When Faith Turns Ugly: My Encounter on the Bus
Last weekend, I faced something I never imagined would come from a fellow believer, public humiliation in the name of Jesus. What happened on that bus left me shaken, disgusted, and deeply reflective about how we as Christians represent Christ to the world.
I was dressed in traditional Indian attire with a bindi as it was my aunt’s death anniversary. Even as a believer, I wanted to honor her memory in this way. I took my seat at the back of the bus, talking quietly with my cousin on the phone, when I suddenly heard a voice cut through the hum of the ride.
“You need Jesus.”
I looked up to see a woman staring at me. I didn’t think much of it. I wear a cross around my neck every day. But then she started. Loudly. Aggressively. Accusing me of being possessed. Shouting that I had no right to come against a child of God. Demanding that I repent.
And then it dawned on me she was targeting me.
The whole bus went silent. Every passenger became an audience to my public shaming. Her voice rose, her words grew sharper, and I felt a wave of disgust not just for how she treated me, but for the misrepresentation of Christ she carried.
Coming from a Hindu background, my family has always been cautious of Christians. And in that moment, I understood exactly why. If this is the witness the world sees, no wonder people keep their guard up.
And then another thought struck me: What if it wasn’t me? What if it was a child? An elderly person? Someone fragile in their faith? The damage could have been devastating.
Here’s the truth: misrepresentation wounds. Zeal without love destroys. Shouting the name of Jesus without carrying His heart is not evangelism, it’s abuse.
Jesus never humiliated people into repentance. He never shamed them into salvation. He called them by name, restored their dignity, and revealed God’s love through His presence. That is the witness we are called to bear.
If you truly carry Christ, people should feel seen, not shamed. They should leave with hope, not humiliation.
It’s not enough to call yourself a Christian. The real question is: can people see Christ in you?
