Wearing Your Faith on Their Sleeve

I love the story about an old professor telling his student about his first interaction with a Christian pastor. The professor said the pastor was nice, but “wore his faith on his sleeve.” The student told the teacher, “I think you misunderstand Christianity.” The professor asked, “What do you mean?” The student said, “Christians don’t wear their faith on their sleeve. Christians wear their faith on your sleeve!”

The student was obviously making light of the evangelistic zeal of many Christians.  And, there is some truth there. The Christian life doesn’t exist solely for those who are Christians. The Christian life exists for the sake of all people – including non-Christians. That means we do extend our faith into the lives (or onto “the sleeves”) of non-Christians.

At the end of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells His disciples to go and make disciples of all nations. At that moment, Christian fellowship became a fellowship built to reach outsiders. The Christian life is intended to invite and incorporate people into Christian fellowship.

As you go through the coming week, share your faith with a neighbor. Live your faith in a way that connects with those outside the faith. This may not involve “wearing your faith on their sleeve.” But, it can invite outsiders into the riches of Christian fellowship that all Jesus’ people enjoy.