What if you lived as though you were the face of Christianity to those you encounter every day? As though they knew nothing of Jesus Christ, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit. Would they be convicted to follow the god that they see you “following,” as shown by your behaviors? What if you were the example that would draw them to God or push them away? Because the fact is—you are that person. To many—most you don’t even realize—you are the face of Christianity, the most real example of a Christian and how one behaves. Are you representing God or misrepresenting Him? We are not perfect, but it would be better not to be known as a Christian than to confuse others by calling ourselves Christians yet behaving otherwise—by claiming Christianity and not living it. But it’s more than just not misrepresenting God—it’s a supreme opportunity to represent Him and have an eternal impact on a human in need. Once you call yourself a Christian, there is only one choice and obligation—live that choice and show Christ to the world so that they may not be confused, but would experience our true God of love, grace, forgiveness, compassion, and pure righteousness. They will feel a natural pull toward an unknown God—you can help them know who He is. If you’re not helping, you’re hurting…Jesus said, “He who is not for me is against me.” (Matt 12:30)
As I read Brother Andrew’s words about Muslims in the book Secret Believers, I am struck with conviction of how our immoral society is perceived by the Muslim world (and others). The Muslim world, though misguided, is predominantly a very moral world—they stand strong on many moral ideals that are good in themselves. Furthermore, they don’t recognize a difference between church and state—whatever they see in the media, TV, and movies about “the West” they consider to be representative of Christians…but that is such a terrible picture to paint. And even those of us who separate ourselves from traditional American immoral activity—what are we doing to show true Christianity? Because just abstaining from immoral activity isn’t enough if our stand is not seen by non-believers. And the Bible says that we are not to have “even a hint of sexual immorality, or any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.” (Eph 5:3). Can you say that you don’t have even a hint of that? I cannot. So I have work to do…and it grieves me that every single day Muslims, Atheists, and many others are driven even further away by the behaviors of this nation…behaviors sometimes seen in me. It has to change. I have to change…we have to change.
What will we do with this conviction? Will we do anything, or just sit on the sidelines another day, another week, another month, another year…our entire lifetimes? Every day, over 25,000 people die in China alone (verified). Over 150,000 people die all over the world every day, including nations where Christianity is banned—how many of them were Christians? We can’t waste one day…
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