Do we have to shun technology and grow long beards (like the Amish) in order to be distinctively Christian? Is there a particular way to look that will tell others we belong to Christ? Everyday distinctiveness is not really visible from the outside necessarily, but Christians are distinctive when they:
- give their full attention to God, listening for His voice
- live in obedient response to God’s voice
- live with integrity, being true to who they are and being transformed into who God wants them to be
- love unconditionally
- forgive freely
- promote justice
- care for the poor and needy
- live at peace with people
1. Giving God our full attention
A Christian’s chief distinctiveness, the thing that sets us apart from the pattern of the world, is that we are living in a relationship with God and He has our first attention. Paul says ‘Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.’ (Col 3:1-2) God is the One who makes us distinctive, because the rest of the world is not living in relationship with God and so the mere fact that we are talking with God and listening to Him makes us different. Everything starts with God. It flows from that personal relationship with God.
2. Living in obedience to God
We are commanded to ‘develop a life of holy obedience instead of letting the crowd drag [us] into a sloppy indolence.’ (Eugene Peterson, ‘Run With the Horses’, P 140) Every time we hear God’s voice and respond to it in obedience, we are going to be distinctive. Obedience is one of the chief hallmarks of the Christian. Jesus told us ‘If you love me, keep my commands.’ (John 14:15) God demands holiness and purity from His children: ‘just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”’ (1 Pet 1:15-16) We must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29) and have to be persist in obedience (Gal 6:9).
3. Live with integrity
We are all unique individuals; God wants us to to live out our distinctive God-given identity and to be shaped into the person He has made us to be. We need to recognise that unity is not the same as uniformity and there is room for individuality within the church. God wants us to be ourselves and pursue the dreams He gives us, not comparing ourselves with others all the time or trying to follow fashion but living with integrity.
4. Love unconditionally
God calls us to love unconditionally as He does, not just loving those who are lovable or who like us! (Matt 5:43-47) This extends to the isolated colleague everyone else shuns or the people no one else wants to know. Love is the hallmark of the Christian. (1 Cor 13:1-8)
5. Forgive freely
Jesus taught us to forgive freely for we have been freely forgiven. (Matt 6:12) Those who display forgiveness (eg Gordon Wilson, who forgave those who murdered his daughter in the Enniskillen bombing in 1987 or Alice Greaves, who forgave the murderers of her organist husband, saying she prayed ‘God’s great mercy will inspire them to true repentance’) demonstrate to us the power of forgiveness, which is totally alien to the world’s tendency to hold grudges and to bear malice. If we have received God’s mercy and forgiveness for ourselves, how dare we withhold them from anyone else? Paul says ‘Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.’ (Eph 4:32)
6. Promote Justice
Deut 32:4 tells us all God’s ways are just and that He is a ‘faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.’ Because God is just, He cares about justice and therefore He wants us to care too. Deut 16:20 tells us ‘Follow justice and justice alone’; the queen of Sheba told Solomon that God had appointed him king ‘to maintain justice and righteousness.’ (1 Kings 10:8) Christians have frequently been at the forefront of society, promoting justice because they know God’s heart for this.
7. Care for the poor and needy
James 2:1-4 reminds us that we should show no favouritism towards the rich, but must care for people without discrimination. Christians need to be those who care for the poor and needy. Helping the food bank in Goldthorpe is one way we can do this. What others can we find?
8. Live at peace
Jesus told us ‘blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God.’ (Matt 5:9) One of the distinctive features of a Christian will be a desire to live at peace with others and to make peace. Rom 12:18 says ‘If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.’ Clearly, this is not always possible, for others may be antagonistic towards us, but as far as our attitudes are concerned, we need to be people who aim to live at peace with others and who strive ‘to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.’ (Eph 4:3) In Mark’s gospel, Jesus says, ‘Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.’ (Mark 9:50) As Christians, we have been given peace by Jesus (John 14:27, John 16:33) and because of this long to share ‘the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.’ (Acts 10:36) Part of the transforming effect of God’s Holy Spirit is to bring forth the fruit of peace in our lives (Gal 5:22-23) and to allow us to live in peace. (2 Cor 13:11)