Perception Is Everything.

Perception is a funny thing.

Ever get in a fight or lose a friendship because someone interpreted something you said one way, when you meant it the complete opposite way?

Whether it is fair or not, if you consider yourself a Christian and start proclaiming that to your friends, family, and coworkers, you kind of live in a glass house.

Our glass house may be the only example some people see. Depending on what we say, what we do, and how we live, we could be a good example in showing people what being a Christ follower is all about. More often than not, we fail, and we fail miserably. I’m not throwing rocks at other people’s glass houses, because the Lord knows, a few walls in mine have been completely shattered. 
 

I remember being in high school in a Maine Studies class, and we had some free time before the end of the day and the teacher was taking suggestions on songs to play on the computer. I piped up with a current rap song that I really liked. One girl turns to me, in a really condescending voice, “Christians listen to rap?”  I was mortified. That comment sent my head a reeling, “Are Christians not supposed to like rap music? Am I not a Christian? Do my friends not really think I’m a Christian? Do they think I’m faking?” 
 

As weird as it sounds, I never thought of myself as an example of Christ and that others thought of me differently. I never thought of myself as a reflection of God’s love and that I was supposed to be an example for others struggling to come back to faith. You would think this quick identity crisis would change my view on perception and would make me take more careful consideration on how non-Christians view me. Sad to say, it didn’t. 
 

I would really only say that within the past eight months of preparing for the World Race, has perception really come into view, and flooding my thoughts. Before I say, or do anything, I am constantly asking myself,
 

“How would someone else perceive my words or actions?

Is this hurting or helping the Kingdom of God?

Is this going to bring glory to myself or glory to God?”

As I mature in my faith, I truly believe God has given me the Holy Spirit to guide my words and actions as to be an example of what a real Christ follower is like. I obviously am not perfect, I still mess up and act like a bull in a China cabinet some days. Although somedays are really hard to be a shining example of Christ’s love, I believe God has a great work He’s started in me, and His grace covers where I fail. 
 

In a recent conversation with a wonderful, Christ filled woman, named Fran Wright, I was telling her about my discovering of the trickiness of perception. She told me a story, where a man, his wife, and his two teenage children attended her church for the first time. She didn’t know their background story, but she could tell this is the first time, or the first time in a long time, that this family had been to church. Fran told me that a group of regular church attendees, who obviously knew each, were right beside them joking around quite harshly and the family was watching and listening. Fran said she could see the look in the man’s eyes, and it said, “If this is how Christians act, I don’t want to be apart of it.” The family left, and has not come back to her church since. 
 

All this to say,
I am sorry.

I am sorry to anyone that has been led away from Christ, or the church because of something I have done or said.
I’m sorry for the cracks in my glass house that might have misguided you. 
I am sorry for the times that made you confused because of my life choices.
I am sorry for reconfirming some people’s negative perceptions of Christians.

I want you to know, God’s grace is transforming me into the woman of God that I was meant to be, and that includes maturing and realizing I am a reflection of Christ’s love.

I never want to be the reason for someone’s confusion, unclarity, or distance from God.
 

All this to say, you just don’t know what anyone else is thinking or going through. Your words and actions could completely push people away from faith, and most of the time, unintentionally. Take a step back, examine your life. Where have you failed a friend, family member, or stranger, with your lack to show God’s love and kindness? I’ve done it. We’ve all done it.
Like it or not, we’re in a glass house, and everyone is watching.

 

Oh be careful little hands what you do
Oh be careful little hands what you do
For the Father up above
Is looking down in love,
So, be careful little hands what you do

Oh be careful little feet where you go
Oh be careful little feet where you go
For the Father up above
Is looking down in love,
So, be careful little feet where you go

Oh be careful little mouth what you say
Oh be careful little mouth what you say
For the Father up above
Is looking down in love,
So be careful little mouth what you say

 

"Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall."
1 Corinthians 8:9-13