as seen on CMCentral.com:

Somebody's Watching Me?
06/08/03
by Michael Janke

"I always feel like somebody's watching me"
(Toby Mac, "Somebody's Watching Me")

"What's your line, tell me why you wear your cross of gold"
(Michael W. Smith, "Cross of Gold")

"You stole my Jesus fish!"
(Puddy, from Seinfeld)

"There's too much talk and not enough walk"
(Petra, "Seen and Not Heard")

Somebody's watching you.

Whether you know it or not, there's someone watching you. From the moment we leave our homes to the moment we return people are watching us. What messages are we sending them? Unless we live in a box or unless no one knows that we are Christians that is something that we should be conscience of and concerned about.

We Christians like to advertise our faith. We buy bumper stickers, Jesus fish, T-shirts, posters, hats, bracelets, necklaces, and more. There are entire stores full of "stuff" that lets the world know that we know God. We plaster it on our cars, our notebooks, our homes, and our bodies. It's a witness, right? But how much of a witness is it really, when what we do is sending out a completely contrary message? What about the man who has a Jesus fish on his car, but he constantly cuts people off, tailgates, and shakes his fist at drivers who make him angry? What about the student who wears Christian T-shirts to school but then cheats on her tests, bad mouths her least favorite teacher, and ditches class? What about the arena full of Christians at a Christian music concert who leave trash everywhere, are rude to security guards, and leave the building in worse shape than it was when they arrived?

What about the internet? How many Christians wear that name but then treat others with complete disrespect on message boards, gossip, illegally download music, and spread distrust and dissention among the body of Christ? You may be at any Christian website or forum but you can bet that there are non-Christians visiting as well, and they see everything that we are doing and saying to each other. They see that there is actually a file-sharing program that is specifically designed to "share" music from only Christian artists. They see the bickering, the legalistic attitudes, and outright slander against other members of the body of Christ (such as other Christian artists) over important issues like appearance, fashion, and movie preferences. They see the lack of grace. Somebody's watching. And in those cases, it's an unfortunate thing.

I have done work for a charity that lets me see this truth from a unique perspective. It's probably safe to say that most people do not enjoy having people come to their homes to ask for money. But these are still people - human beings - coming to your door. I cannot tell you how many times I went to a home that boldly advertised that there were Christians who lived there (bumper stickers, door plaques, banners, etc.), only to be treated with rudeness and contempt. And I was out on behalf of a charity, not selling encyclopedias or something. When those instances occurred the only thing I could think of was, "what if a non-Christian would've received this treatment here?" What is that going to make them think of the church, when someone out on behalf of a charity can't even be afforded a simple amount of respect and decency by people who claim to follow Jesus?

There's too much talk and not enough walk. Or maybe there's too much relying on Christian "stuff." The saying goes that actions speak louder than words. Actions also speak louder than "stuff." I really don't have a problem with all of the T-shirts and stickers. If it helps build curiosity or conversation, then more power to it. But we, the consumer, need to realize that if we're going to declare to the world that we are followers of Christ - either vocally our through all of our "stuff" - then we darn well better do our best to back up that declaration with action. People are watching us, whether we're aware of it or not. Our faith should be a fearless one that reflects the new life inside of us at all times, inside or outside of church, from morning to night. Somebody's watching. Hopefully they are seeing His reflection.