'CHRISTIAN inside'

      At some point years ago, Nokia E90 communicator was making waves in the market. It had the ‘Intel inside’ logo. Sincerely I somehow understood a reason for this ‘caveat’; the device external outlook wasn’t its strongest feature in my opinion. So the caveat needed to keep a customer wondering. The strategy worked! Thanks to the rapid bloom of laptops and HP devices. I do not do a good job of marketing. I am not trying to be a marketer here.

You need no formal introduction these days to identify ‘Christians’ in your hood or in your offices. All you need do is look at their bumper stickers or armbands or T-shirts. Their caveat. They are Christians outside. Are they Christian inside? These days we do the introduction unlike the Christians in Antioch who through their lifestyles echoed the virtues of Christ-likeness.

               There is so much showmanship these days. A lot of people belong to one sect or denomination or fraternity. We seem to be lost in the delusion that numbers equals efficiency or productivity. We flaunt our faith like it was some trophy for display and that’s where it ends, on the display shelf.

I have seen these time and time again. Everything in this Nation is falling impart because we have Christians who are only Christians outside, painted glasses.

          The society has seen enough bumper stickers; they long to see raw, solid faith demonstrated in love, kindness, our patience with people, our empathy and care. A lot of damages have been done by this all words and no action. James the beloved addressed this occurrence in its entirety in the five chapter book of James. I close with this short story told by John Ortberg in his book When all is over, it all goes back into the box:

 “A man is being tailgated by a woman who is in a hurry. He comes to an intersection and he hits the brakes. The woman behind him goes ballistic. She honks her horn at him; she yells in no uncertain terms; she rants and gestures.

While she is in mid-rant, someone taps on her window. She looks up and sees a policeman. He invites her to the station where she is searched and fingerprinted and put in cell. After a couple of hours, she is released, and the arresting officer gives her personal effects, saying, “I’m very sorry for the mistake, ma’am. I pulled out behind your car while you were blowing your horn, using bad gestures and bad language. I noticed the ‘What Would Jesus Do?’ bumper sticker, the ‘Choose Life’ license plate holder, the ‘Follow me to Sunday School’ window sign, the Christian fish emblem on your trunk, and I naturally assumed you had stolen the car.”

The world is tired of all such ‘Christian’ signs everywhere except the inside. So what is it going to be, Christian inside or not? Talk is cheap; everyone can afford it.