BE ON YOUR P's AND Q's
Many people have common sense, but others who are true Christians have the Holy Spirit active within their lives to aide them in all their perceptions. Common sense can be fooled, but the Holy Spirit always speaks truth. However, you marry them both - common sense and the Holy Spirit - and you have a pair designed to supply you with clarity of view in all things.
"How much is your reputation--and the reputation of the Holy One you represent--worth to you? If you want to maintain a good name and testimony in front of others, you must refrain from any action, language, or contact that gives the appearance of evil. And this is not just my suggestion--it is the commandment of God found in First Thessalonians 5:22."
"Abstain from all appearance of evil." (1 Thessalonians 5:22)
"Paul was telling us, 'It doesn't matter what you think or what you know to be true; what matters is what appears to be true in the eyes of others.' Even if there is a small chance that someone may mistake your actions as evil or if what you do even resembles something evil or wrong, you need to stay as far away from it as you possibly can."
"So many people have forfeited their testimony because they didn't use their heads [common sense] and think about how their actions might be perceived by others! Perception is often reality in the eye of the beholder."
"Even if you know that you're doing nothing wrong at all, the fact remains that people don't see your heart--they see your actions. If they see you do something that appears immoral or unethical, you will likely be judged by what they perceive."
"By understand the Greek words in this verse, we can interpret First Thessalonians 5:22 to read: 'You need to terminate contact with any place, action, language or relationship that gives people the impression that you are doing something wrong. It doesn't matter what you think is acceptable; what matters is what other people perceive. So put a great deal of distance between yourself and anything you are doing that people could misinterpret and that could thereby stain your reputation."
"This , however, should apply not only to ministers of the Gospel, but to every believer who cares about the integrity of his or her witness." (pages 43, 45, 46, Sparkling Gems From the Greek, Renner)
I am not trying to place the Christian on a path of eggshells for the rest of his/her faith journey. However, I am, along with Mr. Renner, calling all believers to more of an awareness of our behavior and surroundings so to protect our witness as representatives of Christ and His Family. In short, as they say around here - just Be On Your P's And Q's.
"How much is your reputation--and the reputation of the Holy One you represent--worth to you? If you want to maintain a good name and testimony in front of others, you must refrain from any action, language, or contact that gives the appearance of evil. And this is not just my suggestion--it is the commandment of God found in First Thessalonians 5:22."
"Abstain from all appearance of evil." (1 Thessalonians 5:22)
"Paul was telling us, 'It doesn't matter what you think or what you know to be true; what matters is what appears to be true in the eyes of others.' Even if there is a small chance that someone may mistake your actions as evil or if what you do even resembles something evil or wrong, you need to stay as far away from it as you possibly can."
"So many people have forfeited their testimony because they didn't use their heads [common sense] and think about how their actions might be perceived by others! Perception is often reality in the eye of the beholder."
"Even if you know that you're doing nothing wrong at all, the fact remains that people don't see your heart--they see your actions. If they see you do something that appears immoral or unethical, you will likely be judged by what they perceive."
"By understand the Greek words in this verse, we can interpret First Thessalonians 5:22 to read: 'You need to terminate contact with any place, action, language or relationship that gives people the impression that you are doing something wrong. It doesn't matter what you think is acceptable; what matters is what other people perceive. So put a great deal of distance between yourself and anything you are doing that people could misinterpret and that could thereby stain your reputation."
"This , however, should apply not only to ministers of the Gospel, but to every believer who cares about the integrity of his or her witness." (pages 43, 45, 46, Sparkling Gems From the Greek, Renner)
I am not trying to place the Christian on a path of eggshells for the rest of his/her faith journey. However, I am, along with Mr. Renner, calling all believers to more of an awareness of our behavior and surroundings so to protect our witness as representatives of Christ and His Family. In short, as they say around here - just Be On Your P's And Q's.
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