A while back, when the sun had finally shown its face, I thought it was time to finally get out into the garden to do a clean-up ahead of planting for the new season. My son Asher—who loves getting his hands dirty—jumped at the opportunity to do some gardening work. We popped on our gardening gloves and headed out to begin with some weeding. His interest in weeding, however, dwindled rather quickly. I had a sense that he was anticipating using a spade or other gardening tool, not just pulling out weeds.
Not long after we had started, Asher noticed the red flannelette shirt I was wearing and realised he had one the same. Like a flash of lightening, he darted inside to put on his red flannelette shirt. Asher was very proud of himself when he reappeared outside again, exclaiming, “Look at me, now I look like a gardener like you!” The concept of “doing” gardening was somewhat lost on Asher. He was happy as long as he “looked” like a gardener.
As Christians, I think we can easily fall into this same pattern too. There are a myriad of things we do that make us “look” like Christians. We may attend church (and on time for some), we wear the correct clothes, we smile politely (while possibly hiding hurt and pain from the previous week). We sit and listen during the sermon. We quietly sing along to the music. Then the moment we head home again, it’s like we take off our Christianity. It’s all appearances.
I think we need to remember that we don’t just need to “look” like Christians. We need to “do” Christianity.
This week I have been reading through the New Testament book of James. This book, in particular, explores this concept of faith in action. James says in 1:23, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
There is an endless list of things the Bible says we should do as Christians. Love God (Matthew 22), love others (Matthew 22), don’t lie, don’t murder (and the rest of the Ten Commandments found in Exodus 20), care for orphans and widows (James 1), welcome strangers (Leviticus 19), gather with fellow believers (Hebrews 10), forgive others (Ephesians 4), love your enemies (Matthew 5), read God’s Word (Joshua 1), show stewardship towards things we have, pray (Philippians 4), repent (1 John 1) . . . I could go on and on . . .
With God’s strength, we can not only look like Christians but act like Christians too. Let’s put on God’s garments—the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, shoes of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit. This is the real way to both look and do Christianity.
Claire Taylor is a wife, mum of four and relief teacher at Southland Adventist Christian School in Invercargill (NZ). She currently oversees communications at the Invercargill church and helps run the Invercargill Mums at the Table group.
