Despite the constant buzz of excitement that accompanies the fleeting moments of my senior year of high school, there are very few events during those days that left the lasting impression which a simple introduction did. During just one of the many celebratory parties being held at my friend Melissa’s house, I will never forget the way that Melissa’s mom introduced me to her extended family and friends. As the people were gathering to honor Melissa, her mom emphatically and proudly introduced me as Melissa’s college roommate. I hated it. While I understood her excitement and pride in introducing me in this way, I felt like I had been demoted by this title. You see, Melissa and I had been best friends for nearly nine years at that point, and we were of the sort that were practically inseparable during that time. To call me her roommate would be to overlook the years of laughter, joy, memories, and trust we had created. I was more than a roommate, I was a best friend.
Much in that same vein we see this sort of encounter occur in those cliché scenes in tv and film as a guy negligibly introduces his date as his friend to another woman. Of course, the date then assertively inserts that she is not his friend, but rather his girlfriend.
You see, this poor guy, like Melissa’s mom, was not entirely wrong. His date is in fact his friend, but the label of friend in this situation is simply inadequate, and therefore insulting.
More tragically than these two examples, I believe this sort of negligence occurs as we often introduce others to our God. I believe there are several people that by their lifestyle show the world a God that is full of mercy. They show a lack of regard for the command to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling,” but instead feed their hedonistic desires knowing that the blood of Christ has covered their iniquity. Yes, introducing God as merciful and gracious is true, but that introduction is inadequate.
I also see people living their lives in such a way to introduce a judgmental God. The legalism they establish in their life hints that there is a God that desires His people to be holy, but they neglect to acknowledge “for it is by grace they have been save through faith, not of themselves.” Yes, introducing God as just is true, but that introduction is inadequate.
There is often a pendulum in the Christian culture that swings between abuse of grace and legalism. I know this full well, as that pendulum has often swayed polemically in my own personal life. But, to show the world by our deeds only one aspect of God’s personality, would be to introduce God inadequately and consequently, insultingly. God is both merciful and just, and to attempt to separate these two attributes would only serve to introduce to a lost and dying world an incomplete God.
May we always be people that strive to show the world our merciful AND just God.
