At church today, our pastor said something that I’ve never heard quite this way before. It’s not exactly a new piece of knowledge for me nor an alien concept within the larger Christian community, but it struck me as a very powerful phrasing.
He told us:
For some people, you may be the only Jesus they ever see.
In other words, as representatives of Christianity, any one of us (person, congregation, etc.) may be the only time that a given person really gets a glimpse of Jesus and thus perhaps a spark of interest to explore the gospel and perhaps accept him as lord and savior.
Kind of puts a whole different light on the importance of acting more Christlike and letting the light of the Holy Spirit shine forth a bit more, instead of just doing our own thing and forgetting about how we’re supposed to present ourselves to the world.
I”ve heard that several times at church. It’s a good idea since the main reason people give for not going to church is because church people are hypocrites. Granted, that’s a poor excuse, but it’s a real one.
The funny thing is most Christians Ive met have made sure I dont want to meet Jesus. Very few Christians actually change their bad behaviours by becoming born again, and in fact most develop a whole new set of them. Pretty disappointing actually.
@ Big Man,
yeah, there can be a lot of hypocrites, but we’ve been blessed to finally find a church we can go to that seems to have a really low percentage of them
@ TitforTat,
I agree that the change that occurs can be minimal or even sprout new bad habits, but any time humans are involved, our ability to make our own decisions can muck things up. It is disappointing, but being born again is a process, not a miracle instant cure. 😛
Sure, many people don’t get rid of their bad behaviors…or even outwardly seem to be changing them…but you’d be surprised. Sometimes, it may not be what you see. There may be ways they’ve changed in other areas that you aren’t privy to, or changes that are subtle to you but significant for the person himself or herself.
I don’t have any problem with viewing some porn. I also don’t think there is necessarily any particular prohibition against it from a biblical standpoint. But I have changed the way…and the type…of porn that I access. I am much heavier into erotic fiction (it’s impossible for fictional characters to be misused or mistreated). When it comes to videos and photos, I focus on those that are self-produced by the participants themselves (which sharply reduces the possiblity that I’m supporting some kind of victimization). These are factors I never much considered before being born again. Just one example, of course, but a good one, I think, to illustrate my point.
I think I recycle more and concern myself with the environment more since becoming born again, because I have a stronger sense of the fact I am a steward of this planet and that I ultiamtely answer to God for my treatment of it. (And its people, too).
As for new bad habits, that can happen with even good things.
The Internet has been a huge boon for us, but it makes otherwise normal people do some stupid and even hateful things they would never do in normal day to day life. Drugs to help with ADHD are great, but then everyone started tagging kids with ADHD who didn’t have it, because it’s easier to throw drugs at folks than address real challenges and solutions.
So, sure, some people get judgmental and get other bad habits, but that’s because they still have issues to deal with. There will always be bad apples. And sometimes, the most aggressive and off base ones are the most vocal. Someone like me won’t be as vocal about my faith, because I know so many of the loudmouths have turned people off. And so, it’s easy to not pay attention to me, even when I’m not being a jerk.
😉
Deacon
I always thought I could get rich if I just started producing “Christian Porn” 😉
Heres one for ADD
Absent Dad Disease
For porn, if it inspires or could inspire lust in any way then theres something that should make you take a step back and analyze it from as close to God’s perspective as you can. Just be sure to ask God what He thinks of all of it and not put yourself into the mix when listening for an answer. If it does not glorify God then we all should be careful with it.
Just be careful that it is actually God you’re listening to rather than a demonic force.
I’m always suspect when people throw out lines like this one:
“If it does not glorify God then we all should be careful with it.”
Really? Glorifying God is the test for all of our activities?
Mowing my lawn doesn’t glorify God. Nor does cleaning my house or renovating it. I’m pretty sure watching the nightly news doesn’t glorify God.
If we were to be “careful” with every activity of our lives that does not serve to directly glorify God, 99% of us would have to be careful with at least 90% of our daily actions.
Also, people who zero in on one isolated comment about porn in the comments section for a post that isn’t originally about porn to go on a diatribe…however well meaning it may be…strike me as people who are far too interested in what other people do and not concerned enough with larger issues of peace, charity, mercy and love. Seems to me that my savior Jesus Christ preached a lot about the the dangers of focusing on specific things and getting bogged down in details and then neglecting the more salient issues that need addressing.