You have probably noticed this.

Christians or people who claim to believe in God are judged more harshly. If you put a Christian and someone who does not claim a religion next to each other and had them do the same thing, more than likely, the Christian would be more harshly criticized.  For a long time, I really struggled with this. It did not seem fair. Until I was talking to a friend the other day who does not profess a belief in anything really.  They also happen to work with a lot of Christians. And as they went on about their work situation, I was getting really frustrated. These people who claimed the same religion I did were being a horrible example.  And it was not an isolated incident. It was a consistent lifestyle. And that was when a lightbulb came on.

We should be held to a higher standard.

If I claim to be a follower of Jesus, then my life should absolutely be held to a higher standard, judged more harshly, and looked at more closely. I know, a lot of you are probably disagreeing with me here because it isn’t fair. And you are right, it is not fair. There is nothing fair about it. There was also nothing fair about Jesus dying on the cross for me or you. And I will argue that it is Biblical. That the Bible commands us to act differently.

-We should be the best workers in our jobs. 

Colossians 3:23-24 says, “²³ Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, ²⁴ since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”  You are not working for a manager or someone higher up in the corporate chain, you are working for the God you claim to serve. This should make you the hardest worker at your job. It should make a person of high integrity. You should be an example to your co-workers. Your performance at your job is probably the biggest testimony you have to an unbelieving world. I am also convinced that this  is the biggest area where those of us who claim to be Christians lose our standing. Where our message is muted and ignored.  Where we just look like people who have to get up early six days a week instead of five.

-We should be more generous.

I Timothy 6:17-18 states, “¹⁷ Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. ¹⁸ Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. “  God does not bless us so that we can “keep up with the Jones'”, instead He blesses us so that we can bless others. Are your finances reflective of a God that has entrusted you with His resources? Do we have nicer houses, nicer cars, and nicer clothes then everyone else around us? These things are not necessarily bad, but are they a replacement for meeting bigger needs in the kingdom of God? Could we give up a little for many to have a lot?

-We should be more loving and kind.

 John 13:35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” There should be a marked difference in the way we treat fellow believers and the way we treat people in general. God calls us to love our neighbor as ourselves.  He calls to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and love the brokenhearted. Our churches should be marked by unity and love. Our relationships should look different. The way we talk to and about each other should separate us. The way we treat people should make people question. If instead we are rude, mean, and exclusive, what chance do we have of sharing the love of Christ? And honestly, why bother? There are enough mean, rude, and exclusive people out there-should not we be different? Be the breath of fresh air in the world that increasingly only cares about itself.

-We should be better husbands and wives.

Ephesians 5:24-25 says, “Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,” I do not have experience in this area, but I can tell you that my parents set the bar high for what a marriage should look like. And I believe that within the church, marriage should look different. We should treat each other better and we should work harder at keeping them strong and secure.

 And that is just the tip of the iceberg.

We should be different. Not weird different. But different. Our lives should be a reflection of the Christ we claim to serve. If this is not the case, then what reason do we have to believe that other people would want to believe in Him? It is not a matter of being perfect. No one is. But it is a matter of consistency. When you are consistently different and honest when you do mess up, the message that is sent is loud and clear. When you are not, the message is a muddled mess. It causes people to question why they should follow this God you claim to serve. And sometimes I do not blame them. I know people who make me want to throw in the towel. Because the goal is not perfection, the goal is honesty and a lifestyle that is marked by an attitude that says this world is not my home. An attitude that accepts people as they are, that loves people where they are at, and that above all exemplifies the life that Christ has called us to live. Anything short of that deserves to be harshly judged.