_|_ | C O P | N E T Christian Servants as Exemplars ------------------------------- "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." [Matthew 5:16] "Be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity." [1 Timothy 4:12] As Christians in general and as servants in particular, we are asked to be examples for others so that they "see [our] good works and glorify [our] Father in heaven." But, as Christians in general and as servants in particular, we are instructed not to be "self-conscious" and surely not to be driven by what others think of us. This is clear in what our Lord said criticizing the Pharisees: "But all their works they do to be seen by men." [Matthew 23:5]. Should we conduct ourselves according to other people's perceptions? Or is it not our problem? Are we (as servants) responsible for what others may perceive our actions to be? If so, then why did the Lord criticize the hypocrites who do the good deeds "to be seen by men" [Matthew 6:5]. In Acts, we read about the debate between the Jewish and the Gentiles about circumcision. Obviously, the Apostles knew that circumcison was not a commandment, for as we read in [Acts 15:24]: "Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, 'You must be circumcised and keep the law'; to whom we gave no such commandment." This is further detailed in the strong words of Saint Paul in Galatians: "But when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy." [Galatians 2:11-13] Nevertheless, when Paul wanted Timothy to help him in his service, "... he took [Tymothy] and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek." Obviously, the circumcision of Timothy by Paul was done in order not to offend the Jewish believers, despite the fact that Saint Paul himself was strongly against it. Another important story from the new testament regarding "watching" for what others may perceive our acts to be involves Saint Paul again. This time Saint Paul is writing to the Corinthians regarding eating from food offered to idols. As Christians who possess the knowledge that "there is no God but one", Saint Paul warns the Corinthians to be sensitive to those who may not be as strong in their faith, who may mistakenly perceive eating meat offered to pagan gods (i.e. non-kosher) as admitting that these gods exist. Saint Paul makes it very clear that we should be careful that our freedom and our knwoledge does not become a stumbling block to others (and in particular to people we are serving). He states forcefully that we should "beware lest somehow this liberty of [ours] become a stumbling block to those who are weak." [1 Corinthians 8:9]. The same theme is again repeated in the letter to the Romans, where Saint Paul says: "I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. Yet if your brother is grieved because of [food], you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with [your food] the one for whom Christ died." [Romans 14:14-15]. In other words, we must be sensitive to what others "think" and to what others "believe", even if what we think or believe (or even know to be right) is different. Saint Paul concludes with a very strong message to Christian servants: "We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, `The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me'." [Romans 15:1-3] About two years ago, I went through a tremendous temptation to stop my Sunday School service. Why? Because I was frightened by the warning spelled out by our Lord Jesus Christ, when He talked to His disciples (the first servants of the church) about those who may become stumbling blocks to His little flock. "Then He said to the disciples, It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones." [Luke 17:1-2] When I was a young boy, I remember (distinctively) that one of the big problems I had with deacons is that I felt that being a deacon often degenerated into being a "performer". I noticed that many of the older deacons were pre-occupied with "who is going to read what reading?", or "who has a better voice?", or "who has a louder voice?", or "what is the authentic music?", etc. I was greatly disturbed (and honestly, I still am) by deacons (certainly a small minority) who seem not to respect the altar few steps away from them (talking in the middle of the service, running around looking for books and adjusting microphones). All of this while they sing with very loud voices about the Angels and Archangels "covering their faces" as they glorify God. Of course, I knew that these deacons were not aware of how much what they do affect others. Surely, they were not "disturbing" me/others on purpose. Well, if this disturbed me so much as a young boy, then perhaps without knowing it, I may be causing the same harm to members of my own Sunday School class. How? Well, what if they see me (say) in a movie theater? What if they see me come to church late? What if they see me not fasting? What if my answer to some of their questions is not consistent with (say) some other Sunday School teacher? or worse even, not consistent with our Orthodox beliefs! The thought that it would be better that "a millstone were hung around [my] neck, and [I] were thrown into the sea" than for me to be a stumbling block for "one of these little ones" scared me. So why am I still a Sunday School teacher? Well, because of another warning, again from the mouth of our Lord Jesus Christ, when He spoke of the 3 servants and their gifts. "Then [the servant] who had received the one talent came and said,' Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours. But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. Therefore you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." [Matthew 25:24-30] We have been entrusted with talents that we have to invest, each according to his/her capacity. As Saint Paul says: "Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness."[Romans 12:6-8]. With these gifts of the Holy Spirit comes the responsibility to use these gifts for the glory of our Lord. And we can't even escape; for we may run, but we can't hide! There is no better example than the story of Jonah, who tried to "hide" his talents. He ended up "thrown into the sea". Amazingly, the punishment of Jonah who hid his talents from God is exactly the same punishment of those who become stumbling blocks to God's little flock. It is important to realize that the devil could well use the "fear of being a stumbling block" to stop us from being fruitful in our service. Perhaps the best answer to such fears come from the mouth of Saint Paul who reminds us as servants to "stir up the gift of God which is in you ... for God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." [2 Timothy 1:6-7]. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- _|_ This article is one of many more articles about the Coptic Orthodox | Church, the Christian Apostolic Church of Egypt. These articles can be | obtained electronically from Copt-Net Repository, using anonymous FTP COP|NET from pharos.bu.edu:CN. Please mail inquiries to CN-request@cs.bu.edu. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------