Don’t Misrepresent Christ

As you can tell from the picture, the Agnews have been hard at work.  Recently moving into another house, we are getting things ready for Baby Gloria’s arrival.  The boys have been a huge help with their tool belts on removing floorings, sanding, and cleaning up.  For some reason, Eli likes to take his shirt off when he really starts working.  Love this kid.

From the entire process of selling our house, buying another one, and working with everyone from bankers, insurance agents, construction geniuses, and servicemen, I have learned a bunch this time around.

While I am learning a bunch about fixing up a house, I am learning more about the witness that I am in Christ.

Before I am a husband, father, homeowner, and customer, I am an ambassador for Christ (2 Cor. 5:20).  That means that my witness is more important than the manner of my business dealings.  In an attempt to be “right,” I never want to hurt my witness.  That doesn’t mean that you can’t get someone to fix something that’s wrong or challenge something that wasn’t done well that you paid for, but it does mean that even in those moments, you can still represent Christ well.

In the counseling I do, I regularly remind people, “Sometimes it’s not what you say, but how you say it.”  Unfortunately, many people wear their faith on a Sunday but wear something completely different during the week.  There is a way to live in a society where you transact goods and services with others and not give Christ a bad name.  In fact, I’ve seen that people can actually work in such a way that you want to work with them again.  You can make a friend.  You can share the love of Christ even when work and money is involved.

During this process, I’ve been reminded of both sides of this dynamic.  Just a reminder today of something I have been learning lately: “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”  -Col. 3:17