Saturday, 13 December 2008

• How Does One Act Like a Christian?

  
  I recently got into a conversation with someone about this, after being told I wasn't a Christian due to how I acted. This really hit me hard, because (although I know I have a long way to go), I've been really trying hard and have seen a lot of improvements God has made in me over the past while. Apparently, for one, I am too selfish to be a Christian. This comes mainly from the fact I believe strongly in keeping the 7th day Sabbath, which means I won't do work on that day. The problem is that due to this, I don't do chores or go shopping for 24 hours each week. This seems selfish and lazy to this person, because I won't help others out, which, in their mind, is something a Christian should do.

  Now, I'm not trying to start a debate about if Christians should keep the Sabbath or not, that's not the point of this post -- so please don't go into it.

  Don't get me wrong, I strongly support that we are to "do good" on the Sabbath (or any other day, for that matter). I would eagerly help another out if the situation arises. However, when washing the dishes could just as easily be done after the sun sets Saturday night, I don't consider it in the qualifications of help -- I consider it work, of which is breaking the commandment. I'm not asking the other person to do my chores, merely that they respect the day and allow me to do them at another time.

  A conflict in my mind came up as I thought about this, though. We are to put God first, correct? "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." (Matt. 6:24 NKJV) We are to serve only God, not anything worldly, whether material or human. If you try to serve both, you will end up with conflicts of which you will have to chose. Hence the above situation: Either I can chose to wash the dishes and serve the person in question, or I can chose to keep the commandment I feel God has impressed me to keep and wait until the sun sets.

  This seems straight forward, until another verse came to mind. "But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble." (1 Corinth. 8:12-13 NKJV)

  Granted, Paul is talking of eating in this case, but I wonder how many other areas it can be applied to. I know we should not sin, regardless of circumstances, but what about other things? As a Christian, if we know that another believer thinks we are not a good Christian because of something we did or said, should we not do that again? Are we not to be examples, a living testimony, of Christ? Most believers that are lost, are due to hypocrisy in the church.

  Even though, to me, it is sinning to do the sort of "helping" that this person believes a real Christian would do -- maybe I can better approach the situation? I am clearly not handling it to the best of my ability, to be accused of such a thing. How many other areas in our lives should we maybe reassess how we conduct ourselves, if only so that others would not be made to stumble or be confused about our faith?

  Look at the more common sins of gossip or lying. Often both are acceptable in our society, and it can be one easy trap to fall into for even the most devoted Christian. Yet, how much are we hurting our testimony for Christ when we allow ourselves to do these  things? Sure, we can kneel at night and ask for forgiveness...but how much more lasting damage have we imposed on others around us?

  I remember once, a few years ago, I was having a hard time. I was frustrated with my constant falling into sin, and with God's not being present enough (or so I thought). So I got angry, and said a few things to a friend. I told her I gave up, that God didn't care about me -- that it was pointless anyway, I wasn't gonna make it into heaven. That I was giving up on my faith, it was easier without it.

  A couple weeks later, after God called me back (which was both humbling and inspiring), I had a renewed relationship with Him. I was happy, and professing how important He is. It all seemed wonderful. No real damage was done, right?

  Wrong. While talking to this friend, I found out she was going through some very severe things. She desperately needed God's help and strength, and I saw that. Much worse than what I had been going through. So, I told her to lean on Him. That He'd help her. She needed to have faith. All that kind of thing. To my surprise, however, the response I got back was basically "Yeah, like you should talk. Look at what you were saying the other week.". I realized then I had no power to help her, to inspire her, because I had given up that when I had so rashly put it all down before. Even though it was in the heat of the moment, the damage went farther than I assumed. I actually hurt my friend's faith.

  So, what are your thoughts? How are we to act like Christians, so that others will not be able to claim we are not?

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