meant to ingest, digest and live in the present moment. Fittingly, Martin Luther encour- aged believers to be “little Christs” to their neighbors and not “little theo- logians.” Little Christs tell the good news by living out the gospel in their daily lives, in their words and in their deeds. Unfortunately, many of us think we’re required to be the kind of theologians who debate God’s exis- tence, the mystery of the Trinity, the reality of the cross and more. No won- der many of us avoid or don’t want to share our faith with other people. Jesus didn’t carry around a Hebrew scroll wherever he went. He embodied the word of God. When you and I eat the word of God, we deepen our faith and become more of a little Christ to the people around us.
Walk like a cowboy
While teaching a “walk and talk” improv class for 10-year-old boys and girls, I stumbled upon a new way of looking at the Christian life. “Walk like a cowboy,” I said Immediately the kids began walking with knees bent as if they had just hopped off a horse. Some twirled imaginary lassos.
“Now cowboys and cowgirls,” I said, “tell me about your love for rainbows.” And words about rain- bows tumbled spontaneously out of their mouths.
“Now walk like the king or queen of England,” I said. The children transformed themselves into regal people who walked slowly and delib- erately, heads held high.
When I added, “As king or queen,
tell us why you love to have cook- ies and a cold glass of milk in the middle of the night.” Again, without hesitation, the kids volunteered short monologues.
But what if I asked you, as I asked the youth, to walk like a Christian? How would being a Christian inform
your face, your head, your feet, your fingers, your knees and your eyes as you walk? And if I asked you to stop and as a Christian talk about your love for God, would you have an easy or a difficult time saying something? In most cases, I’m certain that you
wouldn’t have a difficult time. Why? Because when we know who we are, when we are committed to being that person and showing it to others, words flow naturally.
There are times we must talk about our faith. The Christian life is not show-or-tell, but show and tell. Psychologists have found that one of the major factors in helping children embrace a relationship with God is parents—parents talking about prayer and why it matters to them. Words, coupled with a faith lived authenti- cally, are powerful.
Paul wrote to the Christians in Ephesus: “Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise ...” (Ephesians 5:15). Peripateo, the original Greek word we trans- late as “live,” can also mean “walk.” Paul was encouraging Christians then, as he encourages us today, to pay atten- tion to how we conduct our lives. When we commit to being a Christian, our walks and talks will change. Consider the ancient words of theologian Clement of Alexandria, reflecting on Jesus’ life: “By washing the feet of his disciples with his own hands as he sent them forth to noble deeds, the Savior manifested an excellent way their journeying to bestow graces upon the nations. He purified that journeying in
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anticipation of his own power. The perfume left its aroma after it, and suggests the sweet-smelling accom- plishments that reach everyone. The suffering of the Lord, indeed, has filled us with its fragrance.” So be encouraged, rather than wor-
ried. You may be the only Bible some people ever read. You may be the only hope someone hears. And you may be the only Christ others ever smell.
SHUTTERSTOCK
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