Jul
28
2012
The Color Neutral
Posted in Evangelism 2 Comments
I love color.
When we moved into our house, the walls were still builder’s white.
I couldn’t wait until we could paint the walls nice, warm colors.
Cranberry red in our living room where we have our grand piano.
Wedgewood blue in our dining room above the chair rail.
These colors are inviting…and make it feel like home.
Everywhere else in the house, we have variations of warm tan.
Tan is an interesting color.
It could have a hint of brown in it…it could have underlying tones of gray.
Lightening or darkening the color a bit changes everything.
Some may call it beige, oatmeal, sand…or taupe.
Tan is a color of nuance.
Tan is neutral.
It doesn’t emit strong emotions in others when they see it.
It is usually a background against which everything else is seen.
Tan blends in.
It can be accessorized…dressed up or dressed down.
But on its own, it is not obvious.
We, the people of God have become like the color tan.
Unintentionally, we are blending in.
In our confusing times, people argue that there are no absolutes.
There is no black and white.
Without absolutes, there is only tan…with a hint of gray.
Neutrality.
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm…neither hot nor cold…I am about to spit you out of My mouth. (Revelation 3:15,16)
God has strong words against neutrality.
God’s people cannot be lukewarm.
The world needs to see the difference in a life lived for Jesus.
A changed life….because of a new heart…is the greatest testimony!
How many times have we just gone along?
Someone talks about someone…we listen to the gossip and do not walk away.
Someone shares an offensive joke…we stay to hear the punch line.
Someone asks us to go to the movies…the subject compromises our beliefs.
We have become tan!
Tan doesn’t rock the boat.
Tan fades into the background.
Tan knows what it believes but stays silent.
Tan doesn’t want the appearance of imposing those beliefs on others.
Tan thinks that by being neutral, you will win others.
Tan doesn’t want to come on too strong…you won’t win people that way!
Cranberry red is too bright…Wedgewood blue is too dark.
Tan is safe.
And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts! Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.
(2 Corinthians 3:11,12)
Boldness…not neutrality.
When Jesus came to earth as a man, it was God who came down to dwell among us.
Jesus turned the world upside down.
But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. (Luke 6:35)
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me and for the Gospel will save it. (Mark 8:35)
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:10)
God’s people have to be radically different from the world.
How else will the world see the difference?
We try so hard to fit in…instead of holding out a better way.
That contrast is their hope.
There is no neutrality.
We are either for God or against Him.
We either stand in defense of the Gospel or stay silent.
There is no fence sitting in this Kingdom of now and not yet.
When He came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen…Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples!”
“I tell you,” He replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” (Luke 19:37-40)
If we don’t speak, the stones will.
We need to be a crayon box of bright, vibrant colors…passionate for God.
We must be warm…inviting…but never neutral!
What a needed challenge!
Janna,
I have been challenged with this a lot lately.
The world needs to hear…
Gina