unChristian – part 1
If you’ve read my blog for any length of time, or if you pay any attention whatsoever to the sidebar of my blog, you know that I am currently reading through the Gospel of Matthew and unChristian.
Sometimes God likes to time things just right. You know what I mean?
Earlier this week, I read through Matthew 23, that passage where Jesus totally goes off on the Pharisees. He uses incredible word pictures along with strong vocabulary such as: “hypocrites, blind guides, whitewashed tombs, etc.” One particular verse that hits me hard, verse 15: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.”
In unChristian, along with several other books I’ve read recently, I have learned that a label of “hypocrite” has become one of the biggest hurdles to reaching disconnected people with the Gospel in this generation. Some of the label is legitimate, and some of it is a skewed perspective, but it is a real hurdle either way. This book goes on to tell us that even folks inside the church struggle with this problem.
Chapter 3 gives candid help for this issue. Perception: Christians say one thing but live something totally different. New Perception (for us to strive toward): Christians are transparent about their flaws and act first, talk second.
That’s the bottom line. As Christ followers, it is so easy to talk about what believe about anything . . . but it is a whole lot harder to put those supposed beliefs into practice. We often try to hide our shortcomings under the carpet so that we can look like Good Christian Folks. Perry Noble’s top post for 2007 addresses what becomes of this.
The point is, if we are going to reach people for Jesus in 2008, we need to learn to be honest when we are falling short of ideal. I struggle with stuff. We all do. I say things about my beliefs that I don’t always live up to. The bumper sticker “Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven,” is a sorry attempt at what we’re aiming for. That statement is a cop-out. Far better is to say, “I know I fall short of God’s ideal. That’s the whole point of Jesus. He did what we can not. I’m still not perfect, but the power of Jesus in me is getting me closer . . . at least when I’m willing to let him.”
Even better is to demonstrate that statement. Actions really do speak louder than words. Openly admit when we fall short. Even more openly admit that we recognize that falling short does not please God. Then, make very real and practical steps . . . ACTIONS, toward getting better. This is living out transparency.
For me, I fall far short in sharing my faith. It’s not that I can’t or won’t. It’s that I am not constantly looking for opportunities. It’s going to be a big step for me, and I will probably fall short a several times, but I’m joining Aletheia Church and Darren Plummer with a goal to share my faith (for real, not just, “come to church with me”) with 50 people in 2008.
