“But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.” (James 3:17 NLT)
In the culture in which we now live we’re seeing a huge swing by people and Governments across our world to conform to the demands of groups demanding special treatment and favored recognition. Yet who stand for and live lives that are diametrically opposed to the truth of Scripture. At the same time, we’re seeing a heightened sensitivity to anything “Christian,” demanding believers in Jesus conform or be charged with a crime.
It’s creating an environment among believers who conclude the safest thing is to just quietly live our lives and avoid any controversy. But is that God’s will? Is that what the Great Commission and other clear instructions of our Master Jesus is compelling us to do?
In the King James Version of the verse above “is always sincere” is translated “without hypocrisy.” It’s unfortunate that we too often hide behind our fear of being labeled a hypocrite or worse, rather than be bold in proclaiming the truth of God’s Word and of who our Savior Jesus is.
I’m encouraged by the words of John Stonestreet from a recent BreakPoint article: “The writer Sheldon Vanauken, author of A Severe Mercy, once wrote, ‘The best argument for Christianity is Christians: their joy, their certainty, their completeness. But the strongest argument against Christianity is also Christians—when they are somber and joyless, when they are self-righteous and smug in complacent consecration, when they are narrow and repressive, then Christianity dies a thousand deaths.’
Led to Christ by none other than C.S. Lewis, Vanauken does not suggest here that Christians should retreat from public displays of faith, lest their inevitable public failures lead to additional charges of hypocrisy. Rather, it is the opposite. What the world needs most right now is more Christianity, not less: more people committed to connecting ultimate meaning with everyday life, more minds sharpened by and formed in the truth, more redeemed people open to discussing what matters with their lost and searching neighbors, more hearts alive to both beauty and suffering whose hope is in King Jesus and His kingdom.
The final answer to the charge of Christian hypocrisy is faithfulness, not perfection. What the world needs most is the Church to be the Church, full of Christians who embrace their faith as personal but not private, and as not so much inviting Jesus into our lives as accepting the invitation into His life.”
It’s apparent in every word I read in Jesus’ teachings, He was never motivated by fear. He never backed down when threatened by the religious elite or governmental agents. He not only taught truth, He embodied Truth – He was and is Truth (see John 14:6)!
Truth doesn’t and shouldn’t need to be presented in an argumentative or offensive way, but it does need to be shared in clear and understandable ways. As Jesus followers we cannot be deterred in our efforts to win our loved ones, friends and neighbors to Jesus. Jesus doesn’t call us to quietness, He calls us to obedience.
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 