Are you a Christian?
How closely do we follow our Master rather than being an embarrassment to him?
Gary Clayton introduces us to Beryl – not the precious stone of Revelation 21:20 or the mineral with the chemical formula Be3Al2(SiO3)6, but an old work colleague, and the question she poses to true believers…
When I was a young Christian, before working as Copywriter and Editor at MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship), the first job I had was at a Christian film distribution company. Every day, people came to pick up films. I met some of the choicest Christians you can imagine – and some whose understanding of grace (or Scripture) was appalling!
Meet Beryl …
Beryl, an older lady, recommended films, took bookings, and talked to our many customers. She was especially keen that the films she recommended were theologically appropriate and were ones that would help viewers understand or handle the Word of truthcorrectly (2 Timothy 2:15). One day, there was a phone call.
‘Is this the Christian film hire company?’ the man asked. ‘Yes,’ said Beryl. ‘Where’s my film? I made a booking a week ago, and I still haven’t got it!’ ‘What date are you showing it?’ asked Beryl. ‘December 21st,’ said the man, ‘And it isn’t here yet!!!!’ ‘Ah,’ said Beryl, ‘We usually send the film out two weeks before the showing, and we’re still only in October!’ ‘Only two weeks
before the showing?’ yelled the man (I know he was yelling, because I was in another part of the office, and could hear the unfortunate conversation.) ‘What if it doesn’t arrive in time? Who’s got my film at the moment? How do I know they’ll look after it? What do I do if it’s damaged?’
Grace under pressure
On and on he went, with Beryl feeling increasingly uncomfortable – until, that is, she felt God’s Spirit prompting her to confront this unfair, ungracious and inappropriate behaviour. Aware of Ephesians 4:26 (‘in your anger do not sin’), she said coolly, ‘Excuse me, are you a Christian?’
There was a brief pause while the man presumably said ‘Yes’ – at which point Beryl exclaimed, ‘Well, you’re not much like your Master!’ and promptly put the phone down…
A challenge for us all
Now it’s not a technique I’d particularly recommend to MAF’s Supporter Relations department or to any other Christian organisation, but it raises a challenging question. Are we believers? (I assume all those reading Sword are in the Lord’s camp.) And, if so, are we like our Master?
As conditions in the world grow increasingly dark and dire for God’s under-fire people, it’s important that we not only hold to the truth – and proclaim it – but also act it out in love and grace – to Christians and to those who aren’t yet Christ’s! Unfortunately, I have a number of friends who’ve worked for a variety of Christian organisations and churches and who – sadly – have been treated badly.
Sad tales indeed …
One felt that her bosses had not only ‘driven [her] up the wall and round the bend’, but that the believer-run organisation had chewed her up and spat her out. ‘My brothers and sisters,’ says James 3:10, ‘this should not be.’
When a church member appealed to Scripture, the elders merely reminded him that he was ‘a man under authority’ (Matthew 8:9) and should submit to his leaders, however he felt God’s Word was being handled.
When another young man pointed out to Christian employers that the salary he received was almost impossible to live on – reminding them that ‘Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages”’ (1 Timothy 5:18) – they said, ‘You’re serving God rather than mammon’, and made him feel like a second-class citizen who’d permanently blotted his copy book. And yet, James 5:4 warns employers, ‘The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.’
And yet Beryl’s Master – our Master – says: ‘Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another (John 13:34-35).’
Now, hopefully, most of Sword’s readers won’t have been treated badly by Christian employers or church leaders. But, even if we haven’t, is our behaviour as winsome and attractive as that of our Master?
As if we need reminding …
In fighting the good fight and contending for the truth, have we allowed zeal, hardness or an unappealing militancy to seep in to our spiritual life? Are we tough on sin, but gentle with people?
If we pass a Christian workmate or church member whose apparent liberalism or relativism infuriates us, do we feel tempted to give this brother or sister in Christ a smile or a snarl?
We can disagree – and should– but we should do so lovingly. ‘If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over’ (Matthew 18:15).
‘A gentle answer,’ says Proverbs 15:1, ‘turns away wrath.’
In our passionate desire to see God’s Kingdom come, are we sometimes blind to the needs or weaknesses of others?
If a brother or sister is ill, injured or sick, do we sympathise with their suffering, get annoyed that they’re not there to serve Jesus Christ or help God’s cause, or question their fitness to do their job at work properly or to play an effective part in the church?
Do we regard people having difficulties with their roles in the church as a threat to the smooth running of the system, or as people with needs and hurts that need to be addressed?
Challenge false teaching, but don’t despise those whose message is true but whose style needs improving. That, with the grace of God, can always improve!
How generous are we towards friends, family, workmates or church members? How encouraging? How forgiving?
Is our ability to forgive, a case of 70 x 7 or 77 times (Matthew 18:21-22), or can we only do it for a seventh of a second?
Are we as kind, generous, helpful, and encouraging as Jesus would have us be? As Isaiah 42:3 says of Jesus, the Messiah to come: ‘A bruised reed he will not break, and a smouldering wick he will not snuff out.’
Or do we take our frustrations with the dark and deceptive world around us out on those in the workplace, in church, or back home?
Do we rejoice with those who rejoice? Cry with those who cry? Pray for those in need? Or spend a little too much time seething silently at the state of this failing and fallen world?
Are we as empathetic, sympathetic or forbearing as Jesus would wish? Are we the way He’d have us be, as revealed in His actions and in His Word?
The Way of the Master
In short, if we’re Christians, do we act as Christians? Do we always treat our fellow Christians well? We may be zealous for the truth – or keen to share it – but how are we when it comes to
showing grace to those we see and interact with every week? Are we like our Master?
Sometimes, in all the stress and busyness of life and our keenness to contend for the faith, we can allow a sharpness, hardness or harshness to come in – forgetting that we’re ‘a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession’ (1 Peter 2:9). That we’re brothers and sisters of our big Brother Jesus. How, then, should we be like our Master?
By encouraging one another and building each other up (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
By comforting those who are afflicted (2 Corinthians 1:4).
By speaking to one another for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort (1 Corinthians 14:3).
By bearing one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2).
By bearing with one another and forgiving each other (Colossians 3:13)
By exhorting one another and caring for those in need (1 Timothy 5:1-3).
By spurring one another to love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24).
By valuing others above ourselves (Philippians 2:3).
By being kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other as in Christ God forgave you (Ephesians 4:32).
But, as followers of Christ and readers of Sword, do we do all this?
Am I, are we – as Beryl would put it – like our Master?