This week I got an email from Kieran, telling me he'd listened to my "dog" sermon off the church website and he liked it. He said it was "sweet." WHAT! Doesn't he know that a man and his dog are never "sweet", they are, well, manly? At least that's the stereotype I usually think of when I see or hear some guy (usually a hunter) talking affectionately about his dog. Often times they talk more dearly of the dog than the wife!

A few weeks back on Wednesday night filling in for Kurt I led the class in a lesson which was looking for a "real man." We talked about all the characteristics - strong (Sampson), good looking (Saul), smooth talking (Absalom), rich (Haman), rough and tumble (Esau), and having a way with women (Solomon). What you might note is that each of these had whatever attribute under consideration in great quantity - but each was a failure. There must be balance, of course, and including Godliness, but they are stereotypes of a real man from various viewpoints.

(A note here: My mother occasionally quoted this poem when Dad or my brother or I would be too pumped up being manly - "Women have so many faults, men they have but two. Everything they say, of course, and everything they do!" Even now, don't mess with Mom!)

It's stereotypes I wanted to point out today. When we see a teen with his long hair and death metal t-shirt, we may think arrogance and rebellion. On the other hand, what do we attribute to the guy who's got the fancy suit and tie? Honesty and responsibility perhaps? There's no doubt the clothes we wear and the way we carry ourselves speaks volumes about us, but is it always a true message? When I go to a car dealership and consider a new car, the salesman is hoping his suit will convey that "you can trust me" attitude. He will be very friendly, very sincere. Maybe he is! But when I said "salesman" did you automatically think oily, tricky, sly? Well, in a way we are salesmen for God (I at least have been accused of this) in that we are hoping to win someone over. Aren't we sincere, friendly, honest (I sure hope so!). But the stereotype of a sales person is not one we want to have, and we may not even realize those who are on the listening end may peg us as such.

When someone knows you are a Christian, they may stereotype you immediately as someone who is l. no fun to be around 2. someone who thinks you're better 3. inflexible 4. a hate monger 5. hypocrite. Some of this is, unfortunately, may be justified by the way we conduct ourselves. But much of this comes from people who are not really Christians at all but say they are yet do the most horrible things. Here in MA we've had scandals about priests who were child molesters. Big name TV preachers who had affairs. Ack!

That can be a lot to overcome. If we're a dour, serious, humorless person there's small wonder folks might think we are a "typical" no-fun Christian. Break the mold by following Peter and Paul's advice which they give over and over in scripture. Rejoice! Aren't we grateful? And when we remember that we are not deserving of the blood of the son of God to have been shed for us, maybe we will convey less of that "better" attitude. Yes, we should be glad we've got an avenue of escape, and yes we should have the desire to give it to others, but we can't let ourselves harden into this us-vs-the-world thinking where we view anyone as an enemy. Hate the sin, not the sinner! Remind people that we pray for them by being positive - "I'm praying for you to find strength to do what's right" And do what's right ourselves. Be the people who others can count on, keep our word, and don't gossip.

No, we can't do any thing about what so-called Christians do to wreck God's reputation. But there used to also be a stereotype Christian who was meek, gentle, calm, and loving. Why not strive to fill that mold? It sure would be wonderful if ( could convey myself so much this way that people said, because of my actions and attitudes "Why, you must be a Christian!" so I could say YES!

Randy

p.s. - But about that teen thing, well, I hear that goes away with age...