What do we proclaim?

One of the greatest evidences I see for the spiritual battle that rages within and around is the near constant discord between our beliefs and our actions. This must be what Paul was talking about in Galatians 5, "For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do" (v. 17) I don't write this to provide a solution to this battle. In truth, the more we grow and put on the full armor of God, the more vicious the attacks become. As we run further and further in the race we become increasingly aware of the raging warfare and territories at stake. No, I write this to caution what we proclaim.
If what we proclaim about God is not in continuity with the way we live than we are doing nothing but spewing lies. If we proclaim that Christ is the only way to salvation, but put our faith in other things to help us make it throughout the day, what message are we communicating about the sole power of the work of Christ? If we proclaim that "We love because Christ first loved us."(1 John 4:19) but do not demonstrate love to others then what are we saying? "If anyone says, "I love God" and hates his brother, he is a liar...whoever loves God must also love his brother." (1 John 4:20-21) Even if we proclaim such a simple truth as this, "God is good." then we are proven to be liars if we do not keep his commandments. If we truly believe that God is good then the plans that He has made in His infinite power must be the best for us. Yet how often do we take the trip to the belly of the whale instead of heading over to Ninevah?
I understand how very easy for me to sit behind my computer and talk about how great of liars we all are, how a conviction is nothing till it is fought for with action. The reality of it plays a little more out like the DC Talk song, "What If I Stumble?" We have been given a great responsibility, the message of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-21), yet even still we do what we don't want to do. (Romans 7:15) What happens to that message when we stumble? What happens to that message when our actions don't line up with what we proclaim?
I think that how we handle our shortcomings in our new creation can be a great message to those who are still dead in their trespasses. While we are called to be set apart and examples of righteousness, so often it is how we handle our own sin that can speak the loudest proclamation of all. We are taught to abhor evil and sin, but so often we get that confused and react by hiding our sin. If we are transparent with the sin in our lives then we are proclaiming loudly the message only found in the Bible, the message of God's grace.
So often I have heard people remarking about others or myself by saying, "He calls himself a Christian, but yet he does this sin." To them I say, "I do this sin, so I call myself a Christian."
In all Spirit-led effort, avoid sin and seek to have your actions align with what you proclaim. But should you succumb to the flesh, you have an opportunity to make a great proclamation in the Spirit by saying, "The sin that I commit has been paid for in full, for God extended His grace and mercy to me and sent His Son to die a once and for all time sacrifice. God's grace is infinite and so even though my actions do not coincide with what I so often say, Jesus Christ already died for that moment of discontent. His Spirit will lead me on." Fight the good fight. Hebrews 12:1-2.

Soli Deo Gloria!

One love,
Dj