I fired an employee this weekend.  She showed up to try to collect her last paycheck, which won't be available until payday.  Understandably annoyed and upset, she made the statement, "Some Christians you are."  How often have you heard that?

For too long, we've allowed the world to define Christianity.  For too long, we've advanced an erroneous definition by our actions.  If the world truly understood Who Christ was/is, and if we truly were a reflection of Him, would we hear as often as we do the charge made by this former employee?

The whole WWJD slogan has lost its impact.  When Charles Sheldon penned "In His Steps" and advanced the notion that Christians should live their lives based on the answer to the question, it was inspiring and challenging.  I've seen homeless people (we used to call them bums) wearing the WWJD bracelets.  They know how to guilt God's people into greasing their palms.

But seriously, what does a Christian look like?  How does he operate his business?  Raise his kids?  Shop for groceries?  Is there a godly way to buy gasoline?  We can think up an ungodly way to do it, can't we?  Why can't we think of a godly way of doing it?  Maybe it's a simple as being polite to the attendant?  Not staring at her chest while she counts the change?  Not complaining about the politicians and the Ay-rabs for making gas so expensive?

"Some Christian you are."  That's the charge usually levelled when the accuser has calculated a certain reaction that's to his advantage and the Christian doesn't jump through the hoop offered.  In short, he doesn't get a handout or a free pass on some deviant behavior.

The world often views Christians as push-overs or naively generous weaklings.  I suppose it's because of that meekness quality we're supposed to reflect.  What I've discovered is that people question Christians' faith/status when the Christians have held the accuser responsible for their behavior.  They're fired from a job where their performance isn't up to par or they're turned down for a handout and told to get a job rather than beg.  Perhaps they perform shoddy work and are offended when the customer refuses to pay until the job is completed satisfactorily.

Jesus didn't teach giving people free passes.  If that were the case, He needn't have died.  Afterall, God the Father could have given us a free pass rather than sacrifice His Son for us.  I take the charge "Some Christian you are" as a compliment.  To me it represents the fact that I've pricked the conscience of my accuser.  I've let them know that they are, and will be held, responsible for their actions.

Holding people responsible is a subtle reminder that they are ultimately responsible to God.  I don't want to be obnoxious, but it honestly doesn't bother me when I've offended somone by not allowing them to be irresponsible.  It honestly doesn't bother me if I don't fit their definition of a Christian.