What Does The World Think?
Rick Tincher
A couple of years ago, a fellow was telling me about his experience on the golf course. He had agreed to play golf with several people, including a couple of gospel preachers. He said he did not know much about the church, but, after spending the day with these preachers, his impression was less than favorable. He told me his thought was, “If this is Christianity, I don’t want anything to do with it.” He added, “They acted like arrogant jerks.”
I immediately wanted to say, “Golf? What’s that?” I also wish I could have said, “You must be talking about some other group called the Church of Christ. Sadly, I could not.
I was embarrassed that anyone could come to such a conclusion after spending time with any of our brethren.
I also began to examine myself with the hope that I had not left such a bitter taste in someone’s mouth.
The scriptures have much to say about our example and about humility. Paul said, “If there is therefore any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassions, make full my joy, that ye be of the same mind, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind; doing nothing through faction or through vainglory, but in lowliness of mind each counting other better than himself; not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others. Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:1-8
Also, in the great love chapter of the Bible, Paul says this, “ Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not its own, is not provoked, taketh not account of evil;” 1 Corinthians 13:4, 5
I pray that we, as Christians, might always set an example that the world “may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 -14310 Wooster Rd., Mt. Vernon, OH 43050.