I recently saw a meme on Facebook that got me thinking. Similar to a Pinocchio style reality when he lies, his nose grew slightly larger. What would Christians look like if their thoughts were depicted by words that appeared all over their skin?
Once Pinocchio told the truth his sniffer would return to its original size. On a side note, there is an incredible amount of discussion on what is loosely called “The Pinocchio Paradox,” which creates holes in the plot of the story line…. interesting. Now, similar to Pinocchio, what if words that were thought by a proclaimed Christ follower never disappeared from their skin until they repented in a manner that brought true heart change? How would Christians or Christianity be represented at that point if what we truly thought (good, bad, and ugly) was revealed on our skin? For me, this idea forces me to stop and truly think about how I view people and life. Would words that express an attitude and desire to “walk by the Spirit,” as found in Galatians 5:16, be seen? Or, would words that convey cynicism, sinful judgement, dislike, hate, and pessimism be the most dominant?
If Christ followers walked with words covering their body from head to toe that represent their true heart, one of three things might happen. First, the true ugliness and sinful heart would be revealed. In this scenario the covered reality would reveal the nature of an a heart not transformed. In essence, a confession from the mouth would not equal the heart that it came from. A second possible covered reality might reveal a spiritual battle ground. This could be a mixture of light and dark natured words that would illuminate the canvas of a person’s skin creating a visual wrestling match with one’s new and sanctified identity, and one’s old identity which has not yet tasted the purity of God’s truth. A Third possible covered reality would be a person whose skin is a billboard for love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). What would your skin look like? I suppose the greater question would be, “Would people visually recognize you as a transformed Christ follower or not?”
As I transform the thoughts streaming through my head to written word, I can’t help but think of the time this past fall in which I saw a picture of refugees fighting for a better life with virtually no assurance there was even such a thing. The picture of refugees I saw broke my heart, almost to the point of tears. I could not fathom the level of fear that would drive someone out of their home to face an almost equal but different fear. This “different” fear fosters a glimmer of hope, while the other leaves one hopeless. To leave all that you know for a future that is unknown is scary enough without the fear of death and tribulation following you as you attempt to leave or escape your current reality. When I think of refugees, I think of my children. That alone breaks my heart. To leave your home as refugees have done will make one thing true; uncertainty will be the guaranteed future for a time. For some, that time is a life time.
I also think of my wrestling match with God on how to love without judgement those who are homeless. My wrestling match with God forced me to face the homeless who spotted the streets of Colorado Springs looking for “help.” Do you help or not? That is the question that always plagued my thoughts when I saw people who were homeless. As we were compelled to engage those who we saw standing on a corner holding their “life line,” our hearts begin to crack. These cracks allowed for the loving action of the cross to enter in like the sun piercing through dark stormy clouds.
For me, the reality of refugees and the life of those living on the streets became one of many catalysts to change the words that would have appeared on my skin. I am still a work in progress, but rather than having words that could have rained down scathing drops of judgement, I believe words would have started to appear that conveyed a precious view of people. My skin, I hope, would predominantly reveal words that loved and not judged. To love unconditionally does not mean to accept another’s behavior. I do not believe that at all. I do believe to love unconditionally is to allow a person to feel and experience grace without sinful judgement. Grace does not condone behavior, but rather allows room for growth as behaviors change as a person meets the loving truth and action of Christ. He was sacrificed on the cross so humanity can discover its true sanctified identity as individuals and a community.
How would you represent Christ on your skin? Are the words you speak supported by the actions of your life? What forgiveness needs do you have? In the end, we are to love God and love people (Matthew 22:37-40). These two actions and attitudes are like a mirror that reflects an image. If you love God and love people you will reflect the vision, mission, purpose, and overall life of Jesus.
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Matthew 22:37-40, “And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."
Galatians 5: 16-26, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”
Matthew 6:14-15, “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Once Pinocchio told the truth his sniffer would return to its original size. On a side note, there is an incredible amount of discussion on what is loosely called “The Pinocchio Paradox,” which creates holes in the plot of the story line…. interesting. Now, similar to Pinocchio, what if words that were thought by a proclaimed Christ follower never disappeared from their skin until they repented in a manner that brought true heart change? How would Christians or Christianity be represented at that point if what we truly thought (good, bad, and ugly) was revealed on our skin? For me, this idea forces me to stop and truly think about how I view people and life. Would words that express an attitude and desire to “walk by the Spirit,” as found in Galatians 5:16, be seen? Or, would words that convey cynicism, sinful judgement, dislike, hate, and pessimism be the most dominant?
If Christ followers walked with words covering their body from head to toe that represent their true heart, one of three things might happen. First, the true ugliness and sinful heart would be revealed. In this scenario the covered reality would reveal the nature of an a heart not transformed. In essence, a confession from the mouth would not equal the heart that it came from. A second possible covered reality might reveal a spiritual battle ground. This could be a mixture of light and dark natured words that would illuminate the canvas of a person’s skin creating a visual wrestling match with one’s new and sanctified identity, and one’s old identity which has not yet tasted the purity of God’s truth. A Third possible covered reality would be a person whose skin is a billboard for love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). What would your skin look like? I suppose the greater question would be, “Would people visually recognize you as a transformed Christ follower or not?”
As I transform the thoughts streaming through my head to written word, I can’t help but think of the time this past fall in which I saw a picture of refugees fighting for a better life with virtually no assurance there was even such a thing. The picture of refugees I saw broke my heart, almost to the point of tears. I could not fathom the level of fear that would drive someone out of their home to face an almost equal but different fear. This “different” fear fosters a glimmer of hope, while the other leaves one hopeless. To leave all that you know for a future that is unknown is scary enough without the fear of death and tribulation following you as you attempt to leave or escape your current reality. When I think of refugees, I think of my children. That alone breaks my heart. To leave your home as refugees have done will make one thing true; uncertainty will be the guaranteed future for a time. For some, that time is a life time.
I also think of my wrestling match with God on how to love without judgement those who are homeless. My wrestling match with God forced me to face the homeless who spotted the streets of Colorado Springs looking for “help.” Do you help or not? That is the question that always plagued my thoughts when I saw people who were homeless. As we were compelled to engage those who we saw standing on a corner holding their “life line,” our hearts begin to crack. These cracks allowed for the loving action of the cross to enter in like the sun piercing through dark stormy clouds.
For me, the reality of refugees and the life of those living on the streets became one of many catalysts to change the words that would have appeared on my skin. I am still a work in progress, but rather than having words that could have rained down scathing drops of judgement, I believe words would have started to appear that conveyed a precious view of people. My skin, I hope, would predominantly reveal words that loved and not judged. To love unconditionally does not mean to accept another’s behavior. I do not believe that at all. I do believe to love unconditionally is to allow a person to feel and experience grace without sinful judgement. Grace does not condone behavior, but rather allows room for growth as behaviors change as a person meets the loving truth and action of Christ. He was sacrificed on the cross so humanity can discover its true sanctified identity as individuals and a community.
How would you represent Christ on your skin? Are the words you speak supported by the actions of your life? What forgiveness needs do you have? In the end, we are to love God and love people (Matthew 22:37-40). These two actions and attitudes are like a mirror that reflects an image. If you love God and love people you will reflect the vision, mission, purpose, and overall life of Jesus.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Matthew 22:37-40, “And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."
Galatians 5: 16-26, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”
Matthew 6:14-15, “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
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