All that most people in the world see of Christ is what they see of him in the lives of Christians. If we do not honor him in our relations with others, we fail at the point that really counts.
We who identify ourselves as evangelicals are often guilty of attitudes and behavior totally inconsistent with our Christian profession. Although we strongly assert our concern for the verities of the faith, we too easily show little of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
It is sobering to realize that we can destroy our Christian witness by a careless word or thoughtless action. Our observers may say, “If that is the meaning of being a Christian, I want no part of it.”
One of the pitfalls for the theologically conservative is spiritual pride. Convinced of the facts of our faith, we may forget that it is not orthodoxy that saves but Jesus Christ. We rightly believe the biblical revelation of Christ’s person and work; but we may develop pride in our faith rather than in the saving grace of God.
Another pitfall is the ever present tendency to be Pharisaical, to thank God that we are not as other men. We pat ourselves on the back because we are not guilty of some weakness we see in others or do not have some habit we regard with distaste. Many true Christians are excluded from fellowship by other Christians who regard themselves too highly. Let us beware lest we sin against God and our brothers in this matter. We can reach others only where they are, not where we wish them to be. That was our Lord’s approach and it must be ours. To draw about us the cloak of self-righteousness smothers our witness.
Some years ago a dedicated minister worked for months trying to lead a rather notorious character in his community to the Lord. Finally he succeeded in getting the man to agree to come to a church dinner where a businessman was to give his witness to the power of Christ. When the man arrived at the church, the odor of alcohol was strong on his breath. Aware of it and embarrassed, he said to the minister, “I think I should leave.” The minister replied: “No, you stick with me and no one will know which of us smells like liquor.” His sense of humor (he had never taken a drink in his life) along with his loving attitude won that man to the Lord, and in succeeding years the man became an outstanding Christian. We all must realize, as this minister did, that in seeking to win men to Christ, we must accept them as they are.
In these days when there is so much emphasis on social reform, when social betterment seems to have crowded out the Gospel of redemption from sin in the minds of some, there is a real danger that in reaction to this imbalance we will neglect our clear responsibility to the needy. Compassion and loving concern must be a part of the life of the Christian. Without them our profession is empty. With them the love of Christ can make our witness effective.
Worsening race relations in many areas bring another call to Christians to search their own hearts. Christian race relations begin in our attitudes and continue in our outward contacts with others. We deplore violence in others; but are we ourselves always courteous and considerate, always concerned to create a climate in which the love of Christ can be manifested?
Another pitfall for the evangelical is the development of a spirit that actually rejoices in evil. Contrary to Paul’s admonition, we rejoice in iniquity and revel in the moral and spiritual failures of others. How interesting it is to savor a juicy story about some Christian who has fallen! And how often we forget that we too might be tempted and fall.
To the discredit of those involved, Christian fellowship has sometimes been broken over secondary matters, things on which godly people often differ. This does not honor the Lord nor further the work of God’s Kingdom.
Do we have a chip on our shoulder? Do we carry around a set of hypersensitive feelings? Do we go about looking for defects in others? Such attitudes make the bearer miserable, as well as those who must deal with him.
Many conservatives fail inexcusably in the matter of common courtesy and graciousness. I know some extreme liberals who put us to shame by their kindness and consideration of others. Paul’s word to Timothy speaks to all Christians: “The Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to every one.…” (2 Tim. 2:24, RSV). How often we forget that “a soft answer turneth away wrath,”—with disastrous results to our effective Christian witness!
Some persons who are widely reputed to be conservative Christians lead lives totally inconsistent with their professions. Some engage in immorality or other disgraceful behavior even as they proclaim their orthodoxy. Did you say, “Impossible for me”? “Let any one who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:12).
Boasting of one’s orthodoxy is a pit-fall into which some fall. Our boast is in nothing we are or do but only in the redeeming grace of a loving God. Spurious spirituality is easily recognized. A trust in orthodoxy as an end in itself is presumption at best and often pure pharisaism.
For any Christian, the lack of an adequate devotional life means spiritual starvation. I have known people who affirmed their faith in the Bible “from cover to cover” but who at the same time knew nothing about it. Their affirmation may have sounded pious, but their ignorance of the Word revealed the true state of their hearts. Likewise, without a prayer life in which prayer is as natural as breathing, the spiritual nature shrivels and dies.
Then, too, there is a form of spiritual laziness that presumes on the grace of God and stunts spiritual growth. Orthodoxy is no excuse for laziness. Christ has saved us to serve him and our fellow man. We cannot hide behind a facade of conservative beliefs while we do nothing to witness to the love of God.
The Christian who honors his Lord is not the one who, like the Pharisees, boasts of his orthodoxy but the one who day by day seizes every opportunity God gives him and tries in every way possible to glorify the One who has redeemed him.
Belief in all that the Scriptures teach about the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ is the Christian’s foundation. On that sure foundation he should build a life consistent with that faith. There are pitfalls all about, but the One who saves will also keep.
L. NELSON BELL