I got this in an email I get daily, and it’s thought provoking. It’s kind of mind-twisting, but the very end of it makes sense. Granted, our lives should not neglect to tell of Christ, but I think there’s truth in what it’s saying.

The story goes about an evangelist on the streets of Las Vegas who was preaching and holding signs about the Gospel when a woman walked by and shouted: “I am a sinner and I am going straight to hell.” Cheers resounded from some people nearby who supported the sentiment.

“It doesn’t have to be that way,” the evangelist called out.

“I want it that way,” the woman called back over her shoulder.

Ironically, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) was defending the evangelist’s right to be there based on laws of free speech, and here was this woman exercising her right to walk into hell with her head held high. It’s an awesome, God-given privilege to have the right to do this, and we need to defend that right, even though we know how tragic this is, just as the ACLU has to defend the evangelist’s right to the sidewalk if it is going to be consistent with its commitment to free speech. It’s remarkable how God has chosen to honor the dignity of human beings who reject him.

Think about it this way: God has not made the truth about his existence obvious to everyone. When Jesus came, you had to have “ears to hear” or you missed it. Why doesn’t God make himself more obvious to everyone? He is protecting the rights of those who don’t believe as well as those who do.

If God were obvious to everyone, you would be a fool for not believing. In which case, some might believe reluctantly or for the wrong reason. As it is, you are a fool for believing and those who believe can afford to look foolish because their faith confirms in them what they see but others don’t.

So this woman who wants to be a sinner going straight to hell should not be looked upon as an enemy, or some twisted, sick soul who is about to get what she deserves. Instead, she is an amazing human being made in God’s image and free to snub God or bow down before him. It’s her call.

You probably know somebody like this who frustrates you to no end. I bet the evangelist had at least the thought of using his sign to bang some sense into this woman. Instead, we need to honor and learn how to befriend people like this and respect their right to believe what they believe. By allowing for their unbelief, we may just be creating the environment that will encourage someone to believe. Hasn’t God done that with us?

Let’s discuss this in the comments.

-j