“Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.”
-John Wesley
Last month in Indonesia, my team and I had the opportunity to visit the seminary in Bandung where our ministry host, Manatap, attended. We had the privilege of seeing where he studied, meeting the administration, and talking to one of the Bible classes. It was during our Q&A section when a very startling question was asked.
“Do all Christians in the US act like the characters in Hollywood?”
Now let me provide some context. The “Hollywood” that this girl was talking about was not referring to movies like Fireproof, Chronicles of Narnia, or even the Blind Side. She was concerned with the immorality portrayed in your typical PG-13 Hollywood hit. She was asking if Western Christians acted in the excessive drinking, intense violence, and very loose sexual life that is seen in many modern movies. This question was brought up from the perception (at least in that culture) that all Westerners are Christian. It is not usually necessary to tell someone that we are Christians in many countries because it is often assumed whenever they first recognize the group of Westerners walking in a pack down foreign roads (we don’t exactly blend in with our surroundings). Unfortunately, another assumption typically made is that the common code of conduct adopted by Westerners mirrors the depraved moral structure depicted in Hollywood.
“Do Christians there sleep together before they are married like they do in the movies?”
If you think math is scary, here’s a pretty terrifying equation:
Christianity=the Western World=Hollywood
Now anyone in there right mind should be worried that other cultures equate the Christian life with that of a character in the newest blockbuster. The problem presented is that these misperceptions are causing barriers to the Gospel in other countries.
(Quick Disclaimer: this is not a blog about behavior modification, but rather a calling for Christians to act according to Scripture, bring glory to God’s name in their walk, and to remove barriers to the Gospel.)
How do we remedy this issue?
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“…walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” Colossians 1:10- For us to make a difference in the way that Christians are viewed, we have to live differently. Now do some self-proclaimed Christians exhibit the same moral standards as presented in Hollywood? Definitely. However, there are many many Christians who do live Christ-exalting lives. God calls us all to a walk that is worthy of our calling. Our calling is great. We need respect this calling in our actions. How will we ever correct this misperception if our individual walks don’t reflect Christ? Is it even really a misperception? Let’s make sure that what is perceived about the Western church does not become truth, but rather that we will be seen as followers of Christ’s commandments and His love. This can only be done if every Christian takes responsibility of their own personal walk with Christ.
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“Keep you conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.” 1 Peter 2:12– I’ve already talked about how our conduct needs to reflect Christ, but this verse brings out another aspect. We must be “among” the people so they can “see [our] good deeds.” We cannot be satisfied with just living a good Christian life in America, that will not be seen by others on the other side of the world. No matter how good we live hidden away in our Christian homes, Hollywood will not change what is produced. For our Christian walks to be seen by others, WE MUST GO TO THEM! If we are to change their perceptions then we have to interact with them. Otherwise, their only experience with Westerners will remain what they see on TV.
Only 2 steps?!?! Basically. I wanted to simply address the problem at hand and briefly discuss a practical solution. There are barriers to the Gospel that have been put strongly in place, not by Hollywood, but by the lack of Christian influence in hard-to-reach areas. Or “inconvenient” areas. We have left them to default their perceptions to Hollywood’s portrayal of Western life. So once again, in summary, I beg and plead any and all Christians to take God’s calling on your life seriously. Live a life not legalistically. Live a life not average and safe. Live a life worthy of God’s calling. Then take that calling to “all nations” and proclaim the Gospel. Show the transformative power of Christ in you life to others, so that they to will seek to know Jesus the Savior of the World.
Live. Go. Make a difference.
