Stop Pretending, Please
It often feels like Christians are the most maligned collection of human masses on the planet. Our chameleon like reaction to this, is to hide our beliefs, even ourselves except when in the company of like chameleons. The question we often ask ourselves is why do others perceive us as untouchables? What have we done to deserve this weighty dark moniker? We don’t hurt anyone, so how have we offended the world? I think it’s more a matter of what we haven’t done! Actors may be the only group of people who are applauded for pretending to be something that they aren’t. Yet even they, absent their scripted characters, can’t pull off misdirection in their ordinary lives. Whenever the rest of us do or say anything which is perceived to promote a more favorable light on ourselves, the world see’s this as a tragic flaw, worthy of ridicule or at least rejection. A Christian working in an inner-city soup kitchen, handing out food to the hungry or homeless, isn’t ridiculed, he or she is welcomed. A missionary, tending to the sick in a mud hut while discussing the gospel, represents hope for the needy. But when those same warmly accepted, angels of mercy return to their ordinary lives and talk about or publicize their part time actions, they somehow become bible thumpers or do-gooders? The bottom line is that many Christians effectively do “good” silent works in the name of their Savior, while their brethren who do nothing but pretend to be Christians, do more to undermine the good news of Christianity than all the rest could ever do ever support it. In fact pseudo christians have become the rotten apples tainting those bushels of physical and spiritual nourishment which true follower’s are trying to disperse. God wants so much more from His believers. More than for us to just sit in pews, study the bible, worship through song or tithe away our extra nickels. He wants more than us just not hurting anybody. He wants us to follow His lead and represent His broad interests. He wants us to care. In fact He requires it as part of the cost of His acceptance.
We, as an action team, are responsible for our Lord’s public image. Good-for-nothing’s aren’t needed, while good-for-other’s are warmly welcomed. “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.“(James 1:27 NIV). “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5 NIV). If we are good, it is because of God, it’s therefore natural that God should get the credit for any good that we do.
JC Calkins with COMMON SENSE 4 UNCOMMON PEOPLE
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