We meet Monday-Friday in a very public place.  There are people, some regulars, who cannot help but overhear our discussions.  I remember several times in the past when our oldest member would give us warnings that the sectarian discussion we were engaging in might offend a couple across the way that followed another faith tradition.  It has been a long time since our elder member has given us such a warning, and it has been a long time since I have seen that couple at our meeting place.

We know much less about the beliefs of others who regularly sit around us and can overhear our conversations.  As we engage in verbal sparring, sometimes  spearing, and other aspects of our fellowship, we should keep in mind that others are watching and listening.  An article that focuses on this aspect of our conversations is found here.

Do we as Christians really stop to think about how we are representing God? Have you ever thought about how the things we do and say affect non-Christians? Sure, we all worry about what our Christian friends and acquaintances think about the things we say and do, but how often do we really think about how non-believers view us?

In fact, what we do and say affects the non-Christians around us far more than it does the Christians. Pastor Lee Strobel said one of the most profound things I have ever heard. I'm paraphrasing because I can't remember the exact quote, "for those of us who calls ourselves Christians, we need to know that the hypocrisy meter is scanning our lives." In other words, those who have chosen not to believe are looking for us to fail so they can justify their non-belief. Think about the responsibility that is inherent in that statement. Do we really understand that we can be either good or bad ambassadors for Christ simply by the words we speak or the way we live our lives?

Read the whole thing and let us reflect on our public witness.