… by our bumper stickers

Last week the blogs touched on some of the aspects of us being in a relationship with God through Jesus rather than a “religion”. In particular, how it is a temptation for us to gravitate to religion so that we can feel better about ourselves as compared to others.

Now I have been thinking about how my relationship is seen by the world.

Ask yourself: How do people know I am a Christian?

Is it by how you spend Sunday mornings (when you are not at work)?
Is it by the language you use?
Is it that you have a fish on your car?
Is it that you buy your greeting cards in the religious section of the store – or that you send cards with a religious tone?

Jesus gives us the criteria that the world should know we are His:

John 13:35 (NIV) ”By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

The song isn’t:

They shall know we are Christians by our bumper stickers,

by our bumper stickers;

yes they shall know that we are Christina by our bumper stickers.

I pray that CH employees do not only carry Christ in the name of their organization but with them in their hearts. I pray that it shows in the way they treat the individuals in our care. Love is the marker of one who follows Christ. Lets all pray for the day that people will say “That person must know Jesus, they are so loving.”

We have to be careful even in this to not construct a new religion for the world to see how loving we are. The purpose of our love is not primarily as a testimony. It should be motivated by true love within. If we focus outwardly we will turn right back into the Pharisee praying in the temple.

Being in touch with His Spirit changes our character and heart. As we focus on our relationship with Him we become more like Him.

Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV) 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.


Mark Wallace