Most of us have probably heard the phrase “Don’t shoot the messenger.”  It is usually spoken when we have some bad news to tell someone that didn’t originate with us.Â
Often the message of Christ gets a bad wrap because of those who claim to believe in and even bring the message. Many of us have lamented about it before. How we live our lives impacts the effectiveness of our message. Certainly throughout history imperfect, even corrupt Christians have done harm to the message of Christ. But we must understand that a corrupt Christian does not equate to a corrupt or even non-existent God.
Yes, organized religion, like every other organization that has ever existed has some corrupt people in it. Does that make the entire organization corrupt?  More importantly does it change in any way the truthfulness of the foundation upon which the organization is built? Does it mean the message itself is corrupt? I think the words of Jesus himself say it and ask the question best:
Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me,… (snip)
… but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many great miracles from the Father.  For which of these do you stone me?”(consider ‘condemn me’ or ‘reject me’ in place of ‘stone me’). John 10:25,32