When Christians Don't Act Like Christians
I have worked for Christian institutions, attended Christian schools, and still actively participate in many other Christian organizations. They all have one thing in common, while they all actively profess Christ, some of their constituents are exceedingly hard to get along with and un-Christ-like.
It is one thing to work and rub shoulders with unbelievers who are immoral and unashamed, it is another to have the same experience with believers. I expect believers to be Christ-like. In other words, their lives should be marked by hard work, wisdom, humility, forgiveness, honesty, and integrity. But that isn't always the case; is it? And nothing riles me up more than a professing Christian who disregards God's Law.
In fact, in these moments when I come face-to-face or e-mail to e-mail with Christians who regularly act immorally, I am very tempted to give in and act immorally myself. Anger rises up in me. My mind thinks about all the ways I could verbally crush them, and my tongue readies itself. Strangely, I have little patience for Christians who should know better and a whole lot more patience for non-Christians who know no different. (Just ask my kids - many of whom should know better!)
But what is the proper response? The Bible tells us in James 1:19-20 "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires." When I find myself interacting with a purported believer who is regularly immoral, first I have to breathe and calm down, because losing my temper typically doesn't resolve anything. I also have to have my ear always ready to listen to the Holy Spirit. If we read on in James, we learn in verse 26, "Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless."
Hmm. That has a bit of a two-fold application, first internally, and then externally. If I consider myself a Christian, I, with the help of the Holy Spirit, must choose my words carefully. Secondly, if I'm interacting with professing Christians whose tongue is unbridled and whose life is marked by immorality, perhaps I should not consider them to be believers. Christian organizations are filled with believers AND unbelievers. Just because a person attends a church, teaches at a Christian college, or is employed by a Christian organization, doesn't mean they have truly made Jesus the Lord of their life. Many people claim to be a Christian and support their claims based upon a feeling they have for God. But our feelings have little to do with salvation.
When dealing with difficult people inside Christendom, anger and frustration seem to be my natural reactions. But I can resist my human nature and put on the nature of Christ. Instead of lecturing, I can ask questions. Instead of taking their sinfulness personally, I can remind myself that unsaved people do unsaved things. Instead of relying on my own strength and experiences to navigate the situation, I can rely on the Holy Spirit and the Word of God to teach me the proper response.
It is one thing to work and rub shoulders with unbelievers who are immoral and unashamed, it is another to have the same experience with believers. I expect believers to be Christ-like. In other words, their lives should be marked by hard work, wisdom, humility, forgiveness, honesty, and integrity. But that isn't always the case; is it? And nothing riles me up more than a professing Christian who disregards God's Law.
But what is the proper response? The Bible tells us in James 1:19-20 "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires." When I find myself interacting with a purported believer who is regularly immoral, first I have to breathe and calm down, because losing my temper typically doesn't resolve anything. I also have to have my ear always ready to listen to the Holy Spirit. If we read on in James, we learn in verse 26, "Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless."
Hmm. That has a bit of a two-fold application, first internally, and then externally. If I consider myself a Christian, I, with the help of the Holy Spirit, must choose my words carefully. Secondly, if I'm interacting with professing Christians whose tongue is unbridled and whose life is marked by immorality, perhaps I should not consider them to be believers. Christian organizations are filled with believers AND unbelievers. Just because a person attends a church, teaches at a Christian college, or is employed by a Christian organization, doesn't mean they have truly made Jesus the Lord of their life. Many people claim to be a Christian and support their claims based upon a feeling they have for God. But our feelings have little to do with salvation.
When dealing with difficult people inside Christendom, anger and frustration seem to be my natural reactions. But I can resist my human nature and put on the nature of Christ. Instead of lecturing, I can ask questions. Instead of taking their sinfulness personally, I can remind myself that unsaved people do unsaved things. Instead of relying on my own strength and experiences to navigate the situation, I can rely on the Holy Spirit and the Word of God to teach me the proper response.
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