Almost every week I charge my congregation to be "Aromatic Christians" in the week ahead. Meaning their lives should give evidence of their faith. If you have to tell someone you are a Christian, you probably should keep your mouth shut.
The label Christian was first used by people of other faiths, who saw the actions of the people and said, "There go the followers (disciples) of Christ." This is the basic definition of Christian.
Theologically a Christian, by our definition, is one who has received the Spirit of God and all the authority that entails.
In this small detail lies the basic problem between most religions (in all religions the believer is touched by the divine spirit). Give authority to some people and they grow; give it to others and they swell. Being a part of creation is an awesome position. It means you represent a force that causes life! It causes things to exist! When you walk in the woods you are walking with your family, for we are related to everything that exist. You are a "little one" of God. The God and power who causes life. You represent the creator of all life!
This reminds us that all who come as representatives of their Creator God, should be given respect. Do we respect all those things of God? The environment? Society? Other people? Our faith? Perhaps if we remember that we also are a representative of the creator it might change your approach to others.
We are each a representative - we only represent God. If we work for a company and they send us to visit a customer we cannot represent something to the customer the company will not do. Ambassadors understand that very well. Another English word for ambassador is apostle. They were/are representatives of Jesus. Jesus was/is a representative of God. We need only to project what/who we represent - the God of life and love.
There is no room or tolerance for those who come in the name of God and represent death and hate; condemnation and rejection; and self centeredness. By represent, I mean how we influence others by our words, actions and attitudes. No one can influence others to live on a higher level than that on which they live themselves. Just one act of ours may turn the tide of another person's life.
When God says to a person, "Well done thou faithful servant," it signifies that God feels that person represented God well. They gave of the aroma of love, grace, and acceptance; not hate, condemnation, and rejection. They were Christ like.
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