Summer church camp, it’s a staple in many Christian families. I attended as a child, as did my own children. I have fond memories of sitting around the campfire at night singing songs. One of my favorite’s was “They’ll Know We Are Christians” written in the 1960’s by Fr. Peter Scholtes. The song has been covered over the years by various Christian artists like, Michael W. Smith, Rebecca St. James, Jars of Clay and For King & Country. The words and the melody are simple but the truth behind the lyrics is foundational.

John Calvin, the French theologian wrote, “It is faith alone that justifies, and yet the faith which justifies is not alone.” Timeless and true, as Paul wrote to the Ephesians, we are saved through faith and not of works. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not our own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” The gospel is a gift that we are unworthy to receive; a free gift from a loving God, who with His own body, bore the penalty of our sins, dying on the cross. But His death wasn’t the end of the story—it was the beginning. It opened the door for us to have true relationship with God the Father, granting us the gift of forgiveness and mercy.

That dear friend, brings me to the point of this week’s blog—Christian behavior. We know through God’s word that we are unworthy of His love and forgiveness, and we cannot earn our way into heaven. But that doesn’t mean that our behavior doesn’t matter.

I challenge you to examine your heart and your behavior. Even as I am writing this, I am examining my own. How do you treat the Barista at the local coffee shop? Or the waitress? How do you treat the bank teller or your coworker when a mistake is made? Do you look down on them from your lofty perch of self-righteousness, talk about them behind their backs, gossip and whisper? Does your behavior follow what you say you believe or are you just a Christian on Sunday mornings?

It is a harsh reality when we look into ourselves, and we don’t like what we find! Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.” James wrote in his epistle, “You have faith and I have works. Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” Faith alone saves, but how can you preach faith from one side of your mouth and curse at your brother from the other side?  Can you worship on Sunday and then take out your frustration and anger on the girl at the drive-through on Monday morning?

Let us examine ourselves in the light of God’s truth. Love is not the same as accepting sin. We are called to be light in the darkness of this world. Christian love is not the same as the love the world preaches. However, we will never bring anyone to Christ through anger and cursing. God alone opens the hearts of man to the truth of His goodness and grace. Our job is to point people to Jesus. We are to show mercy. We are to show concern. We are to show grace in the face of mistakes. We are to show kindness.

Martin Luther wrote, “Our works do not generate righteousness, rather our righteousness in Christ generates works.” Will mistakes be made? Absolutely! How we handle those situations and how we treat those we interact with each day will show the true quality of our faith. Let us not have a mind full of knowledge and a heart empty of love! In the words or Billy Graham, “The one badge of Christian discipleship is not orthodoxy but love.”