Articles
What the World Should See When It Looks at Us
Why should we care what the world thinks of us? We are not to be motivated by peer pressure or what the majority thinks. If they don’t like what they see they can lump it!
There is a sense in which we must disregard what the world thinks in order to gain Christ. Paul’s fleshly attainments (and ours) fall in this category (Phil. 3:4-8). But let us not forget that we were sent to preach the gospel to the world. Whether those in the world are converted may depend largely on what they see.
The world should see a humble people.
If they see an arrogant bunch who think they are better than everybody else, they won’t be attracted. This was what the Pharisees offered. We often hear it said that “they think they’re the only ones going to heaven.” I have never read where people said such things about Christians in the first century, or where those Christians had to face such an objection. It was not because those Christians taught an ecumenical doctrine, but their focus was on truth (not themselves) being the only right way (Eph. 4:4-6). We can proclaim the truth with boldness (Eph. 6:19) without have a self-righteous, know-it-all attitude.
The world should see a thankful people.
Thankful people are usually sacrificial. In the kindnesses we show to those of the world, in our thankful disposition, we should that we are not taking credit for what we have. We should be pointing to another source. A number of us have accumulated wealth. If we flaunt our wealth or are stingy, the world will prejudge all those in the kingdom. It is easy to get a benevolent feeling during the latter part of December. Organizations often compete for the limelight. But I am speaking of what you do as an individual, apart from the organization. Recipients are not really seeing the light of a Christian (Mt. 5:13-16). Our generosity should not be seasonal (around Thanksgiving or X-mas).
It is the sacrificial people who have kept our hope alive. The Bible teaches that Christ’s kingdom would never be destroyed (Heb. 12:28). That meant he would always have some faithful people everywhere. We can be thankful for the early Christians’ toil and sacrifice, for the fact that there were Christians struggling through the Dark Ages, and for the men and women of the Restoration Movement who kept the torch burning. We are a fortunate people. Let’s act like it.
The world should see a loving people.
“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love to one another” (Jn. 13:35). Jesus said how we treat other Christians goes much farther than we realize. It sends a strong, clear message to the world. Here is the SON OF GOD telling us how the world will know. Have we failed to emphasize this aspect as we should? Issues need to be discussed, but it will all be in vain if we haven’t given equal time to what Jesus said in John 13:35.
Do we remain aloof from each other during the week, only seeing each other periodically?
Those first converts “had favor with all the people” partly because of how they treated each other (Acts 2:43-47).
The world should see a united people.
Jesus taught that being united will help the world to believe (Jn. 17:20-21). What does being divided do? If people of the world see bickering, enmity, and mistreatment, what will they think? They will see nothing distinctive that cannot be seen in the world. Paul told the Corinthians, “For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you jealousy and strife, are ye not carnal, and do ye not walk after the manner of men? (1 Cor. 3:3).
The world should see a people who speak the truth in love.
“But speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things...” (Eph. 4:15). We are to love truth. We can’t be saved if we don’t (2 Thes. 2:12). But Eph. 4:15 is discussing the manner in which we speak it. “In love” is a prepositional phrase modifying “speaking.” In dealing with false teachers we need great boldness and plainness of speech, and at times even sarcasm. Jesus exposed the false teachers of his day with irrefutable logic and finally with great sarcasm (Mt. 22:22,33,46; 23:lff). That was called for, but it was not the general manner in which he dealt with people. If we delight in insulting and embarrassing others they will not see the general demeanor displayed by Jesus. Though our arguments may be unanswerable, if folks aren’t convinced that we really love and care for them we will be as “sounding brass or a clanging cymbal” (1 Cor. 13:10.
The world should see a people who love truth and will stand for it.
Paul said we can’t be saved if we don’t love truth (2 Thes. 2:10-12). He prayed for boldness in preaching and said he was not ashamed of the gospel (Eph. 6:19; Rom. 1:16). We must not mistake the denominational world’s counterfeit for love (a lack of conviction -anything goes) for the Bible brand. The Bible is not a lovey-dovey, honey-coated, stand-for-nothing thing. We can challenge error without being nasty. There are good people who are searching for what we can offer.
Does it matter what the world thinks of us? Yes, and these are some areas that should concern us. The world should see more than the truth on our lips. They should see it in our lives. Will our lives blind them to what we are saying?
“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Mt. 5:13-16).
