A famous female author and preacher (Rebecca Manley-Pippert) who was very active in Inter-Varsity Fellowship told a story in one of her books about how she was in an airport talking to an airline official who wanted to ask her out on a date. When the official found that she was a member of the clergy, he became very nervous and upset thinking that he had just asked out a Nun. She was embarrassed too!

I know that I sometimes feel that way too (except as a man and not as someone who is being asked out as that rarely has happened to me). I do not want to be pigeon-holed for my beliefs! I don’t want people to assume that I don’t drink, dance, or chew or go with girls that do! And I cannot stand to be called, “religious“. I cannot stand to give off a “holy vibe” though most of the time, I am attracted to others that do. Yet sometimes I avoid them as if they have the plague.

That is one of the meanings of the Zen proverb, “If you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him!” you may have heard it before. One interpretation of that is that your perception of the Buddha is probably wrong so on the path to enlightenment, kill it (http://www.dailybuddhism.com/archives/670)!

Another interpretation that I heard is that generally we don’t like to be reminded of our human weaknesses by someone who thinks he or she has overcome all of them.

We cannot stand people who give off that “holy vibe”. None of us can stand it for a long period of time.

I have prayed about this. I don’t want to be seen as a Holy-Roller / someone with their head in the clouds / Ned Flanders.

Yet, I do love the Lord and I admit that I am a Christian. I do!

However, I don’t want to be pigeon-holed or be someone that others are afraid to be around because they think I am going to judge them. That does not mean I have participate in everything that goes on. In prayer about this, what I have thought and found to be helpful are two things:

First, is a incredible sense of humility and acknowledgement regarding my own personal sinfulness in the past and capacity to fall  at any moment. I believe that ever before Paul were the mistakes he had made in persecuting the followers of Jesus and the acknowledgement of his ability to fall again.

Secondly,  stop looking at yourself and keep your eyes focused on the Lord. Paul took his eyes off of himself and they were constantly on the Lord. I  am sure for some people he was too much to take, but he did not care! That is a great place to be! He was so much in love with the Lord that it did not matter if he was perceived as being holier-than-thou.

I think that employing these two techniques is how Paul was able to communicate the true Gospel to so many people.  So keep your capacity for sin ever before you. Remind yourself constantly regarding the price that the Lord has paid for you! Be humble and non-judgmental. That does not mean you have to participate in everything or condemn others that do. Keep your eyes on the Lord and keep Him ever before you.

Hebrews 12:2,  Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

———————————————————————–W.