January 15, 2018

What Kind of Witness Are You?

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. – 1 John 3:18

He means well. He does. He is a man of God, determined to help others. He sees needs and he speaks. He’ll help. He’ll organize a group. It’ll get done.

Except it never gets done. He’s moved on to something else, to someone else’s need. It wasn’t intentional. It’s just that there are so many people who need help and there really isn’t enough time or workers to do it all.

So he makes promises he’s not going to keep. Again. He’s a good man. He has good intentions. But his witness, well, it’s not so great.

He would be appalled at that statement. He reads and studies his Bible. He prays. He attends church faithfully. But to those just outside of his orbit, the ones who are in need, the ones who hear his promises and then wait expectantly for help that won’t come, well, they don’t think so highly of him or his God.

Ah. There you have it. God. This man proclaims his faith and good intentions with his mouth but he doesn’t follow through with his actions. And that nullifies his witness for God. If they can’t depend on a man of God to do what he says he will do, then maybe they can’t depend on God to do what He says either.

You and I both know that God is trustworthy. He always keeps His promises. God never, ever lets us down. That’s not the case with humans. We let people down all the time. We are forever making promises we can’t keep because we want to make people happy. Well, maybe it’s because we want to make life easier for ourselves.

There is a sweet woman at our church who has just the brightest smile. She has good intentions too. She also has a reputation. Oh, don’t believe anything she tells you, others say. She always volunteers but she never actually shows up, they confide. Oh, she’s not dependable. Yeah. I found that out.

There is no need to volunteer for something when you aren’t going to do it. Think ahead. Is the timing inconvenient? Are you juggling too many things already? Is it just not something you would enjoy? Whatever the reason, it’s okay. Just don’t volunteer. Learn to say nothing or to say no. Really. It’s more important to be honest upfront than to make a promise you aren’t going to keep.

Of course, it’s easy to point fingers. We are quick to spot the hypocrisy in others. We climb onto our lofty perch and point fingers at those below. It’s way harder to look in the mirror and ask ourselves: What have I promised that I didn’t do? What have I committed to do and then decided I just didn’t have time? What good intentions have I pushed aside for something more urgent or for someone I see regularly?

We are all witnesses for Christ. All of us. As the saying goes, you may be the only Bible some people ever read. So what are they reading when they see you? 

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Our Lives Should Reflect Jesus

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. -- Hebrews 4:13

Do you ever wonder if others see the motivations of your heart? Do you see your own motivations? Are you honest with yourself? Do you look in the mirror and see what you’re really doing and why?

I am forever amazed by some of the things really good people do. I know. We’re all human. We all make mistakes. None of us are perfect. But what really gets my dander up is when a Christian who prides himself on living his faith does something wrong and then laughs it off.

I’m sure Satan is having a wonderful time with it all. This man who volunteers with a jail ministry one night a week, who brags about always spreading the gospel, did something to benefit himself financially while hurting others. And in so doing, he really diminished his voice for Jesus.

That’s what happens when Satan gets a foothold in our lives. It’s something we all have to guard against. And put me at the front of that group. I am aware every single day that Satan is working hard to silence all Christian witnesses. One of the best ways to do that is to discredit those who speak for Jesus.

Another man just resigned his job because he’s being investigated for an illegal real estate transaction. It would be sad under any circumstances. Taking money from local taxpayers hurts all of us. But the saddest thing is that this man really supported and encouraged programs to help people turn their lives around by developing a relationship with Christ.

So who loses? Well, obviously he does. But what about all those who believed what he said about living right and living for Jesus? What about all those who believed him when he said the way out of a past filled with drugs and theft and violence was to make a commitment to Jesus? Now you and I know that anyone can falter. We understand that Christians are still sinners. But what these new Christians see, what those on the edge of belief hear, is that Jesus doesn’t really work when it comes to living a different kind of life.

Which brings me back to the first man. He knows he did something wrong. I believe he does. I just don’t think he cares. It’s like there’s a separation between what he does for Jesus and what he does for himself. He doesn’t want to admit that his business ethics -- especially when his actions harm others -- make people not want to hear anything he might have to say about Jesus.

We don’t fool anyone when we shove Jesus aside when it comes to how we handle our business affairs and financial dealings with others. Our lives reflect Him. And if they don’t, we’ve got a problem.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

What Is Your Story?

And if you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But you must do this in a gentle and respectful way.

-- 1 Peter 3:15a-16b

What is your story? How did you come to know Jesus? Was it gradual as you grew up attending church? Did it come after years of grappling about who God is and what Jesus did for you? Or was it an instant flash of understanding that transformed your life?

Everybody’s story is different. There is no right or wrong version. What’s important is that you recognize how you came to know Him. The reason? So you can tell others about what He’s given you.

At some point all of us want to share our faith with someone else. Maybe you’ve got a friend who’s hurting and really needs the peace that only God can provide. Maybe it’s a co-worker who lost a family member suddenly. Maybe it’s that grouchy neighbor who just seems so alone and yet pushes people away again and again.

How can you even begin when you don’t really know your own story? People don’t want to hear you quote Bible passages or repeat what your pastor said last Sunday. They want to hear what Jesus has done for you, personally. They want to hear your story. They want to know how Jesus changed you, how He has impacted your life.

So I’ll ask again: What is your story? If you’re squirming, uncomfortable, unsure even, that’s a sign that you need to spend some time figuring it out. Maybe read the Bible a little more. Maybe spend more time with God, not just talking to Him but listening to Him.

And figuring it all out for yourself. Because your faith isn’t simply about what you’ve been told to believe. It’s about what you believe in your heart. It’s about what Jesus means to you. You must understand that before you can share it with anyone else.

So figure out your story, then share it with others. Explain the hope you carry in your heart, being careful not to condemn or criticize others. That only makes them defensive and pushes them away from Christ. Instead, speak from your heart with words the Holy Spirit gives you. It is your story after all.