Worthy Of The Call

I will admit something to you right off the bat.

Brace yourself.

I don't watch the Super Bowl.

I don't watch football at all, really.

Okay, so by "really" I mean that I am one who is simply in love with the IDEA of football.  But when it comes right down to it, I get distracted from the sport and end up doing a million other things than staying focused on the game.

Take last night for instance.  I had all well good intentions on watching the Panthers and the Bronco's hash it out on the ball field with my hubby.  With snacks in hand and blankets to cozy up to, I felt a strong urge about 15 minutes in to check my phone in an effort to stay awake.

I tried.  I really did.

Even the commercials were not that entertaining.

And then... came the halftime show.

Stirring our 15-year old from her YouTube-watching coma, we tuned in altogether as a family with the millions of other American's hoping to be entertained.

As the first band took center stage I found myself having to ask my daughter for their identity.  The song I was familiar enough with - but the people, not so much.

And then came the second act - Bruno Mars, finishing up with the beloved Beyonce for a memorable grand finale.

I watched.  I reserved comments (except for the short discussion about the apparent onesie that is often the wardrobe choice of one of those three performers... no guessing here, I'm sure), and then it was back to the phone to check Facebook.

And that's when I got sad.  Really sad.  Maybe disappointed is a better word.

The comments were strolling in at record number.  With each refresh of my Facebook app, I was inundated with posts ranging from "Best Super Bowl Halftime Show Ever" to "Halftime Show Was the Worst Thing I've Ever Witnessed."  I will admit that there were FAR more negative comments in MY news feed than there were good ones.  In fact they came streaming in right up to the time I had finally given up and headed for my warm bed.

And those comments in and of themselves weren't what bothered me the most.
It was who they were coming from that made me scratch my head.

As believers we are called according to Philippians 1:27 to, "...live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News."  In fact Paul says in the very beginning of that same sentence, "Above all...".

Above all we are to live as those who belong to Christ.  Who's home awaits us in Heaven.  Who are worthy of carrying the Good News to people who don't yet know Him and believe.

My commentary for verse 27 says this, "It is an ornament to our profession when our conversation becomes the gospel of Christ."
 
And we see it all the time, don't we? A misrepresentation of the gospel of Christ. Believers who are compromising Christ's reputation by the way they behave.
 
Sadly I saw this last night reading through that Facebook feed during the game that drew American's together in record proportions...

Hating.
Complaining.
Judging.

And we are all guilty of this at times.

But as believers shouldn't we live a life that stands out from the rest of the world?  Because living a life worthy of the Gospel message is the true test of a heart that belongs to Him.

This means... living a a life that is consistent with the Word.
This means... living a life that is appealing to those who don't know Jesus for themselves.
Being a good representative of Christ.
Remembering who you are and to Whom you belong.

Because at the end of the day aren't we mis-communicating the message of God's love and misrepresenting the gospel message when we hate on other people or other things that don't fit into our ideal model of righteous living?

We are called to love and grace. Period.
We are called to be ambassadors of the greatest message ever told.

I certainly have my opinions on what I think is an appropriate halftime show for a diverse audience, but hurling insults and negatively labeling those who's life doesn't quite line up with my standards of acceptance, is blending in with rest of the world... not standing out (which we are called to do, according to Romans 12:2).

Grace loves the sinner.
Grace reminds the weak that there is another way.
Grace given ought to be grace doubled.

Let's live worthy of that call.

Finding JOY in the JOurneY...