sister standing in front of her big brother and yelling at him over silly things. Now I can just laugh…
Oh, my brothers and sisters in Christ, daddy says “Love one another, and play nice”