That’s So Embarrassing!

“That’s so embarrassing!” often exclaims a child to his parents. While parents are entertainingly embarrassing most of the time, and they do not mean anything by it, there is a verse worth thinking about: “For ‘the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,’ as it is written” (Rom 2:24).

In Paul's letter to the Romans, the context is that those who were meant to glorify the name of the Lord did more than cause embarrassment. Because of such conduct, the Gentiles would speak irreverently about God. In our circle of life, we must realize that what we say and do affects how people perceive the Lord.

In 2 Corinthians 4:2, Paul points out three things we should not do. First, we should renounce the hidden things of shame. If there is something shameful that we would not do in church, why behave in such a way among those whom we are trying to convince and give them a reason to ridicule? Second, we should not walk in craftiness. Jesus said to be wise as serpents (Mt 10:16), not to be crafty. Third, we should not handle the word of God deceitfully. If we are going to say something, we should say it truthfully without twisting the Scriptures.

Whether in church or outside of church, Paul and other workers set the example because they did not want to send mixed messages nor did they want to become a stumbling block to others. At the end of the day, as True Jesus Church members, are we not supposed to be light of the world?

Then our message should be clear to those who do not yet have the light in their life. Instead of causing embarrassment to the name of the Lord, and indeed to the name of the church, we should re-examine our behavior lest it make even the angels of heaven cringe.

Questions for Reflection

1.      Do you always maintain the link between our behavior and other people's salvation?

2.      Have you considered that our behavior could add ammunition to Satan's efforts to destroy God's works?