“One of the greatest obstacles to the progress of the Gospel is the bad example of people who profess to be Christians. Unsaved people like to use the inconsistencies of the saints—especially preachers—as an excuse for rejecting Jesus Christ.”
That quotation is from Warren Wiersbe’s “Be Series” on 2 Corinthians. I read it as I was studying. Two little word phrases stood out as I read it, “profess to be” and “as an excuse.”
Not everyone who professes to be a Christian is. Paul reminds his readers in 2 Corinthians that “it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.” [v 10:18 NIV]
I can call myself anything, that does not make it so. The proof of what I am will be demonstrated in not what I say, but in what I do. Those who proclaim to belong to Christ need to make sure that their example proclaims the same thing. Of course, we all make mistakes, even those the Lord “commends” will not be the perfect example all time, but we must strive for consistency and when we fail, we must ask forgiveness not just from the Lord but from those we have hurt.
The other phrase … “as an excuse.” I have met some people who will use anything as an excuse for rejecting Jesus Christ. I have seen them come into church and leave saying someone disrespected them, the preacher said something that offended them, there was too much of this or not enough of that, and of course, the most common, “all the church wants is my money.”
Unfortunately, when we stand before the Savior one day, no excuse will be validated. We will not be able to blame our rejection of Christ Jesus on anyone else. It will come down to our own personal choice.
Father God, I ask the power of Your Spirit in me to always lead me to be a good example of my profession of faith in Your Son. Help my testimony and my character to be consistent before You. Amen.
