"But even after we had
suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were
bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict. For our
exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit. But as we have been approved by God to be
entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who
tests our hearts. For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you
know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness. Not did we seek glory from
men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as
apostles of Christ” 1 Thessalonians 2:2-6.
I spend a lot of time thinking about how to effectively be a
Christian in all circumstances. I find a great deal of what I would term
worldly Christians- people who would tell you they believe but quite possibly
don’t attend church, Bible studies or any other sort of communal place to
worship, regularly sleep with people or drink heavily, both with no or at least
inauthentic remorse, curse and use the Lord’s name improperly often, and generally
don’t read scripture or spend time in prayer on any consistent basis.
Sounding familiar? They might be called convenience or
nominal Christians (Christian when it’s convenient or politically correct) or
lukewarm as scripture might say. If you fall into this category (or even
occasionally feel yourself there) you’re not alone- we've all been there. But
the lingering and most important question is how to safeguard from being there
or going there again.
So how do we effectively be for Christ in all circumstances? For me, the way to
not be lukewarm is to make the choice in every circumstance to be for Christ
and not for public opinion or for myself. It is a lifelong commitment but it’s
a daily choice—a daily choice to die to self and live for Christ alone.
I spend a great deal of time making sure I’m still
light-hearted, fun, easy to be around, non-judgmental, approachable and
unassuming. Yes, I do buy into the idea
that a great many people have been turned away from Christ because of “Christians”
themselves. But no, I don’t buy they’re turned completely away if they were
meant to know Christ in the first place. It may take them longer, and that’s a
serious embarrassment to Christianity, but not irreparable. But despite all my
attempts to be the perfect light for Jesus, I’m still going to fall very short.
But that’s OK I think a great deal of the learning process
of salvation is getting things wrong and getting back up to continue on with
the fight. We’re going to be misunderstood. We’re going to be called
over-serious. We’re quite possibly going to be criticized and whispered about,
maybe even shunned. But when it happens our response shouldn't be either extreme-
to change or to be prideful. Our response should be to spend even more time
with the Lord, allowing Him to examine us, teach us, mold us a little more
until we become as much of His spiritual likeness as we are His physical. It’s a hard and unpopular fight. If it’s not,
you’re not doing it right. But that doesn't mean you have any right to respond
to the world’s ugliness with anything other than a large measure of grace and
guidance.
You've been entrusted with the gospel. Don’t hide behind
flattering words or cloaks of covetousness. You've been charged to be bold but you've been equally charged to be humble. And above all remember, it is God who
tests hearts so no matter the outcome, find confidence in the counsel you
sought and the direction the Lord led you in.
