There are few moments in life when the hustle and bustle slows down long enough for us to take notice of each other. Each day we pass by our fellow human beings with only a nod or a perfunctory hello to acknowledge their existence, then we continue on our way. However, every now and then we do something unique or stupid enough to garner some attention.
On a particular Saturday with nothing to do, some friends and I decided to entertain ourselves by pooling together our collective musical talent and performing in front of the local grocery store.
We each carefully selected an instrument, ranging from the shaker to the kazoo. I decided to blow the dust off my famous pink nose whistle, completing the ensemble. Then we piled into our cars. We took our positions outside the store and started in to our best rendition of “When the Saints Go Marching In.” We may not have been the most musically gifted bunch, but we played with the passion of rock stars! During my especially moving nose whistle solo, I believe I even saw tears form in the eyes of a female spectator (as far as I could gather, it was the positive kind).
We were not in tune and we could not stay together. (In fact, I question whether some of the band had ever even heard the song before.) But we played with such enthusiasm that people definitely noticed us! Everyone who passed by had a unique reaction, but they all ended in a smile as they took in the ridiculous sight before them. One kind gentleman even generously left a quarter in our completely neglected tips hat. We failed to catch the eye of any record label execs, but I believe that, for a few moments, we were able to connect with strangers whom we would normally have overlooked.
Christians are noticed today. The question is, “For what are we noticed?” The sad reality is that some us have a bad reputation in the world. We are sometimes seen as hypocrites or stick in the mud fundamentalists who stand against a lot of things but don’t seem to stand for anything. So what should the world notice in us? Jesus said, “By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). Faith looks unattractive to a watching world because there is a key ingredient missing: Love. The question is not whether we are being noticed as Christians, but what impression people are getting. Are they pleasantly intrigued as they observe us with growing curiosity, or are they walking away shaking their heads in confusion?
Mike Blackaby is 25 years old and is the college and young adult pastor at First Baptist Church in Jonesboro, GA. Mike loves to play music, loves to snowboard, play hockey, and cheers for the Colorado Avalanche. He is terrified of spiders, but loves reading fantasy novels, watching movies, taking road trips, building camp fires, and will do any roller coaster if someone goes with him. You can contact him via Facebook.