• Watch
  • Listen
  • Study
  • Articles
  • Links
  • About
Sunny Slope Church of Christ
  • Watch
  • Listen
  • Study
  • Articles
  • Links
  • About

What Do We Look Like To Others?

9/12/2021

 
By: Gary L. Hutchens
​   Being a Christian is not just wearing a title.  The name Christian is not an identification of some segment of our life.  Being a Christian is who I am and what I am.  Christianity is not a part of my life, relegated to prescribed time periods during certain days of the week. Christianity is my life, my whole life, 24/7.
   As a Christian I need to continually consider what the world sees when they look at me. When people observe me, they need to see a faithful, dedicated, active Christian.  They need to see consistency in that identity. 
   The scriptures repeatedly instruct us, as followers of Christ, to present an image of true Christianity through the way we live our daily lives.  In the sermon on the mount Jesus teaches that we need to be illuminating light in a world that is groping around in the darkness of sin. We are to be salt that seasons the world around us making it better than it otherwise is (Matt. 5:13-16).
   Jesus said most people are taking a path through life that will lead to eternal destruction (Matt. 7:13-14).  The apostle Paul instructs us, as Christians, to be an influence that can help straighten the crooked paths of sinfulness, immorality and wickedness down which most people are walking (Phlp. 2:15).
   Jesus commands us to love our brothers and sisters in Christ so sincerely that other people can see our Christianity through that relationship (Jn. 13:34-35).  We should regularly examine ourselves as to whether we are truly living “in the faith” (1 Cor. 11:27-29; 2 Cor. 13:5).
   The question for each of us is, “What do people see when they look at me?”  Another way to put it, “What do I look like to others?”  What impression of Christianity do non-Christians get by looking at the way I live my Christian life?  Do they see Christ in me, or does the way I live hide Him from view?
   What impression do we make when we use the same profane language so common in the world around us?  What conclusions do people draw when they see us lose our temper and display angry behavior, just as non-Christians do?  What is our influence when we dress in ways that detract from our Christian identity?  What do people think when they see us set aside our Christian principles in order to blend in and thereby take part in worldly behavior?  What is their perception when they see us neglect something so basic as our attendance at church services?
   People are watching us.  Someone is always watching, observing and drawing conclusions based on what they see.  Jesus knew that and instructed us to take advantage of that truth by living lives exemplary of Christianity.  Through our daily examples we can influence people to Christ, or we can tarnish the image of Christianity in their eyes.  So, what do people see when they look at us?  What do we look like to others?…
​

Comments are closed.

    Author

    Gary L. Hutchens

    Categories

    All
    Dennis Stackhouse
    Gary Hutchens

    Archive

    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    March 2008
    February 2008
    January 2008
    January 2007

Member Login
SUBMIT PRAYER REQUEST
© 2019 Sunny Slope Church of Christ | All Rights Reserved
3606 N. 108th St., Omaha, NE 68164 | (402) 498-8397 | Contact Us
  • Watch
  • Listen
  • Study
  • Articles
  • Links
  • About