Called To Be Different

Your actions represent more than you.

Recently I discovered this page by a Pastor named Jarrid Wilson and I'm very blessed by his posts on facebook and also his blog.

There is one particular post that I think, God had been using it through him to remind many of us Christians including myself about how we should really live like a child of God.

But before the post, there is one status in his facebook that could be the opening of what I'm going to share today.

"If you claim to be a Christ follower, remember that your actions represent more than just YOU. Don't reflect an image contrary to Jesus."

-Jarrid Wilson

Let's see if there's any familiar situation here;

1. One morning you are reading Bible in a coffee shop, then people start flooding in, some see you with the Bible and start giving you that strange look.  Well now, the Satan can easily use insecurity to attack you. You will start to have thoughts like this, 'Maybe I should have find a more secluded place. Maybe I should have put my Bible back in my bag. Maybe I should have read the verses on my phone.' You have all these thoughts simply you had been taught by the world that reading a Bible in a public place is something abnormal. (This is some gist from Jarrid's post)

2. You might have some gathering with your non-believer friends. Then, they plan to watch a movie. The title is 'Hangover', a movie displaying a lot of sex messages together with a lot of f' words. You are going to refuse, but then you think this might just annoy your friend for acting "holy".

3. Your lecturer is trying to display some sex or idol worshiping videos in the lecture as for understanding the topic according to him/her. Can you decide to leave the class?

4. Your friends is inviting you to their religious events. You have decided to go simply for the reason you thought it would be easier for you to invite them to Christian event next time.

The fourth one is a real struggle to some of the friends. But to be honest, this is simply a lie from the Satan. By going to your friend's religious events aren't going to help him/her to know better about the gospel instead this action just prove that you are agreed with the concept, 'Every religion is the same, you worship yours, I worship mine and then we all go to heaven together.'

5. This fifth one had happened to me. There is a time where I decided to stop blogging about Christianity simply because I had bought the lie that I didn't deserve to do so and this would offend my friends, let it be Christian or non-Christian.

Actually this evening I just went to the prayer meeting. And then some issues were brought up. In the middle of the sharing conversation, a brother kindly told us that he was asked by his friends to clarify some facts for his friend's religion. It might be as if this brother was of good intention, not wanting his friends to have any bad impression on Christians. But we can actually refuse that, in fact we must! If we did helped clarifying certain facts about other religion, we are representing a stand against the Bible. We might answer nicely to our friends, 'If anyone has any doubt with your religion, I hope you confront them yourself.'

It's time we take a stand and set ourselves apart rather than giving people a blur lens to see Christians and wonder if every road leads to Roman.

Some of our non-believer friends would feel very disturbed with the fact that only Christians can go to Heaven and the rest not. Questions would be raised.

I think the best we could do is by telling them, 'My friend, we do not define it this way. First of all, do you think you are able not to commit even a single sin in your lifetime? If you die tomorrow, do you have enough confidence to pass the judgment of God? This is the time when grace come in, that Jesus actually die on the cross to bear our sin and shame. A sinless man die for a friend to wash away his sins. How good is that?! That is why Christian are not saved by religion, but by grace and through faith. And because of love, God is offering us to be together with Him in the Heaven despite all the dirt in our life. Because in Christ, we are made new!'

Well, if any Christian would have tell the gospel in this way, 'It's because we get to go to Heaven and you're not.' I would doubt his understanding of his belief. Let's say if, I say if, there is another religion offering ticket to Heaven yet allowing the believer to do all kinds of sins, would he switch?

We should know that we are attracted to Christ not merely by His salvation, His promise to let us dwell in the Heaven but the love that the Father have for us fulfill our purpose to be created. We are created to enjoy His presence.

In fact, through gospel we do not bring a person to a secure place in Heaven, instead we are bringing him/her to their Creator who had longed to be with them long time ago.

I think if we are to wear a cross around our neck, we have to made the symbol before our chest real in our lives. To be honest, there are many times I stumbled to join in the gossips or discussion about the latest movie or song which do not glorify God at all. 

I was ashamed of myself and disappointed too when Christians were so attracted to the hot new worldly event, that they talked more about it than Jesus.

The recent Oppa Gangnam style was a hit. But how many of us would think that this is actually a meaningless video which might taken our eyes from Jesus and our time from God's words?

I think our words and our actions matter every day. The moment you claimed yourself as a Christ follower, you are starting roles as representative and ambassador of Christ.

People might just call you Jesus Freak. But how God sees you and how you please God is your life goal not the other way.

Beware of those actions that you thought it would be leaving a good impression on people but a wrong interpretation of Christ.

Lastly, let this verse encourage you and me to live out a life that glorify our God's name.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. -Romans 12:2