Which One's Me?

Looking like the world, commodifying or branding ourselves in its continually shifting image, is all the rage. The question is, Should we Christians adopt the same prevailing attitudes and outward appearances as everyone else? Or is this "conformity" a catalyst of defeat in disguise that really says, Getting you to like and accept me is more important than anything [?].

What’s scary is that by constantly re-shaping who we are in order to put others (and ourselves) at ease, we run the real risk of losing our Christian identity, authenticity, our mantle of saving power … our faith. In a world rampant with anti-Christian ideals the pressure is continually on us to blend into the background (and hide there.) But if we absent ourselves from the frontline opportunities where soul-winning is often easiest, how can we hope to serve or supply the deeper works of conversion that follow?

I’m not saying dressing a certain way alone dulls the spirit, but I do believe that “relevance” can be a huge excuse to stop or not start doing what we are called and meant to do.

With strengthened faith and trust in God's availing grace (believing we get the spiritual gifts we need as we need them), Christians can relevantly & successfully witness Salvation in word, character & spirit ... and power ... to those around them. Desiring the truth comes first. Conforming to it in loving obedience is second. Willingness, availability, expectation and persistence follows.

Spiritual progress accrues rapidly in the maturing believer where one is fervent & unafraid. But calling ourselves “Christian” while remaining indistinguishable from those around us thwarts growth, making us and our message impotent.

Be in the world but not of it, Jesus said. And for good reason. 

Courage, my love.