My friend Elizabeth (@ElizabethPrata on Twitter) sent a link to a video my way just a few minutes ago and my conversation with her inspired a couple of posts.
In case you haven't heard, the Denver Broncos defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in overtime to win the first round of the NFL playoffs. Twitter was abuzz with excitement since Tim Tebow, a Christian, is the starting quarterback for Denver. Many Christians, including me, have jumped on the bandwagon. Tebow isn't afraid to put his faith on display, and that certainly gives him attention from his admirers and from those who are offended by his message and personal profession of faith. The unsaved world doesn't understand the transformative nature of Christianity. Unbelievers are blind to the power of the cross. To them, it's another religious system where you must follow a bunch of rules or be punished by some invisible deity in the sky. I can personally testify about how the cross changed me, is changing me and will change me. I can look back five years and see how much more I want to do (and *do* do) God's will now than I did back then. It's something that's in my heart that pulls me in that direction, not some set of rules to follow for fear of being punished. I serve God because I want to, not because I have to. Yet I still fail, sometimes miserably. For longer periods than I want. That's the side of me I'd rather no one see. I fear the judgement of other Christians, even though I shouldn't. But worst of all, I fear my failure to consistently live up to "the rules" - whatever those rules are as set by unbelievers - will make someone think, "he's a 'Christian' and he did that! Christians are hypocrites!" How can we as Christians put the power of the cross on display for an unbelieving world if we fail to turn our lives over to Jesus and let the Holy Spirit work in us? How are we to be the salt and light of the world when we are fornicators, adulterers, liars, cheats and thieves, just like the unbelievers? They don't have the Holy Spirit in them to guide their way. We do, and we stifle Him all the time. It's a great responsibility to be a Christian. And Tim Tebow is a fantastic role model for believers and unbelievers alike. In an unbelieving world where we're expected to be perfect people as Christians, let's let the Holy Spirit move in us to be great witnesses for the power of the cross, and how it can transform lives.
In case you haven't heard, the Denver Broncos defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in overtime to win the first round of the NFL playoffs. Twitter was abuzz with excitement since Tim Tebow, a Christian, is the starting quarterback for Denver. Many Christians, including me, have jumped on the bandwagon. Tebow isn't afraid to put his faith on display, and that certainly gives him attention from his admirers and from those who are offended by his message and personal profession of faith. The unsaved world doesn't understand the transformative nature of Christianity. Unbelievers are blind to the power of the cross. To them, it's another religious system where you must follow a bunch of rules or be punished by some invisible deity in the sky. I can personally testify about how the cross changed me, is changing me and will change me. I can look back five years and see how much more I want to do (and *do* do) God's will now than I did back then. It's something that's in my heart that pulls me in that direction, not some set of rules to follow for fear of being punished. I serve God because I want to, not because I have to. Yet I still fail, sometimes miserably. For longer periods than I want. That's the side of me I'd rather no one see. I fear the judgement of other Christians, even though I shouldn't. But worst of all, I fear my failure to consistently live up to "the rules" - whatever those rules are as set by unbelievers - will make someone think, "he's a 'Christian' and he did that! Christians are hypocrites!" How can we as Christians put the power of the cross on display for an unbelieving world if we fail to turn our lives over to Jesus and let the Holy Spirit work in us? How are we to be the salt and light of the world when we are fornicators, adulterers, liars, cheats and thieves, just like the unbelievers? They don't have the Holy Spirit in them to guide their way. We do, and we stifle Him all the time. It's a great responsibility to be a Christian. And Tim Tebow is a fantastic role model for believers and unbelievers alike. In an unbelieving world where we're expected to be perfect people as Christians, let's let the Holy Spirit move in us to be great witnesses for the power of the cross, and how it can transform lives.
