Bluegrass festivals are not regular events in my family
because, while we play bluegrass instruments (acoustic guitar, bass guitar,
banjo, violin, mandolin), our repertoire is divided between what we call
"instrument songs" and "piano songs." However, when invited
for the Bluegrass Gospel Night at Pecan Ridge a few years back, we put together
enough songs to make the forty-five minute time slot and went to minister.
Being bluegrass exclusive meant that I was on my violin (secondary instrument),
maybe the bass guitar (third instrument), but never the piano (main
instrument).
After we finished singing, a man went up to Mom and made the
comment, "The girl with the glasses--is she your pianist?" His
accurate guess shocked me. How in the world could he know when I had no piano
to even look at? He could somehow tell by my mannerism (Do all pianists have
this certain "mannerism?").
This question set my mind to work and I have often asked
myself since then: Can others tell, just by looking at me, that I'm a Christian--even
if I'm not "in my element?"
So often, Christians rely on obvious externals to mark their
walk with the Lord (e.g. T-shirts with Scripture quotes, mentioning the church
we attend, toting a Bible and tracts, and even frequently saying things like
"Praise God" or "Lord willing"). While our dress and
mannerism is vital, anyone can wear the "right clothes" and say the
"right things" to label them as "Christian"--whether or not
they are genuinely so.
Have you ever been to a store and the cashier is just as
lovely as can be? All smiles, cheerful, light shining in their eyes. My dad
often asks these workers if they know Jesus Christ as their Savior and they
just beam in reply. How did he know? There wasn't a tally of what "looked
right" on the outside, but rather the evidence of what was right on the inside that could be
detected just by the look.
"If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."
Galatians 5:25
3 comments:
What a good post Amanda! That is so true! Thank you for sharing this post!
Hey Amanda!
Thank you so much for posting this - God knew exactly what I needed to read!!!!!!!!! It is so important to make sure that we are representing the "silent Gospel" in a way that reflects Christ and that His light shines through us :)
Blessings to you!!!!
Alisha
www.alishainprogress.blogspot.com
@ Salinn and Alisha,
I'm so grateful the Lord used to bless y'all! Oh how much we need reminders! :)
~Amanda
"He must increase, but I must decrease." John 3:30
Post a Comment