Someone recently pulled aside my father-in-law outside of the church walls and told him my husband and I don't dress appropriately to church on Sundays. "There's just a way we do things around here."
Keep in mind, we aren't wearing bathing suits. We're wearing jeans. And not even the neon colored ones.
I had been told this to my face a few times from other people in this particular church. When it happened, I looked them in the eye, forcing them to look into mine and hopefully view me as a human being rather than an object of disapproval. It prompted a roll-your-eyes-when-you-walk-away-and-say-a-short-prayer-for-them response in me. But saying something to my father-in-law? That made me angry. I don't know why my reaction was that of surprise when I found this guy went out of his way to be judgmental. That people still conduct themselves this way. I guess I thought we had grown up a little.
But the Bible is littered with crap like this. Almost like God was trying to warn us.
It really could get this ridiculous.
While people still act like this and it's extremely sad, people still react like me, which is also extremely sad. Criticism, skepticism, and reciprocal judgement rather than redemptive anger, sorrow over sin, and prayer. Just as his criticism lacked redemptive breath, so did my mental reaction.
I'll be the first to admit my humanity, but in the same banner, I'll also be the first to admit I believe we are called to holiness despite the circumstance. While it is our responsibility not to conduct ourselves like fools, it's also our responsibility not to react like fools.
"Be holy, for I am holy."
Other people's behavior does not give you or me the freedom to respond in judgement. We have been given a mandate to strive for holiness, to live a life set apart despite the way other people choose to spend their time or use their words. A life that undeniably echoes the love and grace of our sweet Savior. And that mandate alone frees us to react with the kind of redemptive anger that holds hands with redemptive love.
God doesn't give us the go ahead to look like idiots when we respond to sighting sin. Instead, He frees us to react with genuine intention, and maybe with some solid rebuke.
Our criticism can't save anyone. It disenchants people not only with "church folk", but more so, disenchants people with the God who knows the number of hairs on your head. It serves as a poor and unjust reflection of the God who spills stars into the sky we all share. And we do reflect Him whether it's our finest moment or not - you know this right?
I remember seeing an interview with Katy Perry once, and this was a long time ago. But she made a comment about how she had no desire to be a role model for anyone. And I remember thinking to myself, that's a ridiculous thing to say. You have no choice in the matter.
He said we would be the body, we would be His hands and His feet in the world. And not just some ambiguous "in the world", but in our communities. In our churches. With each other. We will reflect Him. God cares about the way we treat one another. The way we act and the way we react.
Don't you know the hymn? They'll know we are Christians by our love...
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