Reputation and character match?
March 19, 2009 (Thursday)
A Florida man was arrested last night for choking his wife during an argument at their home. He was wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with the words, “I Love My Marriage.”
Sort of like the reckless driver with his “Honk if you love Jesus” bumper sticker.
Or the Pharisees scolded by Jesus. “You go halfway around the world to make a convert, but once you get him you make him into a replica of yourselves, double-damned” (Matthew 23:15 The Message). For a shocker, read Matthew 23 and see what Jesus really thought about those guys.
The proverbial “hypocrite” is the scorn of the world. Nobody likes him. Everyone hates him.
Perhaps that’s why Jesus taught us to walk in his steps. “You’re here to be light, Jesus said, “bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16 The Message).
“I yam what I yam,” said Popeye the Sailor Man. Am I? Are you?