Sketch Xaviar Reed
Artistic Productions

WARNING: The following blog entry contains strong language and harsh but truthful statements, and is not appropriate for children, the easily offended, or the faint of heart. Everything you are about to read is what I truly believe; the words I type, although offensive to some, are my own beliefs, and I stand by them without remorse. Please remember that YOU HAVE THE CHOICE to read this; if you are offended by what you read, remember that I have the choice to say what I believe, just as you have the choice to shut me out if you so choose.

    Last month, I was an atheist. I had been a hardcore atheist for some time; however, my issues with the ruler of the universe, although partly the cause of my unbelief, paled in comparison to my issues with those proclaiming his name. Everywhere I looked, there was some Christian group or another telling me I was going to hell. They didn't seem to care about my problems; in truth, they probably didn't. All they seemed to want to do was hound me at every turn to “turn to Jesus”. Even at my grandmother's funeral there was no respite; after her body was laid to rest, I was told by some sick individual that, because I was an atheist, I was never going to see her again. These comments, although masquerading under the air of “Jesus loves you”, still stank of a despicable hatred that led me further away from God.

    Even now that I am a Christian, I still see these assholes harassing me at every turn; I walk into church and people stare at me. Why? I don't pretend to know, nor do I care. But I have a question for you, you who preach the name of the true Savior of humankind, and yet do not give a flying fuck about those who you profess to be trying to save. I have a question for you, you who preach the name of the merciful God, and yet have no mercy in trying to destroy and demoralize those who disagree with your views.

    I ask you, all of you hypocritical “followers of Jesus”: HAVE YOU NO SOUL?

    It is because of people like you that the name of Jesus is spat upon and despised. People like you, with your disgusting signs proclaiming that “God hates fags”, are the reason why the homosexuals hate the name of our Lord and turn away from him with their sexual immorality. People like you, with your priests and molesters stealing the innocence of your youth, are why young men are turning their backs on God and hating His name.

    It is because of SCUM LIKE YOU that people are going to hell.

    Most atheists refuse to believe in God and acknowledge his existence because half of you who preach His name are shitfaced hypocrites who say one thing and turn around and do another. There are those of you who truly care about your fellow man and truly believe in what Jesus stands for, but for every one of these good, humane and caring individuals, there is an ignorant asshole who the media shines their spotlight on, and these individuals who make the news are the “preachers of God” who proclaim their gospel of hatred and bullshit and, in the process, turn decent, caring people away from Him.

    I ask all of you who are not one of these hating, ignorant imbeciles to do one simple thing: WAKE THE FUCK UP. If you want Christianity to flourish, if you want the true light of Christ to shine, and if you truly care about the atheists and truly want them to go to heaven, you MUST silence and denounce the haters and the bigoted fools who defame and degenerate our religion.

    Atheism and hatred of Christianity in all of its other forms is mainly founded in the hatred of what our church is portrayed as: a bunch of uninformed, hate-filled, intolerant people who waste no time in tearing down others while ignoring their own faults and imperfections. We as a church must STAND UP and proclaim Jesus's love by SHOWING IT TO OTHERS. Proclaiming to people that they are going to hell, calling them fags and telling them that God hates them WILL ONLY TURN THEM AWAY FROM THEIR SAVIOR. Do not attempt to convert a homosexual by telling them that they are fags; show them Christ's love by being kind to them and politely introducing them to Christ and his mercy. Jesus himself said to be a light to the world; he did NOT say to be a fucking hate-fueled beating stick. If you are rude and hateful to those who do not like you or understand you, then you WILL GET NOWHERE in trying to save them. Show them kindness; show them the love of our Lord through your actions. Some might not come to Christ right away, and some may not altogether; but when you stand before Christ at the last day, AT LEAST YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SAY YOU TRIED.

    In conclusion, I would like to speak to the atheists reading this. I was an atheist myself; I felt alienated by the church and I felt that God did not care about me. I want to tell you this myself: God does not preach hate.. There are good Christians, and there are hate-mongering Christians; but GOD IS NOT HATEFUL. God loves you, and Jesus died so you can live forever. It may not seem like God loves you; it may not seem that he cares...but He does. Accepting Christ will not change your life immediately--people will still be dicks, life will still seem to beat down on you, and at some points you might not feel like continuing on--but once you put your trust in Him and let Him guide you, He will help you. There is a sweet comfort in Christ's name. It may seem corny, it may seem childish, but JESUS WANTS TO BE YOUR FRIEND no matter what anyone says. He loves you no matter what you have done.

    Go with Christ and follow him.

    --SKETCH REED