The last acceptable form of bigotry is that of bias against Christianity.

I was watching Bill O'Riley last night and he had a clip from the show, "Saturday Night Live". The clip showed an actor who was playing Christ and mocking Christianity. Now, if you were to ask the people who put on this little skit, they would likely claim that they were not mocking Christ - rather, they were making fun of a popular quarterback by the name of Tim Tebow.

Perhaps that is what they were trying to do - I won't argue their point. But the effect was to mock Jesus, and they are not the only ones doing so. In fact, countless people, from ESPN anchors to so-called "serious journalists", have used the "Tebow" story as an opportunity to mock Christ and His followers.

How sad!

How sad it is for their to be such an attitude of hostility against Christians. It seethes beneath the surface, but comes out quickly whenever anyone dares to bring up Jesus in a serious manner. It infuriates these people - often they can barely contain their scorn as they rail against anyone who would dare to acknowledge the name of Jesus in any way other than in the form of a curse.

So, what should our response be? How should Christians react to such open bigotry? While I cannot speak for others, I can tell you what I intend to do: I intend to pray for them. You see, Christ died for their sins. He died for those who spit on Him, and who cursed Him, and who struck Him, and who mocked Him, and who crucified Him. In fact, while He was dying on the very cross they nailed our Lord and Savior to, He asked God to forgive them because they did not know what they were doing.

I think the same is true of most of those who put down Christians (and the Lord whom we follow) today: They just don't know what they are doing. Does it make us mad? It should! But it should also make us hope and pray that they will repent, for most of the people who involve themselves in this last acceptable form of bigotry are just like we used to be: Ignorant and in danger of being lost for all eternity. And, like us, they need to repent. I pray that they will!

"But I tell you who hear Me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." Jesus, as recorded in Luke 6:27-28, NIV