Christian? Really?

I learned the hard way about being a great witness for Christ. In my mind I'm a great driver, probably the best, not just in Ulverston, but in Cumbria, heck, lets just go the whole hog and say the UK. Nobody can drive as well as me, in my own mind. In my own mind, everyone else needs to go and resit their driving test, because I never make mistakes and they do. Here starts the lesson.

I was driving in Yorkshire once, and a lady was in front of me and she did the unthinkable and STOPPED at a quiet roundabout to check if anything was coming (you could see for miles that there wasnt). Mr Perfect driver lost it. I was shouting at her from the confines of my car and at the next opportunity overtook her, and as I was doing so, I looked across at her and mouthed you idiot (or words to that effect)  and sped off. I was allowed, because in my mind I was the perfect driver.

A few days later I was walking through the village with our Pastor. He stopped and started talking to a woman who I didnt recognise. He was being all chatty, they obviously knew eachother. He then proceeded to introduce me. "this is Graham, our Youth Pastor"

"oh really?" she replied "I hope you dont get as mad with the youth as you did with me!"

Yes youve guessed it, it was the driver from previously. Now apart from wanting the ground to swallow me up, I was actually ashamed of my behaviour. It wasnt the fact that I was a leader in the church, it was the fact that I was a Christian. I could have single handedly put that lady off coming to church for life. Fortunately, she accepted my apology, but I dont know, even to this day, if she ever set foot in a church again.

Matthew 5:16 says "let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." and thats what weve got to try and do. The way we act when we are around people who aren't Christians speaks more to them than any sermon we can preach, or word we can say to them about how great God is, because they notice what we do, and how we act. If we are no different to them when we are out of church, then what appeal is there for them to get saved? If we go around getting drunk, causing hassle, swearing loudly and fighting in public then its not just a terrible witness for the church, but it calls in to question our faith in God.

When we do a FUSED event, do you want your friends to turn up not realising that you are a Christian? Can you imagine if your behaviour, like mine with that lady driver, puts someone off Christianity forever? its not a great thought is it?

I put in one of my Facebook statuses that its easy being a great witness at church. Lets show the world that we great witnesses at all times, in School, at uni or at work. Remember, Jesus said “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? Lets not let it get to that though!

You lot are brilliant. We love you to bits, and are really proud of how you, as well as the church, have grown over the last year. Lets push on, lets see our church grow, and most of all, lets be great witnesses for christ!