We all have our share of dirty laundry and residue from the life of sin God delivered us from. Some are instantly changed, but for others, the change occurs gradually. The Word of God tells us we become a new creature at the very moment we are sanctified through faith in Christ in 2 Corinthians 5:17, and not to conform to the pattern of this world in Romans 12:2.
I don’t easily question the validity of any person’s claim to be Christian. I give them the benefit of the doubt. However, I start questioning things when a person claims to be Christian yet lacks propriety. I don’t see being discerning as a “Holier than thou” mentality. I am merely doing what The Word says I ought to be. I have no problems with people being blunt and forthright as I myself fall in this side of the camp, but as a person yields to the Holy Spirit, we would know the difference between being straightforward or just downright improper.
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled on by men.”
Matthew 5:13
We are to be the salt of the earth. How do we become just that?
A few months ago through a dream, I was given this illustration. I kept it in my heart until an opportune time arose for me to share it.
There was a race. It was a race to get to the finish line but people in the race participated in all sorts of vehicles. Some were in cars, but this girl happened to be in the race in a segway. A segway is a personal vehicle that requires balancing, otherwise without balance, it goes absolutely nowhere. She maneuvered to get around people in cars and finally got to the finish line. As she got there, someone her senior confronted her about the message that was on her shirt. To the man, he found it quite disturbing, falling to the confines of being lewd. She then explains herself, “Oh don’t mind what I’m wearing, I’m really a Christian. You have to believe me.”
As Christians, people may mock and make fun of us as they did to our Lord, but the unbelieving world as indifferent as they are, actually do remember our claims. In a moment of our weakness, the world is always so quick to point and easily reminds and expects us to live to what we profess. After all, do you know how many times I’ve heard people say, “I don’t want to be a Christian, look at so and so, they’re no better than everybody else…” Then, there’s people who like to quote Gandhi, “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” How truly important it is for us to reflect our claim of being a “Christian.”
We are the light, and if the light in us is dark, we are not going to make a difference. We only contribute and participate in darkness.
“Then watch out that the light in you is not darkness.“
Luke 11:35
Speak the truth. There’s nothing wrong with that. Jesus spoke the truth. He called out the Scribes & Pharisees what they truly were because His righteousness couldn’t bear to let such blatant hypocrisy and filth go without being addressed since it prevented them to live up to their claim of being lovers of God.
” These people honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.”
Matthew 15:8
“But Lord, I spoke up for you… I was just being myself, how you created me to be, unabashed, no-holds-barred, ‘Tell it like it is’ kinda person.” Jesus would respond to us in this way in Matthew 12:34,
“For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”
As you are compelled to share your truth (your experiences, biblical reiterations excluded since they’re Absolute truth), remember to ask yourself this question. Are you reflecting Christ’s righteous character when doing so?