Circuit Thoughts: Practice What You Preach

“Practice what you preach”, is a statement many believers don’t want to hear. The reason being is that it is often an accusation. When someone says it to us, there is a pretty good chance we have acted less than ideal in their eyes. But, I often wonder how the accusers think followers of Christ are supposed to act.

I know, many non-church goers have a conflated idea of how a “churchy” person is supposed to act. Whether we have preached or taught anything is immaterial, the watcher will be quick to accuse. I remember riding with someone, and I was driving a manual transmission car. I have been driving a manual since I was a first-time driver. I know how to do it. Anyway, I missed a gear, no big deal, just throw in the clutch, re-shift and go. The passenger railed on me for a good 5 minutes on how I thought I was such a superior driver and how could I even contemplate missing a gear. Just to be clear, this was not my wife. Anyway, after she calmed down, I pointed out that she obviously did not know how to drive a clutch and thus had never experienced a missed gear. It happens.

Many who are not in the church have not experienced what it means to follow Christ. These people expect the followers to be perfect and have an air of superiority around them. I have noticed that sometimes when some folks find out you follow Christ, they immediately go on the defensive. And more is the pity. If they only knew that…

Church is an exclusive club for people who can’t quite get it right. Every sinner and every messed-up person are welcome to join this wonderful club. No sin is too great, no mistake too terrible. It is an organization built solely on the love of Christ. When we are demanded to practice what we preach, we probably already are.

Christ calls us to love God and love our neighbor. That is our sermon. If we add anything to it, then we may be in the wrong. We go to church to help take the right steps outside the church door. But in the world, our steps sometimes go awry by the time we hit the sidewalk. Life does that. So, then we seek forgiveness and mercy from God. When we seek that mercy, then we are practicing what we preach.

The world looks for an excuse to accuse followers of Christ. It does this to gain control and have power. We need to grab ahold of “practice what we preach” and let the world know we are. We need to regularly go to Christ for forgiveness and mercy, and then show our neighbor the same love and grace that Christ shows us.

It’s time to not fear or get frustrated when this term is used on us, just be sure we are loving, caring and offering Christ. That way when anyone says, “You should practice what you preach” you can say, “Already do”.

Just a thought.

Shalom my friends. See you in church.