Looks DO matter

Have you seen those cars with all of the "Christian" bumper stickers on them?  You know, the ones that pretty much say "Turn or Burn" on them?  Or maybe you've had the gumption to stomach listening to one of those preachers on TV who speaks with an inflection that sounds like a case of bad hiccups and all of his language is flowered with some sort of medieval Gothic flavor.  Have you ever encountered someone at church who slaps you on the back while hollering, "God bless you brother!" in a tone of voice that would make Mr. Rogers sound angry?
Christians have a way of giving off  a certain air of spirituality that can be pretty amusing.  Much of the demeanor that we portray is good-hearted in its intention, for we want the world to know that our lives are different because of Jesus Christ.  But how much of what we show the world actually has the opposite effect on those who Christ died to save?

In 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Paul offers lots of instruction to those who serve as the leaders in the church.  Consider all of these admonitions he gives to those who are called to oversee (serve as the head pastor) the local church:

• Be above reproach
• Have only one wife 
• Exercise self-control
• Be sensible, respectable, and hospitable
• Know how to teach others
• Don't be a drunk
• Don't bully people but be gentle
• Avoid picking unnecessary fights
• Don't be in love with money
• Be able to manage your own household before you try to manage God's church
• Those who are too young in their faith won't be the best leaders because they are in danger of becoming arrogant or too easily falling to temptation

That's a pretty big list and if you are serving in God's ministry these exhortations are probably not new to you.  However, I left off the last one because it is one that I feel too often gets overlooked.  Here is what Paul writes as his final admonition to the oversee of the church:

Furthermore, he must have a good reputation among outsiders, so that he does not fall into disgrace and the Devil's trap. (1 Timothy 3:7)

Is Paul actually writing that how the world sees the leaders of the church (and the overall church for that matter) is actually important?  Yes he is.  You see, too often pastors focus all of their attention of how they lead their flocks and therefore how their flock perceives them to the extent that they could care less what the world thinks.  I also believe that these words should apply not to just pastors of churches but to all believers as well, for all of us share the duty of taking the gospel to the world.  How will we grow the kingdom if we do nothing to connect with those who are outside of the church walls and lost without Christ?

There are a lot of different directions to go with this.  For instance, there is the church led by the pastor with the swoopy-do hairstyle who wouldn't be caught dead without his three-piece suit on.  His flock, in turn, loves that every sermon he preaches is a quote-a-thon of Bible verses that remind them of the fact that God is ultimately to be feared and church work is what matters most in the end.  Churches and pastors like this do exist and they are in a steady decline for obvious reasons: It's all about them and the little kingdom they have created for themselves.  "Outsiders" aren't banging down the doors on Sunday mornings to be a part of them.  Aren't you glad that you aren't part of a church like that?

Or are you?

While most who are reading this probably won't fall into that specific category of church or leader, much of what we do mirrors the same inability to "have a good reputation among outsiders."  Everything that we strive for as the body of Christ we do because we sincerely desire to have an influence for Christ in our world, but do we truly have a good reputation among outsiders?  Do they care that we are diligent in our study of God's word and the worship that we give to Him if none of that translates beyond our Sunday morning meeting times?  Will your neighbor be impressed at your ability to wake up early each morning to have your quiet time if you make very little effort to engage him or be neighborly? 

When a pastor falls from grace or a church splits or makes a fool of themselves over a non-issue, the world often shakes its head or even rejoices because the church or pastor already has a negative reputation.  TV cameras won't often show up when God's people feed the hungry, clothe the naked, or love the outcasts but they will be there in droves when Christians get bent out of shape over whether a man-made "Christian" flag will be flown at a public park or a prayer will be said at a governmental meeting.  And what does all of this say about us?  What are we showing the world?

Believers are not of this world.  I get that.  Yet this passage in 1 Timothy makes is clear that what we show the world does indeed matter.  God has tarried and we are still here for a reason.  The gospel must be proclaimed to the world and God has charged His church with this exciting challenge.  If we are to make Jesus famous then the church cannot afford to fall any farther into disgrace in the public eye than it already has.