Good deeds, good lives

Engaging | more by Margaret Killingray | Word for the Week

 by Margaret Killingray (Word for the Week 12-05-2008) 

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us…. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.  1 Peter 2:12,15

How do our lives impact those around us?  Do we seem different enough to those who cross our path, for them to wonder about us?  Are we winsome as well as good?   A group of us were praying together about our work places and one man, full of fire to speak about Jesus, talked about what he said and did at work.  He felt vindicated by the ‘persecution’ he suffered.  There was an awkward moment; some of us could see that he was overdoing ‘evangelism’ in a very blunt way and alienating his colleagues; at the same time we knew that some of us were striving to be liked, being ‘good’, but pulling back from the challenge to speak clearly about our faith.   

Even if we don’t speak up, as Peter suggests, our good deeds may attract criticism.  Our honesty over some issues may seem inappropriate or even an affront.  Our willingness sometimes to go a  ‘second-mile’ or two can embarrass others.  We should live good lives in public places where others can see us, whether it is in the workplace or in our neighbourhoods, where controlling noise, even if you like the music, considerate car parking, feeding next door’s cat, can all do more to promote the Kingdom of God than any amount of speaking out.  

But we do need wisdom, because we will probably be misinterpreted at times.  There is some strong prejudice against Christianity and the church out there and even when offering free services to the community with no strings attached, there can be a strong suspicion that we are bribing people into the Kingdom.  Our faithfulness in living good lives and doing good deeds is an important part of our evangelism.  Without good deeds and good lives, we cannot speak about our faith with integrity.  With them we may have to wait until we are asked and then give an account of ourselves with gentleness and humility.