'Christians' and Contrasts

I was impressed this week with the stark contrast in two separate shows we watched, between characters portrayed to be ‘Christians.’ The first program was a fictional show in which the characters were reacting in ways that should not be characteristic of Christians. Due to the unjust actions of a greedy man many people were being forced off their properties. After finding out they could do nothing to stop this man from taking over their land, the people reacted in a most un-Christlike manner. They even took the drastic measure of blowing up all the businesses in the little town they once so dearly loved. Their revenge being complete, they marched out of the once thriving little town singing ‘Onward Christian Soldiers.’ Yet, their behavior was anything but ‘Christian.’ These characters displayed anger, bitterness, malice and lack of self- control in their actions- with no sign of repentance. Even though this was a fictional story, the reactions to their situation were very true to life. It is a natural reaction to display anger and bitterness at being wronged-- a natural reaction for a sinful people. However, if we desire, in obedience to God, to display a super-natural response to being unjustly treated, we need to obey scripture’s teaching which tells us to, “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:31-32). In Colossians we are admonished to put off the old self and put on the new self- which is in Christ. “you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.” (Colossians 3:8-10).

The second program we watched (this week) was based on a true story. The evil character, in this program set in the second century, was not fictional and he was not merely after a man’s property. He was after his life. The Proconsul of the Roman Empire determined to put an end to the life of a very old man by the name of Polycarp-- when he refused to acknowledge Caesar as Lord. When Polycarp, bishop to Smyrna, was about to be taken away for execution, his response to the unjust action was totally opposite to that of the characters in the first program. Polycarp acted in a calm and Christ-like manner toward his executioners. He offered the men food after their journey and then he excused himself to pray. He then left peaceabley with the soldiers who led him away to his death. Polycarp displayed true Christian character forgiving the men who were about to take his life, just as Christ also freely forgave those who mistreated him. Colossians 3:12-14 reads, “Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”

The characters in the first program took revenge on a man who was evil and treated them wrongly. Yet they failed to see the evilness in their own actions. Romans 12:19 reads “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” In contrast to the characters in the first program Polycarp repaid with kindness and compassion those who mistreated him. Let us never deceive ourselves into thinking we are doing good by returning evil for evil, no matter how badly mistreated we may feel. 1 Thessalonians 5:15 reads, “See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.”

I think it is important to continually examine our own lives in the light of scripture to see how we measure up. There are good lessons to be learned from watching such programs and good lessons to be taught to our children. Whenever we come across a situation where characters in a movie, book, or real life profess to be Christian, yet behave in a way that is anything but Christlike, it is a good opportunity to steer our children toward the scriptures and the truth of our Lord’s teaching. Our children need to know, (as do we), that whenever we behave toward another (whether friend or foe) in a way that is contrary to scripture’s teaching we are not behaving in a Christian manner. This extends even to one's own family members who may behave as an enemy.

It is easy to love those who treat us well, but the words of Jesus’ are, “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:27-36). AMEN