S04E094, Confusion, Panic and Peace, Andy B 2 Minute Video
I’ve always said that perception trumps reality. It doesn’t matter what the truth may be, if our projected image doesn’t back it up. And the bible tells us that we shall be known by our fruits – it’s the basic underlying principle that lifted up the widow who emptied her purse against the rich man who gave so much, but only a tiny portion of what he had.
As Christians it’s easy to think that we need to blend in to our surroundings, in order that we can maintain our witness, and maintain that opportunity to witness to others.
In my truck driving jobs I was routinely ostracised by my colleagues, and managers, when I stuck rigidly to speed limits. However, sometimes, I’d found myself alone with a driver and they regularly told me how much respect they had for me, but knew they couldn’t never drive the same way. They wanted to, but didn’t have the courage to do so because of the other drivers (who also, generally, wanted to drive legally too).
I randomly met one of those drivers, quite a few years later. My boss had followed my following career change – setting up a high street shop – with obvious pride for one of ‘his’ former drivers. He would speak of me often, and it seems there was no small amount of pride at what I had gone on to do.
If there was a line up of people in your workplace, would you be picked out as being a Christian? Or would that finger move on to somebody else, and skip over you, because you were too silent and hidden about your love for Jesus Christ?
We don’t have to go around with a large bible, holding loud prayer meetings on our lunch breaks – that isn’t a good strategy to endear people towards you! But we should be obviously Christian through our actions.
In our workplace, our professionalism should shine out because of our faith. Does your faith stand out enough to be seen through your work ethic?
Actions matter, because that is how people judge us. The bible even tells us that we will be known by our fruit (what we are seen to do).
So be careful what people see of you!! Do be authentic. But, never hide your love for Jesus – you can’t possibly know who needs that most, next. When they have a need, will they know that they can be safe to turn to you?
Just a thought...
Andy B
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Transcript
0:07
So another Andy B 2 Minute Video. And this one was an inspiration from a private conversation I was having with Alan, a lovely Scottish man who writes for Devotional Treasures, his blog.
0:20
Now, as people we come across in all sorts of different ways. People will perceive certain things. They'll see certain realities. Certain things that are true will be perceptions. Certain perceptions will be true. And this is how we go through life. We are always projecting something of who we are. And, sometimes, that can be real and true. And sometimes it can be a little bit fake. But that's what happens in life.
0:44
I know that personally, I'm very, very comfortable around delivery drivers, or people who work in, kind of, manual skill kind of labour areas, because that's where I spent a lot of my time. So I'm quite relaxed and very normal and natural around people like that. People wonder why they talk to me. Well, I just listen and I talk their language. I'm not projecting something I'm not, I'm being myself.
1:06
In your life as a Christian, how transparent is your faith?
1:11
Do you project an image of well, yes, I do like God. And I do think church can be important, but it's not that big a deal. In order that you can not have to hard a time at work. And maybe get that promotion that you really, really want. Or, perhaps, you want to be asked to do a particular things so you think 'Well, I'll just I'll fly below the radar and they'll never notice'.
1:30
How transparent are you and your faith? How obvious is it that you actually are a Jesus loving disciple? Do you hide that? Are you honest about it? If if people were you know, there was a line up, and people were asked at their workplace, who were the Christians, would you have a big light and arrows pointing at you, 'This is a Christian'.
1:50
Let's never be afraid of our faith!
1:53
Just watching something about the Second World War and the Allied Forces finding some of the extermination camps of the Jews. And when you track back a little bit in tim', one of the things they did is 'Well Jews are very obvious to spot' and there were posters 'Find a Jew', 'Spot a Jew', Report a Jew', and, well, it was kind of obvious what they looked like. And actually that was how they were so often targeted and tracked.
2:15
You read Hiding Place, you realise that some Jews were so obviously Jewish that they were really hard to hide. Corrie Ten Boom didn't care. She loved the people.
2:26
Are you hiding your faith? Are you transparent about it? Do people know you're a Christian?
2:31
You haven't got to go around bashing them over the head with a Bibl. But, actually, we are supposed to stand out and look different, and to behave different.
2:39
Perhaps it's time for you to be a bit more obvious, and I'd be more honest about your faith.
2:45
Just a thought.
Andy B, 05/07/2022