It’s not uncommon for fights within churches to hit the headlines in the newspapers. Those who mock Christianity have a ‘hay day’ when we take our fights public. One member sues another member because of ‘breach of contract’ or perceived damages physically, emotionally or financially. Leaders sue or are sued because of misconduct. Denominations fight over who owns the building, the members of the church or the denomination, when churches choose to leave one denomination and join another.
Sometimes we justify ourselves by separating our physical life interactions from our spiritual life interactions. We convince ourselves it is for the sake of ‘justice’ and God loves justice.
Paul has another view on this. “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” Romans 2:24 In this case, he was talking to the Jews who had been given the Law but were breaking it constantly and bickering and fighting over who was keeping it better or worse than the next person.
People are watching! They notice quickly when people in the body of Christ, his Church, bicker and fight with each other. They notice when we don’t look any different from the rest of the world when it comes to law suits, divorce, addictions, gossip, slander, etc. And Paul tells us “God’s name is blasphemed.”
I wonder, how well do I represent God’s name as I go about my daily activities? Do people see God’s ‘transformed me’ or do they see my carnal nature full of selfishness, wanting to make myself look better by putting down the next person, arguing and gossiping as I strive for my place in this world? When Eve was deceived and took the fruit, the bottom line was that she wanted to have her own wisdom instead of relying on God’s wisdom. Adam quickly followed. We are no different with every decision we make. We so quickly rely on our own wisdom rather than God’s wisdom. We want to be in control rather than allow God to have control. And God’s name is blasphemed among us.
David was called “a man after God’s own heart.” Even though he did some atrocious things, he quickly repented and received God’s correction. As I have been reading the Psalms of David and wondering about why he was called “a man after God’s own heart,” I noticed something. Very often, when David is imploring God to rescue him or save him from disaster, I see the phrase, “for your name’s sake.” David isn’t just wanting God to rescue him so he can live happily ever after and be great in the eyes of men. He is very conscious that he represents God in his leadership as king and in his dealing with other nations and with his people. So he constantly asks God for wisdom and for protection, “for your name’s sake.”
I wonder what I would look like to other people if I could constantly keep that before me, if every time I interacted with another person I saw myself as God’s ambassador. Would I act differently if I kept in mind that God’s name is either honored or blasphemed by my behavior, by my words, by my decisions?
Today, Lord, fill me with your Holy Spirit and guide me in my decisions, thoughts, and behaviors as I go about my work and relationships for your name’s sake. I choose to follow you and my desire is that your name would be honored and well represented so that others would also choose to follow you because of your great love for us. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment