Walking Out Our Faith

If you happen to be one of the many millions who frequent Facebook, you may have noticed there is a new poll out. The question asked is, "Is there too much Jesus on Facebook?" Seems to be a lot of that type of discussion going on these days. In reality though this is not a new topic. This is an age old discussion; in fact it is a quandary that every believer must confront in his/her daily life. What can I say in my workplace? What do I say in front of my friends? What is acceptable in my recreational circle? With certainty I can state that every person reading these words has at some point in time been in a situation when you felt compelled to evaluate what you wanted to say based on the people or the circumstances that were surrounding you. Is this how we were meant to live as Believers?

Many of us work with individuals, have friends or family members that do not embrace the same beliefs that we do. Sometimes that causes tension and dissension in our relationships. We wrestle with how to walk out our faith and carry out the Great Commission when every time we open our mouths, a battlefront is declared. For some this creates an environment that is less than conducive to healthy relationships. Rather it is like living within an armed truce; each side waiting for the axe to fall or the next bombshell to explode. I ask the question again: Is this how we were meant to live as Believers? As followers of Jesus Christ?

The answer can be found throughout the Word, but one most excellent explanation is contained within Ephesians. The church at Ephesus was young and this letter was written as one of encouragement in which Paul describes the nature and appearance of the Body of Christ as well as challenges those reading the letter to function as such on earth. His advice is just as valid for us today. Did your mother ever tell you, "actions speak louder than words"? That is exactly what Paul is telling us in this advice written centuries ago. How we behave will have far more impact on those around us than the words that come out of our mouths. Let's take a look at Ephesians and apply it to life today.

All of chapter 4 and 5 are powerful for guidance in how to walk everyday in every way according to the love of Christ. I urge you to spend some time studying these powerful scriptures and instill them deep into your spirit. Today listen to verses 29-32 from chapter 4:
"Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. And do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he is the one who has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you." Sorry, you read that way too fast; go back and reread that out loud and put your name in there a few times as if Paul was addressing you directly. Really - I am serious!

Now let us think about how we operate when we are around those that we care about (friends, family, co-workers) that don't follow the Lord and we want to win them over to Him. Do those verses describe us? Break it down verse by verse. Beware, this could be painful. :-) Don't use foul or abusive language. I just heard somebody protest, "I don't curse!" Sorry, this is much broader than that. Are you critical of someone and their actions? Do you ever speak negatively about people whether they are present or not? Are you guilty of gossiping (talking about others and what they are doing)? One of the problems of human nature is our need to shore up our self esteem often at the expense of someone else. Frequently we are not even aware that we are doing it. But Paul warns us that is unacceptable as a member of the living body of Christ. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. His instructions on what we are to say are pretty clear.

And do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live. We must remember that Holy Spirit lives within us and thus everything that we do is witnessed by Him. Would our actions grieve Him? How about... Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior. Talk about a broad range. When we are dealing with others' actions toward us and our beliefs, they can often trigger reactions such as bitterness and anger that result from hurt and rejection. But Paul cautions us that those actions and feelings do not belong in the life of a follower of Christ. Instead we are to be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Even though we may be misunderstood and criticized for what we believe, we must understand that we have a mandate to still walk in our new Christ-like attitude, not our old mind-set.

The essence of Paul's advice for us in daily living is this: when we are with those who have not come to know the Lord as we have, we have a responsibility to demonstrate who He is by our lives, more than by our words. For many people, you and I may be the only real interaction they may have with Him. Would you like Him to dance over you for your portrayal or be grieved by it? We have an obligation, a mandate to operate in agape love just as Jesus did while He was here on earth. Please do not misunderstand me. That does not mean that you accept everything everybody does and go along with their agendas. It does mean that you demonstrate who God is by living out His love every day in every way. We have been separated out for a reason. So that we can demonstrate that we are indeed different than the rest of the world. This is where we walk out our faith every day in every way. Don't allow it to become a strain on you. Walk in the joy and the knowledge of who you are in Christ and the confidence that His strength and grace is sufficient to carry you through any fire. It is not your job to be the giant fire hose blasting everyone that you come near with Living Water of the Word of God. It is your job many times to stand still in the furnace like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and demonstrate the power of the living God in you. Which scenario will have more impact on winning souls to the Lord? So relax. Stop walking on those eggshells and just be Jesus with skin on. You are about to be amazed.