The Power of Christ and Consistency

“Why is it that the worse a person felt about herself or himself [in the Gospels], the more likely they sought out Jesus? Yet,… hurting people, who [once] flocked to Jesus when he lived on earth, no longer feel welcome among his followers. What would it take for the “church” to change this?”

A pastor-friend of mine named Scott posted that question on Facebook. In response, we might be tempted to cast blame on non-believers. After all, their sin has separated them from God—right? They are under a cloud of darkness because of the Evil One—right? They have rejected God’s free offer of forgiveness and regeneration—right? All that is true biblically, but none of those responses addresses the fundamental problem presented by my friend. The spiritual condition of people has remained unchanged over the past 2,000 years—but their response to the Gospel is vastly different. People flocked to Jesus then; people walk right past him now, because they find his Body—us—so easy to dismiss.

We could consider the biblical principle of “seed-time and harvest” with regard to our witness and people’s response. Our natural tendency is to adhere to the idea that to get more we have to do more. By working harder at witnessing, we’ll reach more people and more of them will receive Christ and begin attending our church. After we’ve done all we can, if they still won’t come to Christ and our church, we’ll just “shake the dust off our feet” and let them go to hell—another biblical principle. I’d like to consider, instead, this biblical principle: to get more we have to be more. I believe this is why Jesus was so effective at drawing people to himself and to his message of salvation.

My son confided something in me that might provide some insight. A friend of Aaron’s rebuked him last week at school for saying something inappropriate. The rebuke went something like this: “When we’re at school we represent the church, so we need to be careful what we say and do.” While accepting his friend’s correction, on the lips of his friend, something about this seemed very wrong to my son.

Several days later, Aaron spent the night at the same friend’s house. Late in the evening, the friend and a third boy from church told several dirty jokes. When my son rebuked his friend in turn, the friend said, “You don’t understand, when we’re at school we represent the church. Now we’re by ourselves, so we can be ourselves.”

I think the boy had it wrong on at least two counts.

First, the best Christians don’t represent their local church; they represent Jesus and are His ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20). To the extent that they tap into his higher power and reflect his glory, non-believers will see him—and be drawn to him and to his Body, the local church. Churches are as imperfect as the people who fill their pews and board rooms. Why would you, as a Christian, seek to represent a flawed entity when you have been called to represent the King of kings and Lord of lords? Set your sights and standards higher!

Second, the best Christians are consistent in their speech and behavior in all areas of life. When they have a different set of standards for school, or work, or church, or friends, or home, they cease to be people of integrity—and are the worst possible example of a Christ-follower. Jesus used a word to describe incongruity between a person’s professed faith and daily life. He called them hypocrites. People need to see Jesus in us before they will hear about Jesus from us. Can you, as a Christian, honestly say to a non-believer because of your exemplary life and faith, “Follow me as I follow Christ?” (I Corinthians 11:1)

God doesn’t intend the local church to be an elite social club with exclusive membership at a specific address. The church is the people, and wherever they are the Body of Christ is present in the world. Many people aren’t drawn to Jesus through the local church because they don’t see Jesus in the church when the church is in the world. On the other hand, when Christians act consistently like people who have been transformed by the grace of a loving and forgiving God there will be plenty of wounded people who feel drawn to the followers of Jesus and find welcome in his healing embrace. And having found the welcome of his Spirit in the world where they live, they will be drawn to the welcome of his Body in the building where we gather together.