Deeper Reflection
IN THE CHURCH TODAY, WE HAVE A GAPING GAP OF credibility in the lives of many who profess to be followers of Jesus Christ. In his final public engagement, the late Reverend Dr John Stott spoke incisively about this major problem:³³

“Why is it, you must have asked, as I have, that in many situations our evangelistic efforts are often fraught with failure?…one main reason is that we don’t look like the Christ we are proclaiming.”…John Poulton, who has written  about this in a perceptive little book entitled A Today Sort of evangelism, wrote: “The most effective preaching comes from those who embody the things they are saying. They are their message. Christians need to look like what they are talking about. It is people who communicate primarily, not words or ideas. Authenticity gets across. Deep down inside people, what communicates now is basically personal authenticity.”

The Apostle Paul is concerned about Christians’ personal authenticity. Christians must love as Jesus exemplified and commanded. We must love each other and our neighbours and do them no wrong. “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ” – be Christlike! – “and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires” (v.14)! Do not allow carnality to take root in our hearts and bear bad fruit in our lives. Frequently examine ourselves before God and correct ourselves with His Spirit’s help. Otherwise, by the habitual repetition of ungodly attitudes, unkind words and unloving actions, we will cultivate³⁴ lots of bad fruit that soon rot and stink. Our stench will turn people away from the Gospel that we try to share with them.

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³³ Reported in an article by Christianity Today: https://www.christiantoday.com/article/john.stott.concludes.public.ministry. be.more.like.jesus.christ/11717.htm (emphasis added). ³⁴ With liberal application of worldly “fertilisers” derived from popular culture!