Not So Hot
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16
“I had no idea you were a Christian,” the co-worker said.
A friend once told me that after a couple of years at a new job she framed a Bible verse and put it on her desk. Her co-worker was surprised (!) to find out that the Bible was her guidebook to life.
My friend’s theory on sharing her faith was, “You don’t have to talk about your faith; live it and others will see it.” Though she now sees that the theory was faulty, there’s some truth in it. Francis of Assisi is credited with saying it this way, “Preach the gospel, and if necessary, use words.”
My husband calls this “you don’t have to talk about it” theory the “I have mine syndrome.” I have been resisting believing that his theory is correct. He has been trying to convince me that many Christians believe the end of the world is very near and rather than getting out into the trenches and sharing the gospel and telling as many people as possible about what Jesus has done for us and how living for Him would change our world, they are hunkered down, resting in their own salvation. “I have mine and that’s all I am worried about.”
Sadly, as I have been paying more attention I realize he has a point. Many Christians would rather say “salt and light” than want to be salt and light in the world. It is a sobering thought to know that Jesus said salt that loses its savor is good for nothing and will be thrown out and trampled underfoot. (Matthew 5:13)
Too many of us are content to go to church on Sunday and return the next week – perhaps having been in a Bible Study during the week – but with little other thought about living for the Lord in between trips. I am reminded of the term “lukewarm” from Revelation 3:16 where Jesus says to the church at Laodicea, “So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.”
I have been wondering what I look like to others. I think I am hot one day and cold another – or perhaps on the same day in different circumstances. The Bible says that we should stand out in the world, we need to be a part of it but not live “in it”. When others see and hear us we should look and sound different than those who do not know the Lord.
This does not mean we have to be humorless, frumpy, poverts. It does mean that we must be discerning about where we go, what words come out of our mouths, and the entertainment we choose. It means that we should be so burdened about others’ not knowing the Lord that being quiet about Him is not an option for us.
Usually when we are quiet about Jesus or our faith in Him it is out of fear. Fear of ridicule, fear of rejection, fear of some worldly possession being taken, or prideful fear that we will be embarrassed if we can’t answer every question someone has about Him. Jesus said that His power is made perfect in our weakness. He will give us the words to use, the actions that show we are His, and the courage to say whatever He wants us to.
Christians, we can hunker down in our homes and churches and speak to no one or we can love and serve the Lord by loving and serving others. If we want the next generation to be stronger in faith than we are, we will have to model faith. If we want a culture that turns from evil and where each person considers the other one important, then we have got to speak up about the God who has saved us from an eternity in hell.
We seem to forget that God has saved us in His own mercy toward us. He has also saved us to do good works that He has already planned for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). Those works will shine a light for all to see, Jesus said we are the light of the world. When people see a light they are drawn to it so they can see what is being illuminated.
If good works make your and my faith obvious, that is wonderful. If others want to know the Motivator behind our good works, it may be necessary to use words.