Conflicting Signals

Recently, we stayed in a hotel with a little glitch on the TV. The picture was crisp and the screen was quite large. The sound was good and clear. So what was the issue?

As we channel surfed one night just to see what was on, we noticed a problem on some of the channels. The sound seemed “off” from the picture at first, which happens sometimes. Then, though, we realized what was going on: the sound from one channel was playing over the picture from another–and, later, we found out that the same happened with the other channel! (And this was with about 6 or 8 channels.)

Now, at first, it is funny. You are seeing a dramatic movie scene, but you are hearing a silly Burger King commercial or a huge laugh from a comedy show. However, if it is something you actually want to watch, it isn’t so funny!

Since we aren’t big TV watchers, it really did not impact us much, but it was still a little annoying after awhile for those times when we did want to just take a moment and see what was on. After a little while, though, it also got me thinking about an application that may have hit a little too close to home.

I just wondered if, at times, when others look at me, what they hear and what they see are not exactly lined up and, in fact, may be conflicting.

None of us is perfect (cf. Romans 3:10; 3:23), so we need to admit that. However, the overall track of our life should be without question. When we sin, there should be immediate repentance from a contrite heart.

Instead, we should be like our Lord. One of my favorite descriptions of Jesus is found in the opening lines of Acts where the inspired writer says that he wrote about what Jesus “began to do and teach” (1:1). What Jesus did was completely consistent with what He taught (and, obviously, vice versa).

But when people hear me talk about godly morality, then live like the world around me, am I not guilty of sending very confusing messages?

And let’s be honest: while most people do not know all the particulars of Scripture, most still have some understanding of the morals a Christian is to live by. So when we are going against those morals, people notice and it gives them every right to not think we really believe what we say.

• If I say I love the Church, but then rarely attend, how is that consistent?
• If I talk about love and kindness, but then badmouth people around me, how are they supposed to believe me?
• If people know that marriage is sacred before God, but see me flirting with other women or showing off my body for the world to see on social media, is that not confusing?

We could go on, but you get the point. What we say and do must align, and it must all align with Scripture. In no other way will people be willing to truly listen to us and trust that we actually believe what we say we believe.

“For they preach, but do not practice…” (Matthew 23:3)

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AUTHOR: Adam Faughn