What Do They Know You For?
1 Corinthians 9:11–12 - If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.
Your coworker knows which candidate you support. They know which news channel you watch and what you think about the latest decision in Washington. You’ve talked and posted about those things often enough that they could probably finish your sentences. But do they know why you trust Jesus? That question isn’t meant to make political convictions embarrassing. Christians should think carefully about public life, act justly, and speak truthfully. Some political questions involve profound moral concerns, so remaining silent on everything isn’t automatic faithfulness. But we can speak so constantly about politics that a person begins to assume our Christianity is another name for our political identity. Before they’ve considered Jesus, they believe they already know what following Him would require: agreeing with us about everything else.
Paul asks us to consider the obstacles our conduct might place in the gospel’s way. He brought the gospel to Corinth and had a rightful claim to material support, but he chose not to exercise that right there. He was more concerned with how his choices would affect people’s reception of Christ. And that’s a legitimate lens through which we can examine our conversations. Because being entitled to express an opinion doesn’t settle whether this is the time, manner, or setting in which to express it.
Maybe someone mentions a concern about their child’s school, and you immediately turn it into a speech about the country. They were hoping you would listen to a difficulty in their family, but you were too eager to make a point. Or maybe someone from a different political background visits your social-media page. Before they encounter anything about the hope you have in Jesus, they find jokes portraying people like them as stupid or beyond help. What would make them feel safe asking you an honest question about faith?
We obviously can’t remove the offense of the gospel itself. Jesus calls people to repentance and faith, and His lordship challenges every one of us. But we can examine whether our contempt or our exaggeration or our constant argument has become an additional obstacle. And let’s not forget that Jesus reconciles us to God and brings us into a family whose members don’t all share our experiences or political judgments. We came into that family by grace, which is worth remembering when we speak with someone who sees the world differently.
Christ also supplies the security to leave some arguments unfinished. We can listen without endorsing everything we hear. We can distinguish what Scripture clearly teaches from our judgment about how a public problem should be solved. And we can admit when we’ve spoken carelessly. Your coworker may continue disagreeing with your politics, but perhaps they’ll also learn that you tell the truth, care about their family, and don’t treat disagreement as a reason to despise them. Then, when you speak about the Savior who offers mercy, your conduct will have helped them hear what you mean.
Head: People should not have to agree with my politics to hear about my Savior.
Heart: Have I made it easier for people to identify my opponents than to recognize my hope in Christ?
Hands: Review several recent posts or conversations. Correct or remove anything contemptuous, and look for an opportunity to listen to someone you usually debate.
Prayer: “Lord Jesus, thank You for welcoming me by grace rather than because I belonged to the right group. Show me where my words have made Your gospel harder to hear and give me courage to hold truthful convictions with humility. Let people encounter Your kindness in the way I listen and speak today. Amen.”
-PK