“Abstain from all appearance of evil” (1 Thess. 5:22).
It was lunchtime as the UPS (United Parcel Service) delivery truck pulled into the parking lot of a local sports bar. The driver, though hungry, had another reason for stopping. His favorite college basketball team was competing in the NCAA post-season basketball tournament and the game was being televised there.
Entering the bar, Joe (not his real name) spent his lunch break watching the game, though he didn’t consume any alcoholic beverage. When his break was over, Joe returned to his truck.
There he was met by his immediate supervisor.
“Joe, I’m suspending you from work for five days.”
“But why?” Joe protested. “I just finished my lunch break. I wasn’t doing anything wrong.”
“We received a call from someone who said they observed a UPS delivery man entering a bar.”
“Hey, I didn’t order or drink any alcohol; I just watched the game. I follow the company rules.”
“I believe you, Joe. But when you wear a UPS uniform and drive a UPS truck, you represent UPS. The public’s opinion of UPS is based on the actions of its employees. Stopping in a bar, even to watch a game, isn’t consistent with the image of dependability UPS wants to project to our customers.”
Who and What Do Christians Represent?
For Christians, this true story strikingly illustrates the importance of obeying 1 Thessalonians 5:22 (quoted above).
Too often, those who profess to be Christians assume they represent a particular denomination with certain ecclesiastical rules. But such thinking sets aside the real meaning of Christian—one who follows Christ and, we may add, one who represents Christ and His interests in this world. “Ye are our epistle . . . known and read of all men” (2 Cor. 3:2).
Saints are not called to defend man-made theologies and doctrines. But as members of the one body of Christ, the assembly, which is “the pillar and the base of the truth” (JND), we are to hold fast the “form of sound words” (2 Tim. 1:13).
Paul exhorts believers in 2 Corinthians 4:2 not to walk in deceit, but by our actions manifest “the truth commending ourselves to every conscience of men before God” (JND). John had joy to find that his beloved children were walking in truth (2 John 4; 3 John 4).
However, defending the word of truth, the gospel of our salvation (Eph. 1:13), requires action and talk.
Actions
“When a man’s ways please the Lord, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him” (Prov. 16:7).
The world says, “Actions speak louder than words.” Scripture gives us the moral truth: “By their fruits ye shall know them” (Matt. 7:16, 20). How important that we who have trusted the Lord Jesus be careful that our actions and ways would reflect His meekness, holiness, love and grace!
The Lord Jesus said to those Pharisees who tried to find fault with Him, “The works which the Father hath given Me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of Me” (John 5:36; 10:25). Later, the blessed Saviour challenged their wicked heart of unbelief, saying, “Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me: or else believe Me for the very works’ sake” (John 14:11). How perfectly and powerfully His works testified to His divine Person!
In an earlier day Joseph’s works, whether in Potiphar’s house or in Pharaoh’s prison, were prosperous (see Gen. 39). In a later day, Solomon’s servants bear powerful testimony to the Queen of Sheba by their works (see 1 Kings 10:4-5; 2 Chron. 9:3-4). Later yet, Daniel rebuked King Darius from the lion’s den concerning his actions: “My God hath sent His angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before Him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt” (Dan. 6:22).
May our actions as believers not only speak louder than words, but may they support our words and glorify our blessed Lord.
Talk
“It came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed” (Acts 14:1).
What we say as believers is also vitally important.
The words spoken by Paul and Barnabas not only carried moral power, but were spoken in a way which brought many souls to salvation. We learn from Exodus 28 that the holy garments of glory and beauty Aaron was to wear included a robe whose hem had alternating golden bells and pomegranates (Ex. 28:34). Aaron’s priestly work (pomegranates) was to be equally balanced with his words (golden bells).
A person whose words are not supported or balanced by his work has a lifeless faith (James 2:20,26), even as one whose work shows no direction or light from the divine Word has an ignorant faith.
Words and Works
As holy priests, believers worship (words) offering up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. As royal priests we serve (work), showing “forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).
The blessed Lord Jesus Christ is our perfect example. When asked by the unbelieving Jews, “Who art Thou,” His answer shines with moral beauty and perfection. “Altogether that which I also say to you” (John 8:25 JND). His words and His works were always perfectly balanced—divinely consistent.
May it be so with us who wear a uniform—one of infinitely more responsibility and privilege than the UPS delivery man—the uniform of Christ.
Let us as children of God be found faithfully shinning as lights in the world, while earnestly holding forth the word of life to the lost and perishing (Phil. 2:1516 JND).
Oh! that we would have grace, by our actions, to “adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things” (Titus 2:10).
Ed.