Tuesday, February 27, 2007

The Bullet of Witness: To Walk or to Talk

How does one spot a real Christian? Only two ways … by what he says and by what he does. Most of us always talk a bigger fight than we live, so one has to be exceedingly careful in putting too much stock in someone’s words.

Then there are some folks who don’t say much, yet you are impressed with their life. This is a safer and more effective course to follow (than being a talker), yet even here a serious error crops up. A person who has found the “great life” is selfish and short-sighted if he doesn’t share the source of his strength with others.

So we have the two extremes. The guy who can’t keep quiet because he thinks he has it all together, and the class individual who just sits there in silence and pities all the run-off-at-the-mouths.

Of course, the solution to our dilemma is the model we have in Jesus Christ. Although He lived a perfect life, He still came talking. A great life without talk is mystery. Great talk from a weak life is boredom. Great talk from a great life is exciting!

The wise and happy human is the one who knows how to balance his own talk and his own walk, as well, as honestly evaluating the talk and walk of others.

I’ve know lots of Christians (I still do) who talk a bigger life than they live. But I’d rather hear them talk about a bigger life than a lesser life.

The silent types who seem to have the great life put together ultimately betray their weakness. A crisis come as an off-the-cuff comment is made which reveals their silence was a cover for inadequacy. But I can’t help admiring the guy who seeks to guard his tongue, and not burden others with empty words.

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