A Note from Pastor Rich
April 2, 2000
Christians are not always popular, but they should be respected. We should be different from the world, but the world should see something in our lives that draws them to us. This has been true for a long time. In the third century, Cyprian, the Bishop of Carthage, wrote to his friend Donatus: "It is a bad world, Donatus, an incredibly bad world. But I have discovered in the midst of it a quiet and good people who have learned the great secret of life. They have found a joy and wisdom that is a thousand times better than any of the pleasures of our sinful life. They are despised and persecuted, but they care not. They are masters of their souls. They have overcome the world. These people, Donatus, are Christians... and I am one of them."
Many people have heard of Gallup polls, but few people have heard of his observations of the people he has interviewed. When the noted pollster George Gallup Jr. was speaking at an urban ministries conference in New Jersey, he revealed some remarkable 1991 statistical data concerning what he called the "high spiritual faith" of certain American Christians. I quote: "These people are a breed apart. They are more tolerant of people of diverse backgrounds. They are more involved in charitable activities (and) practical Christianity. They are absolutely committed to prayer. They are far, far happier than the rest of the population. These are the quiet saints in our society who have a disproportionate, powerful impact on our communities." (From an address at a Southern Baptist conference, Newark, New Jersey, reported by Baptist Press. Carried by the Evangelical News Service, May 24, 1991.
The greatest impact we can make on someone else is when they see something in our lives that they desire. That something is the character of Christ within us. This is the simple result of us being changed because of our relationship to Jesus. It's like the glory of God taking our plain old lives and setting them afire with the blaze of Christ's presence. Yes, that's a great contrast to the world, but believe it or not, many know that a worldly life is a dead-end road. Your life is evidence to them that there really is hope. Let your life shine before them.
Your Servant,
Rich
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