How should Christ followers live? Is there a certain image or brand to represent? Are we really supposed to personally apply the Bible’s daily conduct instruction so we stand out from the world? Or are they merely suggestions since we’re already “saved” and can live as we please?
Since we are “ambassadors of Christ,” we do represent an image or brand. As Christ followers, we make the Bible’s instruction our mode of conduct in every aspect of life. As the adage says: Faith not only believes, it also behaves. Jesus said we are to die to ourselves daily, shoulder our crosses, and follow Him. In addition, we’re to avoid resisting and quenching the Holy Spirit’s transformation in our lives by surrendering everything to His supernatural work.
There’s a definite distinction between a mindset that protests, “There’s nothing wrong with it!” and one that surrenders to, “Not my will but Yours be done.” A “There’s-nothing-wrong-with-it” preference should never be a Christ-follower’s standard. God’s call to holiness always supersedes our personal preference. Holiness doesn’t play in the world’s playground. Bearing our cross daily is supposed to leave an imprint, an image. The question is: whose image is stamped on our hearts?
Now, before you think, C’mon, Nate – don’t get legalistic or too fanatical on me,” please hear me out. Is it legalistic or fanatical to become like Christ, to bear His image, and walk in holiness as Scripture instructs?
Dancing on the Precipice
A king once looked for a new carriage driver. Many courageous applicants gathered. The king asked each one, “How close can you drive to the edge of a narrow mountain trail?” Some stated within a foot; others claimed half that distance. A few boasted they could maneuver safely within an inch or two. But the king noticed a quiet man standing alone, observing and listening to his peers. “What about you?” the king demanded. “How close can you safely drive my carriage to the dangerous edge?” Approaching the king as the crowd grew silent, the man bowed. “My king, for your safety as well as my own, I would stay as far away from the edge as possible.” The king immediately proclaimed, “You’re hired.”
The tendency to justify or defend worldly habits baffles me. Yes, I’ve justified my own preferences. But here are some of the strange things I’ve heard from others. Smoking calms me when I’m nervous or irritated. Cheating on my taxes reduces the money for our corrupt government. Drinking a little doesn’t bother me. I only listen to heavy metal music while exercising. Hey, I only go to topless bars to witness to my friends – but I don’t look at the dancers! Yes, these are all justifications I’ve heard over the years. If you’re like me, you defend your preferential “thing” while condemning the others. That, my friend, is the definition of a legalist.
What is it about the unsurrendered heart that dares to stand at the foot of the cross, look up at our suffering Savior, and say, “Thank you for dying for me and keeping me out of hell. But don’t ask too much from me. I still want to have fun, get as close to the world’s cliff as possible, and not really stand out as fanatically different.”
If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, smells like a duck, acts like a duck, then …
Manure in Your Brownies
Now, Nate – you’re beginning to make me angry! I know. But as lovingly as I can say it, please hear me out.
Since we’re justifying our preferences, how much unfaithfulness should a spouse allow? How much betrayal should we tolerate from a friend? Is it okay for a sports team to allow one of its players to suit up for another team? How much money should a bank allow to be embezzled? What tolerance of theft should a store allow? How much water should we allow in our lungs? Would we still buy a new wedding dress with a few stains and smudges on it? How much manure should we put in our brownies? See how personal justification breaks down? The Bible clearly states even a little yeast permeates the whole lump of dough.
But, Nate – Jesus accepts us just as we are! I agree! However, “Come as you are” doesn’t mean “Stay as you are.” The whole point to our new spiritual birth is that we become something totally different—a new creation. A Christ follower’s purpose is to be conformed into Christlikeness. God wants us to grow into spiritual maturity while distancing ourselves from worldly things. Actually, a deepening fellowship with Him doesn’t and cannot coexist with our personal preferences. Unless He is Lord of all, He cannot be our Savior. It’s impossible to separate the gift from the Giver.
Biblical Personal Conduct
As we inspect every part of our lives—every habit, behavior, activity, joke, desire, movie, reaction, taste, thought, mindset, preference, music, political stance, social nuance, everything—let’s do so from the standpoint of God’s Word. Keep in mind, the Bible is a two-edged sword meant to cut away what God doesn’t want and we don’t need as part of our ongoing transformation into His likeness.
- “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things [former lifestyle and preferences] have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
- “Abstain from all appearance of evil” [notice, it includes even what may appear evil] (1 Thessalonians 5:22)
- “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch [don’t even come close enough to touch!] what is unclean, and I will receive you” (2 Corinthians 6:17).
- “As He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct” [no room for personal preferences] (1 Peter 1:15).
- “Therefore, since all these things [this world and its activities] will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God?” (2 Peter 3:11-12).
- “Pursue [engage in hot pursuit] … holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).
- “Let us cleanse [purify] ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting [accomplishing; completing] holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1).
- “Be imitators of God … and walk in love, as Christ also has loved us … But fornication [pornography, sexual sin] and all uncleanness [moral impurity] … let it not even be named among you … neither filthiness [obscenity, shamefulness], nor foolish talking [silliness, buffoonery], nor coarse jesting [vulgar witticism; off-color innuendoes], which are not fitting” (Ephesians 5:1-4).
Personal Image and Brand: Christlikeness
How are we doing? Still with me? Ready for more?
This isn’t judging or throwing anyone under the proverbial bus. I’m walking this same journey of becoming more Christlike every day. These same verses are my image, my brand, my personal application. And the awesome news is that we have help! God’s Holy Spirit lives inside every genuine Christ follower and helps make this transformation a reality.
- “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own [WOW!]? For you were bought at a price [the precious, costly blood of Jesus]; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
- “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).
- “Teaching us that, denying [refusing] ungodliness and worldly lusts [longings, desires], we should live soberly [with a sound mind], righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special [unusual, peculiar] people, zealous [passionate] for good works.” (Titus 2:12-14).
- “That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot [stain, blemish], or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish [faultless, blameless]” (Ephesians 5:27).
As the Bride of Christ, He deserves and will have a spotless, unblemished bride. Each of us makes up the whole. That’s the reason for all this instruction for holiness. As a bride prepares herself for her presentation to her groom, Christ followers also prepare themselves for our glorious union with Him one day.
The Glorious Outcome
So, Nate – what’s the end game?
Life is short. Death is inevitable. Eternity awaits. This life is merely our preparation for the next. We will all stand before Jesus Christ one day soon. There, we will give an account for what we have done since our spiritual rebirth. Only there will our image be compared to His. Will we have eternal rewards to give to Jesus out of grateful, faithful hearts? Or will we stand empty-handed, full of regret that our “personal preferences” distracted us from deeper intimacy with Him and things of eternal significance?
Oh, may we live daily surrendered to our Father’s business and the Holy Spirit’s transformation! Only then will we be able to proclaim, “I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.”
Father God, keep us faithful to You, Your name, Your Image, Your brand, and Your likeness! Like ambassadors to another country, help us to represent You well while temporarily here on our earthly assignment. May we grow in our knowledge of You, deepen our intimacy with You, and bear much fruit for You. Oh, may we never lose sight of eternity! Help us close our ears to this world’s distracting calls and our own personal preferences. Birth in us the desire to pursue the holiness to which we are called. May you find us faithful until You return or call us home! Amen!
(Concepts taken from Nate’s book: Called to Christlikeness, not Christianity.)
Nate’s book, Called to Christlikeness, not Christianity – Purchase here.
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Nate Stevens.
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