God seems to have a pattern regarding the community of people He always places me in. They are the people who knows God, they know all about the Christians teachings and doctrine, and yet, they're not Christians. It's not that they hate Christ, but they hate the followers of Christ.
Christians are basically Little Christ, or followers of Christ. Many people don't know who Christ is, but lucky for them, they have heard stories or watched just enough movies to form the right image in their heads. Christ is patient, kind, loving, never angry, and insert all good synonyms here. Little do they know that Christ was angry several times. He even cursed a tree so it won't ever bear fruit anymore, or He once flipped tables when people used the holy church ground to become a marketplace to gain money (Mark 11:12-25). But they only know God as the loving figure, which is what is more often depicted. Therefore, they assume that us Little Christ, Christians, should behave in that perfect way.
Do you know that our actions affect how people see God? Our spiritual eyes are closed, and therefore we can't see God in His physical form to know how He really is. But the eyes of our flesh are open, and we can see the followers of Christ to represent the image of Christ. But often time, it is disappointing.
Imagine a scenario where a child got caught stealing an item from a supermarket. What is the first thing that comes to your mind? Maybe you're too shocked to even think... But I started to wonder: "Wow, did their parents not educate them?"
Even when a child is at fault, people will automatically blame the parents as well. Why? Because parents are responsible for their children. The same goes with God. If Christians do something wrong, non believers will question "Wow, did their God not educate them?" They can't see God, so they judge God through His children's actions - good or bad.
Eventually, they unconsciously set up a benchmark or stereotype for "Christians." They assume we are all holy and pure. They probably don't know the Bible verse that states that the sick needs the doctor, not the healthy (Luke 5:31). In their eyes, we are all the healthy people. They view Christians to be above the line of normal human standards. Have you ever heard people say "Aren't you a Christian? Why are you behaving like that?" This shows clear proof that they view us with a high expectation.
For example, when something annoying and frustrating happens at work, would you curse the other, stay angry for the whole day, and flip a table? Or would you stay calm, pray, and just do the work expected from you? If you choose the first option, the whole Christian Condemning Squad is ready to nag at you "Aren't you a Christian? Why are you so impatient? You talk about having faith, but you have none now."
This doesn't mean that we have to be perfect all the time. We should still be genuine, not put on a mask, and confess that we can't be strong all the time. But we have to be more cautious because there are people watching us to become examples of Christ.
"Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly." - James 3:1 (NIV)
Teachers in this context refers to people who are viewed higher above the rest, someone who is respected. Basically, people being viewed with a higher expectations will have a higher responsibility. Once we declare we are Chrisians, people will indirectly view us to meet their high expectation to live above the line.
"It takes many good deeds to to build a god reputation, and only one bad one to lose it." - Benjamin Franklin
The good news is that God is the one who has the right to judge people. Even so, He won't condemn, hate, or throw us away even after we do something wrong. He will still love us. The difference is whether we love Him back or not? If we do, we wouldn't want to do anything that would hurt Him or give Him a bad image and name. We need to show that our God is good, so that other people would want to know Him.
For example, if I minister and I always show up late to practice. Maybe I don't even wanna come to practice or don't want to learn the songs. The person responsible for my behavior is my DATE leader. Not only that, but my entire DATE will have a bad image. But because I love and respect my leader, and I don't wanna give a bad name to my DATE, I wouldn't do anything to hurt or disappoint them. How can I invite new people to join us when all they see is my bad behavior, and therefore assume that the entire DATE are filled with people with such bad behaviors?
We need to become a bridge that can carry a lot of people to Christ. Don't be a bridge that looks unsteady, has lots of broken ropes, many holes in the pathway, and basically looks like it's about to fall during a storm. People wouldn't even wanna come close to that kind of bridge. But if we were to become an attractive bridge with really strong foundation, ropes made out of gold, path made out of a flower bd or something... Then people who were just passing by will have the curiosity to come over and see what it is all about. They will slowly take step by steps, and before they know it, they might have reached God!
"Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity." - 1 Timothy 4:12 (NIV)
How? Learn to know God. Once you know God, He will warn you whenever you are about to become a bad example. He can stop you before you cause any unwanted bitterness. And with God's help we can become a good and faithful bridge. So that other people won't just look at us, but they'd be willing to cross over and reach God.
