What images and thoughts are we as Christians leaving in the minds and hearts of those we encounter on a daily basis?
I must admit to my recent disappointment when I came across members of a Christian motorcyclist association. The group of thirty-plus was holding a bike blessing event that ended at a Harley-Davidson dealership, complete with multiple ministry booth spaces out front.
Unfortunately, the men and women I happened upon at the dealership were very self-absorbed, ignoring those who weren’t wearing the emblems of their Christian group. As I wandered around the dealership, I tried to make friendly eye contact wondering if any would take the opportunity to return the simple gesture or, perhaps, be bold enough to share their faith with me. I even meandered through the booth area once back outside.
Unfortunately, it was as if I was invisible to the group. Only one person – a woman for whom I held open a door – acknowledged me with a kind word.
One of the men even tried to give me the stink eye, attempting to shoot daggers into me while acting like an outlaw ready for a standoff. I guess the nebbish thought he was a real threat dressed in black leathers, blindly unaware of his fate if he acted upon the expression with the wrong person.
Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t treated any differently than the others outside their group – we were all seemingly ignored or glared upon, at least while I was there. It certainly was not what I expected from this Christian organization.
In fact, I left puzzled by the whole encounter, contemplating if they were comfortable with their witness for Christ. After all, but for their patches, nothing about the group’s actions revealed them as Christ-followers to me. In fact, they were seemingly self-absorbed, off-putting, and unconcerned for those who walked among them.
Maybe I caught them at a bad moment in time or maybe not. I certainly hope my experience was an aberration, not the norm. However, it made me question how we as Christians – especially myself – are perceived by those whose paths we cross. Truth told, my witness all too often falls flat, leaving me wondering how I may have turned others from Christ by my poor witness.
With that in mind, here are a few questions that have been crossing my mind lately.
Do we express the love of Christ through our daily actions?
Are we friendly and kind to those we encounter each day?
Will our facial expressions and body language invite people in and put them at ease?
How do we regularly reflect the heart of God to others?
What are we doing to draw others to the Creator through a saving relationship with Jesus Christ?
Do the fruits of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self control – freely spill forth as we go about our way?
Are our actions and words a benefit or harm to the kingdom of God in the eyes, minds, hearts, and souls of those we walk past in our daily lives?
Listen to these words from Matthew 5:13-16, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
With those words in mind, I leave each of us with this uncomfortable question to ponder. Is the light of my life leading others to glorify God because of my good works or walk away disillusioned by the witness of my ways?
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