John 1:3 “We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.”

Driving back from church yesterday, I heard a good quote on a radio talk show. The presenters were talking about faith and one of them said: “Don’t tell me what you believe; let me watch you for a while and then I’ll tell you what you believe.” That was a profound statement and is something that I’ll personally try to remember on my daily walk with God in the world.

The First Christians had a similar problem. They preached a new and radical message that wasn’t easily listened to or accepted by the people of their day. Whether it was Jews in Judea or Greeks in Greece or Romans at Rome, the First Christians had a problem of credibility (coincidentally, credibility comes from the Latin word “Credo” which means “I believe.”). No one really knew who they were or who this Christos was that they followed. They heard them preach on street corners and proclaim Christ’s name in synagogues, temples, and market squares. They heard rumors that Christians were insurrectionists, anarchists, and even cannibals. Christ’s message only became effective when other people saw what the Christians actually did in their daily lives. When people saw that their faith was genuine and that Christians did in fact love one another, that’s when Christ’s message began to be accepted.

The challenge for us today is much the same. Do our lives and actions proclaim the same beliefs in Christ that our lips and words express?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we constantly say that we believe and follow You, but do our lives proclaim something different? Forgive us when we fail to be effective and genuine witness to Your presence and love in our lives. Remind us that our faith is always being broadcast to our families and friends, our neighbors and colleagues through what we do rather than just by what we say. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart pastor@erinpresbyterian.org