Mahatma Gandhi when asked by missionary E. Stanley Jones how Christianity could be more acceptable in India, Gandhi replied: “I would suggest first, that all you Christians…begin to live more like Jesus Christ.”
What a challenging statement this is coming from a non-Christian but a very devoted follower of his God. As followers of Christ, it is so important for us to realise the impact we can have on our relationships with others by the we treat people either through our actions or words. People can be turned away from the church or friendships because of the hurt they receive from how they have been treated.
The Bible tells the story of a woman caught in the act of adultery. The truth is that she was not the only one caught in the act of adultery. Jesus addressed those who were willing and ready to stone the woman to death, before He even spoke a word to her. And when he did address the woman, Jesus did so in love, with few words, and the offer of forgiveness.
When we hear of treatment given to people who have been hurt, we may cry out, “Terrible!” (Yet, if the prophet Nathan was around, he may well look at your church and declare, “Thou art the man” (2 Sam. 12:7).) We can treat persons according to our feelings or according to the “Jesus” model. Our choice to reach out, or not, has eternal consequences. Inasmuch as we do it to the least of God’s children, we do it to Him.
I have a friend I have known and worked with for years. Until recently, I worked with him on a committee bringing together retirees from our previous employer to renew friendships. This chap is very dedicated and reliable and is an excellent organiser as well as a very devoted Christian. Whatever we have set out to achieve in our planned activities, I know it will be successful because he has had a hand in its organisation.
My friend is also very intense and outspoken and deliberate and firm and dogmatic in the way he communicates with people. Unfortunately, this behaviour does rub people he talks to up the wrong way. Usually, it is too hard to be at variance from what he says so people just go along with him. I guess in these situations I have taken on the role of mediator to placate the feelings of those he has been talking to.
Winston Churchill gave some good advice on this subject when he wrote: “I have no secret. You haven’t learned life’s lesson very well if you haven’t noticed that you can give the tone or colour or decide the reaction you want of people in advance. It’s unbelievably simple. If you want them to smile, smile first. If you want them to take an interest in you, take an interest in them first. If you want to make them nervous, become nervous yourself. If you want them to shout and raise their voices, raise yours and shout. If you want them to strike you, strike first. It’s as simple as that. People will treat you like you treat them. It’s no secret. Look about you. You can prove it with the next person you meet.”
The moon shines in the night sky because of reflected light from the sun. Without that reflected light, the moon would become lost in the darkness of space.
The believer in Christ shines only because of the reflection of Christ’s light. Without that reflected light, the believer becomes lost in the darkness of the world and sin. May we always allow the Christ-like light to shine on others as a blessing of our Christian behaviour.
Bill Gillard