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People should see a difference
09.15.2007 by Tim Reed
If you’ve ever attended a Sunday school class then eventually you’ll hear the phrase, “when people see you they should see a difference”. In my experience what this actually means is “people should notice you don’t smoke, drink, cuss or have pre-marital/adulterous sex”. You’ll see proof texts like, Ephesians 5.8, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light”.
Here’s the thing: our culture doesn’t give a crap about smoking, drinking, cussing or pre-marital/adulterous sex (in the case of smoking abstaining has become the norm, for the other three abstaining isn’t seen as admirable). Sure, they may notice you’re different, but it won’t be in a good way, and could even be in a “wow what a freak way”.
But here’s the other thing. I’m not sure the Biblical admonitions to be different from the world have anything to do with the sort of “don’t do these thing” lists put together by (generally) evangelical churches. Check out a couple of verses here:
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
1 Peter 2:12
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16
In other words, what people should notice is different about us is not what we don’t do, but rather what we do do.
September 15th, 2007 at 5:04 pm
Haha, you said do-do.
September 15th, 2007 at 5:34 pm
“Christians aren’t perfect. Just forgiven.”
…Hmmmm.
September 16th, 2007 at 7:50 am
Both. When I worked my way through Bible school I started as a busboy. They made me head busboy (big deal) and then asked me to train as a waiter. I politely refused and in in front of all the waiters and waitresses and buspeople and managers I had to tell the big boss why.
I told him I was a Christian and I personally would not serve alcohol. Most thought it was a little strange but several saved and unsaved people after the meeting expressed their support for my postistion. I was able to lead several to Christ during the next two years.
What we don’t do is sometimes before God, what we do do is most times before men. Good post.
September 19th, 2007 at 11:13 am
You state: “…our culture doesn’t give a crap about smoking, drinking, cussing or pre-marital/adulterous sex (in the case of smoking abstaining has become the norm, for the other three abstaining isn’t seen as admirable).”
I disagree. They care very much when THEY are confronted with any sin. In fact, Christians that “smoke, drink, cuss, [have] pre-marital/adulterous sex” are the first examples they point to in order to justify their own actions.
I vote with Rick on this one: BOTH.
September 20th, 2007 at 1:08 pm
You are absolutely right!!
September 24th, 2007 at 11:48 am
I agree entirely. While purity is a most worthy pursuit, We don’t make it our mission to unbelievers to make them innocent, we as fellow sinners are meant to lead them to the one who can. Evangelism is most pronounced not in refraining from the life of death, but engaging in the life of the reborn.