My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
James 1:19-20 (NIV)
After lunch with friends in our quiet, quaint town, we heard shouting as we walked to our cars. We froze and stared at the source of the unexpected outrage.
A few feet from us, a white truck and a black truck stopped traffic on the main thoroughfare. Both drivers stood beside their trucks with opened doors.
The man at the back cussed and threatened the person he thought offended him in some way. From his escalating tirade, he definitely thought he had been abused. With so many recent shootings, I was afraid he would pull out a gun.
Thankfully, the first driver remained calm and didn’t add to the disturbing situation. He got into his truck and left.
When the irate driver took off, I hoped he didn’t follow to continue his attack. Then I noticed a bumper sticker from a local Christian radio station. Did he put it on his truck or did someone else. In either case, his outburst produced a terrible Christian witness.
An instant burst of anger, a bit of gossip, laying on the horn at a slow driver, or a snide remark can ruin a witness to those who might already have a distorted view of Christians. If we wear a cross, attend church or carry a Bible, people assume we are Christians and may be happy to see us falter.
The incident reminded me that our actions don’t have to be as outrageous as the angry driver but can be just as damaging if we taint the world’s view of Christianity.
Father, show us how to live like Jesus in our broken world. Help us be kind even when it is not easy. Amen.
Good point. Our witness needs to be carefully thought out. Our cross must not only show, but show ourselves in actions as well.
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