Be An Example

Most Christians understand that our biggest charge as followers of Christ is to spread the Gospel. In doing that, our goal is to make more disciples or followers of Christ. Jesus himself instructed his followers to do just that.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” - Matthew 28:19-20

Those that followed Jesus, like Peter and Paul, similarly echoed the importance of spreading the Word to anyone who will listen. Christianity should grow. If we believe what the Bible says, then we must believe that faith in Christ is the path to salvation. If that’s the case, then the fates of the multitudes of people in the world in some part rest on our ability to spread the Gospel. Sharing the love of Christ with others is important.

However, in some ways Christianity as a religion has become problematic. While bringing others into the flock is a key purpose of the faith, Christians are not supposed to force others into believing how we believe. It is not on us to compel anyone to believe or behave according to God’s Will. We can’t legislate others into belief. We can’t physically force them into compliance with the Lord. Yet, all over the world we see Christians attempting to use laws, social pressure, and even violence to make nonbelievers comply with Christian doctrine.

These practices are misguided and completely disregard what the Bible says about coming to the Faith. It is meaningless to live according to God’s laws without actual belief in God.

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. - Hebrews 11:6

The above verse makes it clear that one must believe in God before they can please him. It is important for believers to remember that fact. If we are truly committed to bringing others to God, we have to understand that first and foremost we have to help others come to believe in God and develop faith. One way to do that is by sharing the Gospel and giving testimonies about how God has acted in our lives. That is the most straightforward way to introduce people to the faith, but it may not always be the most effective. We’ve all heard the saying “talk is cheap.” Sometimes that saying even applies to spreading the Gospel.

Make no mistake, there is power in God’s Word. People can be changed and impacted simply by hearing it. Still, sometimes hearing alone is not sufficient for others to come to Christ. God understands that fact. That is why the Bible instructs us to be examples to those around us through the way we live. “Seeing is believing” is another well known saying. Perhaps some might hear the Gospel but not believe in its power. That’s why it is important that we demonstrate its power through the way we live our lives. Again, Jesus himself gave that instruction to those that followed Him.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. - Matthew 5:16

It makes perfect sense. How can we as Christians tell others how they should live if we are not living right? What good is it for us to share with others what the Bible says if our lives do not show that we ourselves believe what the Bible says? In our attempt to spread the Word of God, we must make sure that our actions match our words. That is how we not only help others come to the faith but also reaffirm our own faith.

Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. - 1 Timothy 4:16

Here Paul is giving clear instruction that we should make sure that our lives are tied to our teachings. By doing that we can keep ourselves on a righteous path and bring others to the path. More importantly doing as Paul suggests allows us the act as witnesses even when not speaking to others. Those who see us may wonder why we behave the way we do and that opens the door for us to share the Gospel. In that scenario, we don’t have to worry about people being hesitant to believe because of what they see from us. If we strive to be examples of righteousness first and foremost, then we’ll never take away from the Word when it is heard. We will only reinforce it.

In the end, whether or not a person accepts Jesus depends on that person and God. At best, we only make the introduction. First impressions do matter though, so let us all strive to make good impressions on God’s behalf so that we make it easier for others to come to God instead of potentially driving them away from Him.

Chris Lawyer

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