MIXED MESSAGES

Sometimes we send mixed messages. We tell people God loves them, but in the next breath gripe about people who are a pain in the neck. "Feel free to call me anytime," is the offer we make, but when they call they are screened by call waiting and answered by a machine that says "I'm not available right now, leave a message."

Churches and Christians are no exception. "Be still and know that I am God" is the reading for the day, only to be followed by announcements about the 300 activities the church has crowded into its schedule. "Jesus loves the little children" is the song we teach the little ones, but woe unto the little ones who sing too loudly and find it impossible to sit in the pew when an adult preacher is using adult words to speak to adults on Sunday mornings.

In Matthew 5, Jesus tells people that they should say what they mean and mean what they say. "Let your yes be your yes and you no be your no."

Consistency in the messenger is vital to the integrity of the Message. Too often our inconsistency comes because our mouth is in motion before our mind is in gear. We mindlessly spout scripture without understanding its implications and then get angry when people call our inconsistency hypocrisy.

No, Christians are not perfect and our inconsistencies are a product of our imperfection -- which is sin. The mixed messages will sometimes come, but if we are truly concerned about giving people the truth that will set them free ... we need to be committed to consistency in our message and in the actions which reflect that message.