Here is the measure of my life: how do I treat people?
I always know because of my conscience and especially because of the conviction of the Holy Spirit if I have treated people poorly.
Furthermore I find myself evaluating my religion and yes even considering the nature of other people’s religion based on how we treat people. If someone says “I am a Christian” or “We had such a great worship service” or “God is real to me and important in my life” but then treats their neighbor with impatience, anger and retributive words and actions I begin to wonder how “real” their religion is.
Can I remind you that the same is true of us? People know if we go to church. They are probably somewhat familiar with our claims about God and Christianity. Facebook and the cultural trends of the day have made it en vogue to wear our political and religious conviction on our sleeve (or on our “wall”) but the question still remains: “If you really believe in God, then why do you treat people like you do?” People hear our claims and read our belief statements and then they see how we live our lives. Do they see a continuity of words and behavior? Do they see Christ lived out in our lives or do we just live our own version of Christianity that somehow leaves out a Christ-ian way of living and loving?
I am a believer, a Christian and a pastor. And yet I know that I have claimed things and fallen short of living up to all that Christ has done in me and called me to. Have you? Can you see how the religion that God calls us to that is pure and faultless is to really, truly love other people? If we can have an “encounter” with God, go to church, attend revival services, really claim that God has changed us and that we are living our lives for God, yet we treat others with disrespect, disdain, disinterest and disingenuous words and behaviors our claim is either simply not true or we are falling short of all that God calls and empowers us to.
If you really love God, love others. If you find your love for others to be lacking, ask God to show you His love afresh and anew. If what we claim about Christ is true, then the way we treat people must be filled with love, patience, kindness, gentleness, meekness, humility, grace and truth. And if we are really His followers then why would we ever want to have encounters with a God of love followed by a life of selfishness and disregard for others? “The one who loves God should love his brother also” 1 John 4:21
“The one who says, ‘I have come to know Him’ and does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him” 1 John 2:4
“If someone says ‘I love God’ and hates his brother he is a liar I John 4:20
“Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world” James 1:27
Pastor Michael Johnson 