Attractive God
Mahatma Gandhi is famously quoted as saying, “If Christians would really live according to the teachings of Christ, as found in the Bible, all of India would be Christian today.” I suspect that it would not just be India, but the whole world which would be following Christ.
In writing to Titus Paul gives instructions for how various groups of people should conduct themselves. He ends his instructions to slaves (which would be more akin to our idea of employees today than what the term slave connotes) by saying, “...so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.” He could just as well have put this on the end of his instructions in general.
Just what was he instructing these workers to do? Do good work. Don’t be argumentative but follow instructions. Don’t steal. Be trustworthy. Pretty difficult stuff, huh?
His instructions to all groups included things such as: be worthy of respect, be self controlled, don’t be chemically addicted, be kind, be considerate of others, don’t slander, and show true humility. On the other hand we are instructed to not get involved in foolish arguments and controversies.
Yet, when it comes to “reaching the lost” our approach is more often to come with arguments and half baked woo hoo instead of all of these things we are instructed to do. If we Christians would just live according to the teaching of Christ as found in the Bible I believe we would be far more effective in winning the world, not to mention far more content with our own lives and far more pleasing to God. What a concept! Instead of showing the world how smart we are we could show them how attractive He is.
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