Let your light shine before others

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 5:16 ESV)

Religious stereotypes

As a child I lived with many different families as part of the foster care program. Some of them attended church, so I went with them and was exposed to a variety of churches. Unfortunately, I didn’t connect with any of them and had no reason to go to church after becoming an adult. My opinion of religious people was mainly formed by what I saw in movies with stereotypes such as Elmer Gantry. Religious characters were usually weak, effeminate, mean, or hypocritical and I didn’t want to be around anyone like them! But, then I met a man who totally changed my mind about what a church goer should look like. It happened in the most unlikely place, at U.S. Army basic training!

A positive example

I was drafted into the Army in 1968 and sent to Fort Lewis for basic training. I was put into a platoon with other young men to learn how to become soldiers. One of them was Jim Bosman, a young man who looked like the perfect soldier. He was strong, learned things quickly, followed orders correctly, and excelled in everything that was taught. Whenever I spoke to Jim, he looked me in the eye, listened intently to what I had to say and replied clearly with genuine friendliness. I noticed that he never complained, had a positive attitude, and he didn’t  swear or smoke. Over the next few weeks of basic training we became friends. I was surprised to find out that he liked going to church. On Sundays there was chapel service on the bass and he invited the rest of us to go with him. I did and he was nothing like any of the religious characters I had seen in movies. In fact, he was quite the opposite and changed my mind about religious stereotypes. After basic training, whenever I thought about church, I had only good positive feelings and it was because of the great example demonstrated by my friend, Jim Bosman. 

Be a model of good works

“Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity.” (Titus 2:7 ESV)