Influence with Outsiders

Sometimes when I get in a funk as a pastor, I reread the Pastoral Epistles. Letters that Paul wrote to young pastors who were trying to lead local churches. Often times these letters serve as an encouragement to me, and almost always I see something that I had not seen before.

Several years ago I knew a man named Tom Price. Tom played the viola or the violin or some other stringed instrument that you place up under your chin. Tom was very good at playing the viola, and even held a spot in the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. One day, on a trip to Vicksburg, MS, Tom and I were talking about his practice habits.

He shared with me that the music industry is one of the most pagan places to work. He stated that he was one of only a handful of Christians that played in the orchestra. As a result, he worked hard on his music. He practiced diligently for hours learning parts and rehearsing. He told me that he did this, so that when one of his non-Christian symphony friends would hear him play, they would know that he isn't a slacker. They would know that he strives for excellence.

Because the train of thought, in the symphony world, at least, is that Christians aren't excellent at anything they do.

How sad is that.

A few years ago I picked up a book by Reggie McNeal called Practicing Greatness. In it, he made a statement that rocked my leadership world. He said, "Intentional Mediocrity is a sin."

WOW.

Often times in the church, and even more often as Christians living in a n0n-Christian world we don't strive for excellence like my friend Tom, instead we strive just to get by. We do just enough so we don't get in trouble. Study just enough so we can get a C.

To intentionally not do our best is not only a sin against God, but it leads to a poor view of Christians within society. This is what stood out for me in 1 Timothy yesterday.

1 Timothy 3:7
He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and the devil's trap.

Although in this text Paul is referring to overseers (bishops, pastors), this is a passage that all of us can take to heart. If we don't have a good reputation with non-Christians. If we aren't known as people who keep their word, pay their debts, obey the laws; if we aren't known as people who love our children, take care of our families, pamper our wives and build up our husbands; if we aren't known as people who give to the needy, help the helpless and give hope to the hopeless; if we aren't known as people who do all things with excellence then we push people away from us, away from our influence and ultimately away from Jesus Christ.

Read that paragraph again. Resting on our desire to be excellent is the eternal lives of individuals, some of whom we may never speak to about Jesus, but to whom the witness of Jesus will be played out in the way we live our lives.

Ultimately, I think this is the disgrace and trap that Paul wants us to avoid. What a better way for Satan to render the Church impotent than to cause public disgrace to its leaders and members?

What a pity that this is already the case in a number of our congregations. Christians are known for what they stand against rather than what we stand for. We are known for what we hate rather than what we love. We are known for our arguing rather than speech used to build up. It is known that we ask for your money, not that we give to those in need.

Together, let's work hard to build a reputation that is worthy of the Gospel of Christ. Do all things with excellence so you might have a good reputation with outsiders and be an advancer of God's kingdom, not a stumbling block to it.