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Step away from the Gong

"... but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong..."

It's like a broken doorbell that keeps ringing in the most annoying fashion; or the car's beeping alert drawing your attention to an open door--a resounding gong would be irritating.
That description is what it is like when we, as Christians, react to the world without love.
There is little to no positive impact--just an irritation.

Yet, a mentality of "overlove" or being passive can be just as ineffective, as we simply blend into the background of "normal."

So how do I "please God and not people" without erring on either side?
This is the question I have been pondering based on the following two verses.

Galatians 1:10
"Am I  now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ."

1 Corinthians 13:1
"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal."

I find myself thinking of parenting (since parenting is such a main focus of my daily life right now) and how I try to balance the pendulum between being fair and not being too harsh. If I err on the side of leniency I risk children who grow up not truly learning the value of action and reaction (whether positive or negative). Then if I err on the side of harshness, I risk children who grow up angry and bitter (and who possibly no longer have a desire for a relationship with me). So somewhere in between there is a happy medium of parenting--fair and consistent but loving all at the same time.

Maybe our society would benefit from Christians with that same balance--consistent but loving at the same time.

Jesus gave us such a great example in His reaction to the woman thrust before Him by an angry mob. (John 8:3-11)
Gently, He diffused the situation until no one remained except the woman and her Savior.
"Jesus straightened up and asked her, 'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?'
'No one sir,' she said.
'Then neither do I condemn you,' Jesus declared. 'Go  now and leave your life of sin.'"
(verses 10-11)

He wasn't afraid of the opinions of the crowd nor craved their approval.
He showed compassion to the woman while still correcting her previous choices.
He was a perfect combination of both.

Called to be an imitator of Christ, I must learn the art of this delicate balance lest my testimony be nothing more than a resounding gong or as ineffective as a camouflaged chameleon.
I will choose to take the stand to please God without the fear of others in a manner that also leaves no doubt of His love.

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