SOAP Notes

Yet another in the occasional Tuesday SOAP Notes series...

January 8, 2008
Genesis 20-22; Luke 8

S: Luke 8:16-17
16 "Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light.
17 "For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light.

O: This verse is one of many where Jesus uses symbolism to make a spiritual point. Here, He’s using the symbol of the lamp to mean, essentially, himself.

A: To apply this verse, first we have to talk about the lamp. The lamp represents a variety of traits that are contained in Jesus. The lamp is truth; one does not hide the truth, one displays it. The lamp is life; one does not hide life, one celebrates it. The lamp is love; one does not conceal love, one shares it. The lamp is salvation; salvation is not to be hoarded unto oneself; it is to be encouraged in others. The lamp is faith; faith is not to be hidden away, because faith without works is dead.

These are all traits of Jesus, and we are to become like Him. So these are all traits to be found in us, ideally.

But what this discussion of the lamp is about is not to highlight traits of Jesus by using the lamp; instead it is to provide an illustration of what the lamp is for, and what it isn’t for. It’s a verse about what to do with the Jesus in us, and how we should behave as vessels of what Jesus is.

What does it say? We are not to hide our faith, or to shun the truth, or to suppress the life that’s in us. We are not to restrain our love for others, and we are not to be ashamed of our salvation.

So this verse applies to me very clearly. As a Christian, as a person trying to be more like Jesus, I’m supposed to showcase Him, not hide Him. I’m supposed to be open with the truth, open with my love, open with my faith, sharing with my life, and desirous of salvation for others. The person I am, though, falls short of this in so many ways at so many times. And I wonder why.
What is the shame in being a Christian? There’s the associations people make. “Oh, you’re one of them? So you believe that?” What of it? If a person can’t see past their ideas of what a “Christian” is to see who I am, that isn’t my concern. My job is to be real, and that’s all.

And, yet, I’m often so afraid. Afraid of how people will see me. Afraid of how they may act around me. And, really, afraid of how I may act around them. I am nowhere near being an accurate representative of Jesus. I’m kind to some, but mean to many. I’m sharing with a few, but miserly with most. I’m generally honest, sure, but I couch things in comfortable and non-offensive terms to avoid dischord. Above all, my behavior doesn’t always (even, I suppose, often) reflect my beliefs. I’m afraid of shining my light, of identifying myself, because I’m afraid people will see me as just another example of a “Christian,” which to them means a judgmental person with double-standards. And I’m afraid that they’ll be right to do so.

But the truth can’t be hidden. No secret remains forever. It’s interesting to me that, while I don’t go around pontificating and preaching to my friends, so many of them identify me as “the most moral guy I know” or “pretty religious” or things like that. The Jesus in me, even when I try to hide it, must come out. Because the light cannot be hidden; it shines even under the covers, or under the bed, and it seeps out into the world around it. So, in the end, is there greater shame in openly being a less-than-perfect Christian, or in trying to hide the fact that I’m a Christian at all?

I need not so much to be more brave to step out, but instead I need to be less afraid to simply be. I need to stop worrying about what people expect me to be, because of who they’ve known me to be or who they think I should be, and instead I need to be willing to simply be honest about who I am. Whether I’m a perfect Christian isn’t the point of the exercise. Simply being open and willing to share who I am to those who need or want to know is enough, and God can handle the rest.

P: God, I’m tired of being ashamed, and of being ashamed that I’m ashamed, when there simply is no shame in being open with who I am. Help me to be willing to share openly, and at the same time make it clear that I’m not a “Christian” as so many see us, full of judgment and failure combined, but instead simply an imperfect person who wants to share truth, life, love, faith, and my salvation. Take away my fear.