We know how to behave when our
reputation or our freedom is on the line.
We know the right things to do, the right things to say, how to be
tactful and polite. Yet, sometimes, we
get caught with our guard down and just one little slip of the tongue, or that
one nasty gesture, or an uncontrolled, mean-spirited leer causes a conflict
that we may never recover from. Since we
are human and prone to mess up on occasion, it is necessary to be reminded often
of how we are to act in all situations.
This is all the more important since Christians are to reflect the image
of God to a lost and dying world. If
we’re not careful to show Jesus in the proper light, we will be in danger of
giving a false impression or faulty view of God and His purpose for every
person.
For example, when Aaron made the
golden calf in the wilderness and called it YHWH (Exodus 32:5), he caused the
Israelites to see Him as another of the many idols worshiped by the
Egyptians. And when God’s people turned
to idolatry and claimed to be worshiping YHWH, they blasphemed His Name among
the Gentiles (Isaiah 52:5; Micah 3:11; Romans 2:24). Today when Christians act, and talk, and
think like the pleasure-seekers around them, they give a false impression of
God’s holiness; they actually promote the negative views of Christianity,
church leaders, and what they call “organized religion” that are so prevalent
in the movies, television shows, and other mass media. In effect, they have caused the name of God
to be blasphemed by claiming the Name, but not living by what that Name stands
for. In essence, the prejudice
experienced today against anything religious has come in response to those who
practice their religion under false pretenses.
The church, God’s kingdom, has
always had a difficult task to achieve.
From its inception, its members have been called upon to show their
world a different way to live, think, behave, serve, etc. The Apostle Paul admits that our message has
been nothing short of ridiculous to outsiders.
He uses the word “scandal” to describe how outsiders feel about the
gospel (1 Cor. 1:18, 23).
This is the reason for all of the
lists the New Testament writers provide in their letters. It’s imperative for us to strive to behave
because the church just doesn’t need any more embarrassing situations to answer
for. We already have 2 strikes against
us; our backs are already up against the wall; we’re already hanging by a limb
(and any other clichés you can think of).
We must get into the habit of living the way we know is right (and
encouraging all of our fellow Christians to do the same). We must practice our religion on a daily
basis, free from any pretenses that might be perceived by a suspicious public
as being selfish, or derogatory, or insincere, or hypocritical.
As Paul’s inspired words from
Colossians 3 encourage, let’s get good at setting our hearts and minds on
things above (spiritual, godly matters) where Christ is seated next to God
(1-4). This will help us avoid Satan’s
influences to satisfy earthly, selfish desires.
Put to death [murder] the disgusting sinful urges that bombard our minds
on a daily basis (5-12). The world knows
that these are not Christian behavior.
Show forth God’s attributes to the best of your ability (13-17). Influence
others to see how God’s ways work to improve lives, not to hinder identity and
meaning. And devote yourselves to
growing in your relationship with God so that you can have the strength to keep
trying whenever you mess up; to keep striving when it seems impossible to
succeed; to be a light for what is good and right in a dark and dismal world.
Live the Christian life with no
pretenses. Help those seeking the Savior
to get on the right road with us; the only one that leads back to God who is
calling us home.
Doug
