Who...Me?

Don’t judge Christianity by Christians.  I’ve heard it before, and I understand what some people are trying to say.  Society and the church have been troubled by imperfect people since the dawn of creation.  And who needs a Savior if you are already perfect, right?  We’ve got some whoppers of examples of leadership in the major religions that have faltered in their behavior and the example they set.  David comes to mind, so does Solomon.  The church hierarchy in the Middle Ages had lost its way entirely with buying your way into heaven and priests having mistresses.  Then there are the Jim Bakkers of today to point to. 

But, I can just imagine what would happen if we said “don’t judge government by its elected leaders, or don’t judge schools by there teachers.”  Never happen.  People wouldn’t stand for it.  We make assumptions and judge all the time based on what we see and hear.  It’s an important way to protect yourself if you are looking for good outcomes.

We will continually be judged by our behavior and how consistent it is with the standard understood and expected by those who see us in our daily lives, and it will never cease to be important to attempt with our imperfect selves to live up to the standard that is expected of us by God.  I have heard it best said, “we are the only Bible some people may ever read.”

So how do we ever live up to the example we are supposed to set?  In my life I’ve had houses with great views out…but the best views I ever got were the ones looking inside at my family.  In other words, examining yourself instead of always examining others is a valuable tool, and prayer has a way of looking inside and illuminating with an incendiary flame what is beautiful and important to both God and us (not always the same, by the way! -- LOL.)  Prayer is not always talking either…sometimes we just need to listen.  Perhaps if we spend a bit more time that way seeking God’s face, we will be able to live up to those expectations that others have of us the rest of the time.