Make a Scene

One thing I learned from my Mama was not to draw undue attention to yourself – in other words, live life low-key. That translated into don’t wear flashy clothing, go easy on the make-up, and behave like a lady. Let me just say, sitting on your water bottle during the sermon is NOT following Mama’s advice! Squish – crackle – crunch – squish – crackle – crunch is also NOT the positive affirmation the preacher listens for!

Christians are not called to live a low-key faith! The crackle-crunch sound of a water bottle in distress is definitely an attention-getter. Have you considered just how many people know the depth and sincerity of your faith … or is it a “secret?” An Episcopalian pastor named Dudley Tying was a dynamic preacher and well known for his strong stands against evil. In 1858 Tying delivered a sermon on Exodus 10:11, “go now ye that are men, and serve the LORD,” to a group of 5,000 men. More than 1,000 of those men came to Christ that day. One week later, Tying was in a terrible accident and near death, he whispered these words to friends and family: “Let us all stand up for Jesus.” Inspired by his friend’s final words, George Duffield, preached a message from Ephesians 6:14 the following Sunday -- “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness,” then concluded with this poem:

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the cross
Lift high His royal banner, it must not suffer loss
From victory unto victory His army shall He lead
Till every foe is vanquished, and Christ is Lord indeed

When we stand up for Jesus, we will not be low-key Christians. That’s the kind of dynamic life Christ died to give us! Go ahead, stand up, and make a scene!