- Do People Know?

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Do People Know?

If you are a believer, but are compromising your faith, you do not know what you lose by your conformity to the world. It cuts the tendons of your strength, and makes you creep when you should be running. Therefore, for your own comfort’s sake, and for the sake of your growth in grace, if you are a Christian, be a Christian, and be a marked and distinct one. –C.H. Spurgeon

My life verse (and the verse Surgeon based this lesson upon) is Romans 12:2. I chose this verse many years ago when I first became a Christian and I have tried to live it out ever since. Here is what it says,

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect (Rom. 12:2, ESV).”

I’ve often clung to the first half of the verse. I love it. Do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind…

So I read my Bible and trust…His word does not return void.

This morning as I read the text by Spurgeon I (once again) asked myself this question – the question Spurgeon poses – am I a marked and distinct Christian? Do people know what I am and Who I follow quickly after meeting me?

As I thought about this I thought – there are things that people notice about me right away:

1. I have 5 children (who are almost always with me and if you know me you probably think “she is pregnant all the time” which you either think is crazy or wonderful depending on what you believe about children).

2. I often dress very feminine – although I do wear my hair short (relatively – which might skew your opinion of me) and I do at times wear pants and jeans although never tight (I’m not legalistic about not wearing them).

3. I tend to smile and laugh a lot when I’m talking to people – not because I find them funny (although sometimes), but because I enjoy smiling and laughing and I tend to think that if I’m smiling and laughing it is easier for people to see Christ in me and be drawn to Him. Plus it is a natural part of me now…it just happens.

4. I’m in church nearly every Sunday – only missing because of sick children or being on vacation.

5. I wear my babies in a sling.

6. I am a keeper at home and I stay home a lot.

7. I’m quiet, but I do try to make an effort to reach out and talk to people.

Hmmmm…what else…not all of these are things you would know/notice right away…I’m thinking visible things that people would immediately notice about me beyond how I look physically…I don’t know that I talk differently, but I do at times say things like “praise the Lord” or “Amen” or “what a blessing”. But, I am conscious of who I’m talking to so I’m not sure I do this with everyone.

Sigh. It seems there should be more outward signs…

Yesterday in the mail we received cookie cutters and a pumpkin carving kit from my mom. Sigh. The cookie cutters were in the shapes of ghosts and witches and brooms, one even said BOO. From Crate and Barrel no less – Sigh. I guess the outward signs are not enough because she doesn’t even realize that we don’t celebrate Halloween. We haven’t for over 10 years. Sigh. Granted she lives in another state and has never been with us on the 31^st, but, still… surely I’ve told her over the years…the kids were asking, “What are we going to do with this stuff?” I didn’t know how to answer. I hate that she probably spent $25-$30 on the stuff and I’m never going to use it…but I won’t. The question is will I keep it?

This year I’ve joined two home school groups. While visiting one for the first time I was talking to Mark on the phone and he asked me if the group was “Amish or Worldly” which is kind of our joke. (If you don’t understand this, ask me and I’ll explain it.) I had to answer worldly. No Amish in sight. Well, maybe one. Oddly enough I found myself wishing there were a few more Amish looking people. I tend more and more in that direction though I am not Amish by any means. I find myself wanting to see and feel some outward Christian distinction in people.

None of the outward signs I listed above make me a Christian or tell others that I am one. And yet, there have been people that I’ve known right away to be believers – why? Not necessarily because of their dress, but because of something in their countenance. (This is what I want.) A shining, a light, a joy…

(Please Note - In the passage above Spurgeon is primarily talking about Christians compromising their faith – not about the way we dress – I’ve taken you in a different direction along with my own thoughts this morning – but if you are conforming to the world by following in the sins of the world – which I don’t think I need to list - please take Spurgeon’s advice and turn away from them…if you are a Christian, be a Christian, and be a marked and distinct one.)

Comments

• Tuesday, October 14, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Brandi

Yes, I agree that people should know relatively soon after meeting me that I am the Lord's. And I believe that usually people realize it if we converse in depth at all.

So they know. Then the next question is now that they know we are Christians, are we representing Him well by being loving, humble, meek, generous, etc.

As the song goes, "They will know we are Christians by our love." (I don't want to omit doctrine either. People who are not believers can be some of the kindest people who have any or all of the outward signs that you listed. It is important to communicate that Jesus is the WAY and it's all about HIM when it comes down to it. I'm not saying during the initial conversation necessarily.

Great thoughts to ponder, Dani.

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• Wednesday, October 15, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous

Interesting post. I agree somewhat, but I also believe that sometimes as Christians we can have a preoccupation with outward form. Mostly in the homeschooling community. "I homeschool. I would die before putting my children in public school." "I dress in a feminine manner - lots of skirts - and so do my girls." "I put my babies in slings all day long." "I bake my own bread and grow my own food." "I take all my children to church and they never go to Sunday school."

All of the above is fine, but if we become preoccupied with molding our behavior and/or appearance while missing our *hearts* - we've gone all wrong.

Are we elevating things higher than Jesus did? In the New Testament not once did Jesus mention immodesty, even though many of his followers were prostitutes. (God did address it once in the NT, though - once!)

At First Baptist I struggled with "annoyance" at the women who dressed so immodestly, with low-cut blouses (one yearly family photo I didn't even put on my refridgerator from someone at church, her blouse was so low-cut!), but I tried to remind myself that I could not place my own personal standards on someone else.

I just think we need to be careful and not measure someone else's "enlightenment" (or being a Christian) by what we have decided is modest, holy, or spiritual. Then Christianity becomes more formulaic - if you do this, this, and this, I'm sure you're a Christian.

Think about the percentage of people at First (or in our class) that slung their babies. Or that homeschool. Less than five percent, right? The percentage of women in my transracial adoption group in Houston that slung their babies and dressed in long skirts and modestly? Almost a hundred percent. Were they Christians? No, they were "granola" mamas. :)

I think the sure mark for me that someone is a Christian is humility, don't you? And I think you and Mark are very humble. (and I'm not just saying that because it's your blog :) I think you both really exemplify that in your lives. It's sad that it's soooo rare to see in people, myself included. I am so not humble. (and puh-leeeeze!! don't say that I am) My husband is, though - that's what first drew me to him.

I also think that reaching out and talking to people (i.e., caring about others) is a huge sign. You'd think me moving to the top of a mountain in remote Colorado, I'd be in my introvert heaven. But God has stretched me more than any other time in my life up here as far as reaching out to others and "letting them in" our life. Sometimes it's been so emotionally exhausting, but I know it's God's will for me. I do struggle with wanting to be a hermit crab, that's for sure.

I'm too pooped to discuss any more. Interested to hear your thoughts.

-d

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• Wednesday, October 15, 2008 - p.s.

Posted by Anonymous

Sell the Halloween stuff right NOW before it's too late, on Ebay. Then donate the money to the adoption finalization of Mark T. ($900 for attorney). :)

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• Thursday, October 16, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by dlmiranda

Donna, I'm with you. My point in describing myself was actually to show that the way I look (including the sling) in no way shows the state of my heart.

I was actually trying to say two things and didn't say either very well...on the one hand I was trying to say that I wished it was easier to tell the Christians from the non-Christians by the way they dressed. (Just so my life would be easier.) On the other I was saying that the way I dress in no way shows the state of my heart - that I am a Christian. Like you said, I could just be a beatnik with a lot of kids or I could dress very modesty and still be consumed by pride.

I should have split this into two different posts because it has been very confusing to most people. I let myself ramble too much.

I agree that humility is the true sign of a Christian. Mark is very fond of saying that most sin is caused by pride - He told me just last night that he thinks 80-90% of our sin is caused by pride.

It is interesting that you mentioned the reaching out and talking to people because this was the other thing God kinda nudged me about while I was sitting and observing the homeschool group I had joined. I don't know if you've ever noticed this but homeschool moms don't talk to one another. I only had one lady come and say hi to me as I walked into the group. And on Aaron's first day of Scouts the Scout master lady barely said two words to me and didn't want to answer any of my questions. Now you know I am not the most outgoing person. I'd love to be sequestered on the top of a mountain and never have to talk to anyone...but I feel that the only way I can share the love of Christ is by talking and interacting with other people...anyway my whole point is that I was a little upset by the fact that no one really reached out to me and then I felt God nudging me and saying...Dan you need to do it. It doesn't matter if you are new. You need to be the one to step out and love on these people.

This homeschool group is not a "christian" group - which is what sparked my wish that they were dressed more conservatively because at least then it would have been more likely that they were Christians. Btw, I agree that it is emotionally exhausting reaching out to people...

One of the things I didn't mention (in so many words) is that it is really the Holy Spirit shining out of us and the fruit of the Holy Spirit that distinguishes us and marks us as Christians - not what we wear, etc. (although I do believe that what we wear will grow more conservative as our hearts lean more towards Christ) and that He is the one that enables us and strengthens us to be able to reach out to others, etc. This is what I meant when I talked about some people having a countenance that shines. It is the Holy Spirit that we see -

I thought about selling the cookie cutters and the carving kit but somehow that doesn't seem right. Kinda like leading others into sin or something...and profiting off of it even if I donated the money. :( We also received Halloween cards. Were have I gone wrong? The cards were cute though. When opened they played music. Caleb's was one-eyed purple people eater...actually perfect for him in some strange way. Maybe because he is always creating one eyed K'nex creatures.

Gosh this has gotten long...but I have to say one more thing...we finally finished book two of the Farm Mystery Series - The Mysterious Message...and when I got to the last chapter I almost couldn't finish it. I had to stop I was so choked up. You know why! They decided to adopt. No wonder you liked these books. ;) Thanks for sharing them.

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• Thursday, October 16, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous

That cleared it all up - you explained it a lot better this time. :)

Goooood point about selling the Halloween stuff. Why did you say "where have we gone wrong?" If you're talking about your mom not realizing you don't celebrate Halloween, she lives in another state! There's no way she would connect the two.

It's probably better she doesn't know - she would think you're denying your children a "wonderful, harmless" holiday.

I have a friend whose parents really gave her the third degree about not having Santa come Christmas Eve and deliver presents for the kids to open Christmas Day. Their thought process was, "Well, we did it with you and you turned out great, so what's the harm? You're denying your children!"

Very few people (Christians included) know the history of Halloween. Maybe Mark could do a little side study on it! :)

-d

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About Me

Ponderings about faith, family, homeschooling and whatever else happens to be on my mind as we walk the narrow way.

About Us

Me/dani, Mark/hubby, Aaron (9), Bethany (7), Caleb (5), Elisabeth/Bess (2),
and Benjamin (3/30/08)

"The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; You hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed I have a beautiful inheritance." -Psalm 16:5-6 (ESV)