People are watching a Christian's actions. This
is why Paul states in Philippians 1:27, "Only conduct yourselves
in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ; so that whether I
come and see you or remain absent, I may hear of you that you
are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together
for the faith of the gospel." A Christian must behave in
a manner that would not bring shame on the Gospel of Christ. Unfortunately,
outsiders to the church, as well as hard-hearted Christians, are
looking for excuses to deny the faith. If there is a poor example
among God's people, unbelievers will use this as a stumbling block
to be unfaithful. As conduct can be a negative influence, it can
also be a positive influence. The Hebrew writer recalls this influence
in Hebrews 13:7, "Remember those who led you, who spoke the
word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct,
imitate their faith." The conduct of a Christian is a powerful
unspoken message to the world.
It is clear that Christians need to be demonstrating
love to others. Being loving is the greatest of all behaviors.
Jesus was emphasizing this point while He was on earth in John
13:34-35, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love
one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one
another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples,
if you have love for one another." Sometimes the amount of
love within the community of Christ will be the foundational judge
for numerous people because, if there is a lack of love among
one another in the church, outsiders will consider the faith of
the community to be inauthentic.
Paul knew that love for one another would cover
the majority of ethical situations in the world. In Romans 13:8-10,
the Bible condenses the moral elements of the Ten Commandments
down into the foundational act of love. There is little need for
a long list of do's and do not's if there is a genuine love for
one another. The text states: "Owe nothing to anyone except
to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled
the law. For this, 'You shall not commit adulter, You shall not
murder, You shall not steal, You shall not steal, You shall not
covet,' and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up
in this saying, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' Love
does no wrong to a neighbor; love therefore is the fulfillment
of the law."
The church is the community of those who have
responded to the love of God and who demonstrate that love by
their love for one another and for all. Just like Christ's loving
us opened our hearts to loving others, Christians can model this
progression in loving others first as others see our sacrificial
example.
Modeling love is the most important work that
a Christian could do. "But now abide faith, hope, love, these
three; but the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians
13:13). 304 Hassell St., PO Box 33, Waynesboro, TN 38485.