Christian Label

Outline

Opening Prayer: Lindsay Lagasse

Music: Take the Name of Jesus with You (hymn 474, SDA Hymnal)

Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:16

Sermon: Lindsay Lagasse

Closing Prayer: Amber Clark



Heavenly Father in Heaven, thank You for this day. It is only by Your grace that we wake up each morning with motivation to continue on. You bless us even when we do not deserve what we receive. Thank You. Thank You. Even when the weather is cold and our lives seem to have frozen over, we can be assured that Your arms are open to warm us with Your undying love. Thank You. We have fallen short this week, as we do every week, and it is with a humbled heart that we pray You forgive us. And we thank You, knowing that You will answer this earnest prayer. Nothing can separate us from You, even when we go about our lives with unChrist-like mannerisms. Thank You. And so we continue our prayer asking that this piece be Your will and only Your will. For You know what we need to read. Thank You. In Christ's all-powerful name, AMEN.



Lyrics included: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWJycJx-1Co&feature=related



Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16, NKJV)



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So, the way I came upon my topic today was different than most days. I was actually reading a piece written by one of my best friends, Amber Clark. Her written work, called UnChristian, struck my heart in a deep way and I knew it was what I had to cover this week. I don't normally agree with "advertising" in my written pieces, but I feel impressed to do so, here. Amber has her own blog, called Way Beyond Myself, and it is about her spiritual journey and such. She has a natural talent, which I had already known because I actually know her by us writing together. But here, it is so much different. I see a new side of her that was not fully expressed through our fictional ramblings. Here, it's pure thought influenced by God. http://amber-waybeyondmyself.blogspot.com/



Anyway, I must say that I will be quoting a majority of my work here, today. Some from Amber and then a few from other sources. I just don't feel I can give this topic justice if I word it myself. I just don't have the skill to do so. I'm here to share an important topic, one that affects every Christian and every nonChristian. The topic of character.



In Amber's piece, she tells a story about Ghandi. I will simply copy and paste from Amber's blog to here, or else I will butcher it:

"We all know who Gandhi is, right? Well, in his younger years, he was a lawyer and was working in South Africa. Gandhi was Hindu, but he had a Christian friend who kept trying to convince him to go to church with him. Gandhi was reluctant, but eventually he gave in. Except here's the clincher: when Gandhi tried to enter the church, the members wouldn't let him because he was 'brown.'"



She then goes on to give a couple quotes from Ghandi. They, personally, made me clench my stomach as if this peaceful man had physical punched my gut. But he isn't trying to insult us as a whole; he can only go off of experience:

"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."

"If Christians would really live according to the teachings of Christ, as found in the Bible, all of India would be Christian today."



Isn't that so sad? As a Christian, it pains me physically, as well as emotionally, that this man could have been pushed away by the character of our fellow Christians. How do we expect to win anyone over if we refuse to accept someone based on, well, anything? Imagine if Doug Batchelor (my personal hero, just saying) had been unjustly judged when he wandered down from his cave into a Seventh-Day Adventist church? Sure, he got some ignorant looks cast at him, and that is wrong, but he wasn't cast out. If he had, do you think we would have our Pastor Batchelor preaching for our Church? I think not. I remember reading that part in his book (The Richest Cave Man) and my stomach flipped. I was so nervous that he'd be set aside. But he hadn't been because, though on the inside some of those people judged him (as is only human), they set aside their personal comforts and took him in for fellowship.



During the American Civil War, fought between the years 1861 - 1865, over 600,000 soldiers from the South died. But a heartfelt prayer that survived was the Prayer of the Unknown Confederate Soldier, a soldier's unrequited but unsurpassed prayer:



I asked God for strength, that I might achieve,

I was made weak, that I might learn to humbly to obey...



I asked for health, that I might do greater things,

I was given infirmity that I might do better things...



I asked for riches, that I might be happy,

I was given poverty that I might be wise...



I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men,

I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God...



I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life,

I was given life, that I might enjoy all things...



I got nothing that I asked for- but everything I hoped for,

Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.



I am among all men, most richly blessed.



This guy knew what was going on. Wouldn't you agree that he had a good head on his shoulders? He knew the character God desired us to have, and though his prayers were given twisted answers, he saw that God did indeed answer them. What am amazing gift he had. Why do I say it's a gift? Because, face it, if God doesn't answer our prayers exactly how we expect, we throw a temper tantrum like spoiled children. This man did not shake his fists at the Lord demanding power, wealth, health, and strength. Instead he accepted poverty, infirmity, and weakness with a grateful heart. That, my friends, is a true Christian character. You remember in Luke 22:42. when Jesus was talking to God? He said "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done". He did not demand relief, trying to force God to do His (Jesus') will. He wanted His Father to be pleased, even if that meant discomfort and pain on his part. That is Christian character. Accepting God's will, even when it doesn't match up with our own.



An official of a Mission Board, who knew that it takes more than desire to make a missionary, was appointed to examine a candidate. He told the young man to come to his house at 6 in the morning. The young man went at 6 in the morning to be examined, and the examiner kept him sitting in the room until ten. Then he went down to him and said abruptly, “Can you spell? Can you spell God?” “Yes, sir,” came the answer calmly. “Can you write your name? Do you know what your name is?” “Yes, sir,” again he replied. He put him through a series of questions of that kind, and then went to the Missionary Board and said, “He will do. I tried his patience for four hours, and he did not break down: I then insulted him, and he did not lose his temper. He will do.” That is the way to prove Christianity. If a man answers all abuses with patience, a fortitude, a gentleness that cannot be violated, depend upon it, Christ’s love has conquered his heart, and the Christianity that has made him what he is vindicated by the very quality of his character. Such a Christian causes men to say, “Well, after all, you’ve got to say something for a religion that produces a man like that."



Do others see Christ when we are tested? When life is going well, it is easy to show off a Christian character. I know this very well. I often act quite Christ-like...until a little obstacle presents itself. I say little because every one of our trials is, in fact, small in comparison to what Christ went through. And yet, Christ kept a character that submits to God's will throughout all His ordeals. But a small paper cut in our lives and we fall short of the glory.



That in mind, I want to end with a quote from Christian Contradictions by Joseph Roy, Vol. 5, no. 4: "A true Christian is a sign of contradiction--a living symbol of the Cross.

"He or she is a person who believes the unbelievable, bears the unbearable, forgives the unforgivable, loves the unlovable, is perfectly happy not to be perfect, is willing to give up his or her will, becomes weak to be strong ... and finds love be giving it away."



Keep all this in mind, Brothers and Sisters. Remember, we are being watched by the world. If we do not keep our character on the path of God's will, what kind of example are we setting? We are representing Jesus when we put on the Christian label. What kind of reputation do you give Jesus?



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Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you so much for this day. So many times we forget to thank you, even for the smallest things, but we really do appreciate all you've done for us.

Thank you for Lindsay's message today, and help us take it to heart and apply it to our lives. I know it can be hard, but give us the faith and courage to do what we must.

There is a lot on everyone's hearts and minds, and I pray that you help us and encourage us with whatever we may be dealing with.

It's in his name we pray, Amen.