There is something I have observed about how Christians are questioned and judged in different situations sometimes. It is as if the world expects them to be holy just like Jesus all the time. The world expects us to be Christ-like at all times, such that when we fall short or behave in a way contrary to our Christian values, the world is quick to say, "Ahaa! I thought you were a Christian!" Sometimes they ask questions like, "Do Christians behave in that way? Are Christians supposed to say, do, or watch that? Are Christians supposed to go there or be found in those places?" The world expects us to behave in a certain holy way and not find ourselves in certain situations, places, or doing things in a compromising manner. The very thing that we Christians accepted when we decided to follow the Lord and become children of God is the very same thing that has now become the standard of measurement for our everyday lives. We just cannot slip away or backslide a bit; otherwise, someone is already watching and instantly your Christian way of life will be questioned. It is a tough situation to be in as a Christian.
It reminds me of Daniel. When his fellow administrators, who served together under King Darius of Babylon, searched for ways to make him look guilty before the king due to their jealousy, they tried but found nothing. Instead, they started observing his godly way of life so they could find fault in it. When they figured out his pattern of worship, they made sure that it should be the reason to convince the king how guilty Daniel would be if he refused to obey the royal decree. It was their "Ahaa!" moment. Their argument was that believers are supposed to be obedient to the authorities, follow rules, and not rebel against the laws. (Daniel 6:4-5: "At last, these men said, 'We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.'")
It happened with Jesus too. When they saw Him healing the sick on the Sabbath and His disciples eating with unwashed hands, they were like, "Ahaa! You cannot do that!" They argued that He and His disciples could not do that because it was not what the Law said; He had to obey the Law. (Mark 7:2-5; Mark 3:2)
Unfortunately, not only do unbelievers do that; even the church does it these days. They say, "You are a leader; you cannot say, do, or behave in a certain way. You have to be exemplary. If you fail to do so, what will others do or say if they see that?" You will obviously be excommunicated from the church. That is the world and the days of Christian believers today.
So what do you do? How are we supposed to respond to such situations? Well, most of us tend to apologise. Some of us, due to the fear of being seen and judged or questioned, tend to hide our weaknesses, sins, and mistakes. We pretend to be holy in church, acting as though we have our Christian lives all together, yet deep inside our hearts, we know there are some things we have been struggling with. We just do not want people or the church to know, so we deny them their "Ahaa!" moment.
We do not need to live like this. Trust me, every Christian is struggling spiritually to work out their salvation and walk with God every single day. The Bible says, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Somehow, we are all struggling with sin inside our hearts and spirits. Jesus even raised the bar on holiness by saying that you can sin even just by your eyes, thoughts, or imaginations. "But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Matthew 5:28). That excluded everyone from being perfectly holy and qualifies us all as sinners.
However, we Christians, through the sacrifice of Jesus, have an advantage because we can always repent, and our sins are paid for by the blood of Jesus, "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21). So, to be holy is a process; it is not a one-time thing. Every day, we have to rely on the works and the righteousness of Jesus in exchange for our sins. So, when someone is looking for his or her "Ahaa!" moment to play down your Christian life, tell them: Yes, you fall short sometimes. Do not hide or deny it. Remind them that it is only by the works, the righteousness, and the blood of Jesus Christ that you live through God's grace and mercies. Tell them you live by faith and not by sight ("For we live by faith, not by sight" - 2 Corinthians 5:7), and remind them that you are a work in progress towards maturity in Christ and You are confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Sometimes you fall, but the Bible says, "For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again" (Proverbs 24:16). If they try to make a joke about your Christian life or try to use it against you, remind them that the Bible says, "Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise" (Micah 7:8).
Tell them Christ knows about your weakness, and He said, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9). It is not that you will never fumble in your Christian life; of course, sometimes, rightfully, people who are watching will say some things. Do not let that discourage you. Be encouraged in the Lord. You will not always be perfect in yourself. Remind yourself of these words all the time: It is not about your works; it is about what He did on the cross for you that makes the difference in your everyday Christian walk with God.
May God continue to preach this message in you in Christ Jesus.
Amen 🙏🙏
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