By Cyndi
How do we Christians come across to the world around us? What do our friends, family, and co-workers think about our Christianity? Do we display the attributes of Christ in our daily lives? I was challenged by these questions just the other day and wondered how I appear to the people I meet every day.
Last week I was having a conversation with a friend and afterwards I realized that I dominated the conversation. It was all about me. What pride! Oh, I asked about how she was doing but I wasn’t really listening. I was waiting to share some more things about me the minute she stopped talking. And then when 
I got caught in traffic driving to another part of town, I was extremely impatient and furious with all the incompetent drivers I was around. “If they could all just drive like me it would be so much better,” I thought. Yes, dear reader, sometimes my Christianity is quite hard and harsh. It’s not always a pretty sight.
So I picked up Andrew Murray’s Humility book and decided it was time to re-read it again. (I think this is one of those books you need to read at least once a year—at least I need to.) I found this particular line quite interesting:
In striving after the higher experiences of the Christian life, the believer is often in danger of aiming at and rejoicing in what one might call the human, the manly, virtues, such as boldness, joy, contempt of the world, zeal, self-sacrifice, while the deeper and gentler, the diviner and more heavenly graces, poverty of spirit, meekness, humility, lowliness, are scarcely thought of or valued (pg. 56).
So I can take the “onward Christian soldiers” approach, plowing through everything and everyone wh
o gets in my way of living for God, or I can attempt to live by the “more heavenly graces,” as Murray says. If I were humble, I would carefully listen to my friend share about how she was doing—her challenges, her delights—so that I could pray for her or rejoice with her as Rom. 12:15 instructs me to do. If I were meek and lowly, I would not stress out in traffic, or get angry and judge the inapt drivers, but be patient and kind instead—-preferring others (Rom. 12:10).
I have repented for my rude behavior of the past and am trying to focus on the sensitive side of Christianity. Yes, I still think there is a place for the harder, stronger virtues of fasting, fearless preaching, and warring in the Spirit, but maybe our world needs to see more of the softer, gentler, loving and forgiving attributes of us Christians.
Absolutely, I couldn’t agree more!
I’ve been made to feel I was a freak by those who saw my turning the other cheek as
weakness, my kindness towards those who hated me as naivity, and my choosing to follow Jesus as disobedience to them.
Yes we need to stand firm in the Faith, but be loving and kind and merciful
and forgiving to those who misunderstand our intentions, just as Jesus is.
But it Isn’t always Easy, cause flesh woman, as I call her, keeps wanting to
vindicate herself and go oh woe is me!!
God Bless you Cyndi!
Lynn
I like that term “flesh woman.” Thanks for the comment @lynn lindsay
Hi Cnydi! I too agree and all the more see the importance of praying for each other as members of the Body. Jessie
Thanks Jessie. We’re all one body for sure. Let’s help each other, instead of hurting.
Bless you.@jessie galia
@jessie galia Thanks Jessie. We’re all one body for sure. Let’s help each other, instead of hurting.
Bless you.
Hi Cyndi,
Thanks for your transparency – that alone is humility in my book
And thanks for voicing what I’ve had to reprimand myself on: dominating a conversation, not listening when others talk … good stuff, thanks!
Dear Cyndi, It is easy to fall into worldly behavior especially if we’re not well rested, or maybe having some home problems with money, etc. It is so important as Christians to walk the walk because if we want others to know the joy of our Lord we are often their example. This was a great topic to write about because we all fall short, but we strive to do better. God Bless.
@Linda Thanks Linda.
Cyndi… well said from your heart! But… it sounds like it could have come from mine!
Cyndi, as always you hit the nail on the head for me also. You must have been reading my mail. I do the things I should not do and not the things I should do . . . I think it is a common “thing” that happens to humans, it even happened to Paul! I’m grateful for your ministry and sharing your heart with us. Love, Jane
Thanks Cyndi, amen!