We are part of a world where you can't use the term "Christian" without getting some type of reaction. If talking to someone who doesn't profess the same belief in Jesus, your mention of the word will usually elicit some type of negative response followed by guardedness. I can't help but wonder when the word "Christian" lost it's respect and edge by the eyes of the onlooker. When did Christians become the weaker, mocked, disrespected, lesser vessels when they have the power of resurrection residing inside their bodies? How is it that in Acts 5:12-16, the world looked on to the Christians and were so afraid they didn't dare join them, but the unbelievers highly regarded them, and they were respected by the people.
"Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events. The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed."
I just want to suggest that it isn't common place, or God's plan, that His children would be mocked, harassed, or thought negatively of by unbelievers. However, I think the church has by and large accepted this position as their fate, or just the way it has to be. An us against them mentality.
I want to propose that the the loss of respect for Christians by the world is two-fold. Firstly, I believe that we are not operating in the power God intended for us to have. Compared to the portion of scripture I just quoted in Acts, Christians sometimes appear as a bunch of people who are just trying to abstain from things and condemn everyone else who are doing those things. It become more of a list of do's and don'ts than it was about seeing God move in miraculous powerful ways in people's lives. Secondly, I believe that our worth of God dictates the world's worth of God, which is what I want to focus on more in this post. When we are willing to sacrifice much for Him, we earn the respect of unbelievers. Sacrifice never goes unnoticed, even by the hardest heart. The world will always be impressed by selfless love. They are not so impressed by theologies that do nothing to change the heart or religious agendas to get people on to their "side". If He really is the giver of eternal life then let us demonstrate His value by the value He has in our life. How do we treasure Him? What are we willing to do for Him? For the immense present and joy that He is, He is worth a lifetime of devotion.
To further expound on this point, I believe the persecution of the early church can be used as an example. I noticed that where there was persecution, Revival followed shortly after. A sacrifice of one's life spoke volumes of how precious their God was to them. This display of genuine sacrifice changed the hearts of unbelievers and thus opened their minds to receive Him in a different way. I believe that at the core of this truth is Jesus as the prime example. As He sacrificed Himself for us, He gave the greatest sacrifice of all, and it changed everything. It changed how we even viewed ourselves and the worth of His devotion to us. His sacrifice was not a small gift, it was so large it was humbling. After understanding all that He had done, we had nothing left to give other than respect and honor. Sacrifice changes everything, it elicits respect.
My desire for this generation of people who profess the name of Christ, is to see them respected and honored even by those who don't believe. Jesus is the desire of the nations, and if we represent Him well, the nations will desire Him, and to be around those who carry Him. They will respect us because they see we are genuine, they will respect us because they see there is true devotion. When they look at us they will see depth, not shallowness. They will see no hypocrisy, but a church unified in power and love.
Jesus was first mocked and disrespected by religious leaders, then the world followed suit. I believe the precedent we set between our fellow believers sets the bar for how the world will treat us. When Jesus died He gave us authority, and when that authority is used wrongly to tear each other apart, it is noted.
"If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people? Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church? I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? But instead, one brother takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers!
The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters."- 1 Corinthians 6:1-8
I want to be part of a church that doesn't point fingers, but extends a hand. A church that loves each other without the need to be right.
For the world to understand who we are as royal ambassadors, we have to start treating our own brother and sisters as such. We have to stop the slander, gossip, and division to be a church that lives in unity. I believe once we respect each other, the world will start to take notice. As we are unified will see undeniable signs and wonders from God, and they will see the sacrifice and devotion we ascribe to our savior. Then we will finally take back our position of ones who deserve to be highly regarded by the people.
