The Dirtiest Word

I lifted my head from the work before me to voice a question that had been moving itself from the bottom of my soul to the top of my mouth. Out loud to a gathered group I asked, “What is the dirtiest word to a Christian?”

My question was met with contemplative silence, yet it was not long before I was given a multitude of answers. The debate was on. After a few minutes of banter someone turned to me and asked what I thought the dirtiest word was… and why I was asking the question itself. I openly shared my thoughts.

“Hypocrite” I answered. More contemplative silence followed with the slow nodding of heads.

There exists a particular piece of scripture that holds great power in making a lasting impact in our spiritual transformation. It is the parable of the cloth and wineskins found in the book of Matthew:

Matthew 9:16-17, “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

Transformation is a difficult and trying process for it requires a complete shedding of our old life in order to make room for our new life in Christ. Like the worn cloth and old wine would cause ruination to the new garment and new wineskin, attempting to fit pieces of our old self and our old life into our new identity in Christ would cause ruination. We simply cannot be fully transformed and preserved if we attempt to do so. And for many, one of the most difficult trials faced is that of walking in their new identity within the workplace for speaking of religion and faith is highly discouraged. But no matter the circumstance or situation, we must never adorn the mask of Christianity but practice what we preach.

And peach we most certainty do for our actions will always speak louder than our words. When we are faced with uncertainty, knowing that others in our environment are expecting a certain outcome from us, let us remember whom it is we serve and the house we represent. Nothing speaks greater to a broken and dying world than the actions and behaviour of a child of God who stands firmly upon a foundation of faith never allowing a spirit of hypocrisy to take root within their mind or emotions.

Whatever the work we find ourselves doing, whatever the race we are running, whatever the obstacles we are facing, we would do well to remember it is done unto the cross by which we are saved. And when we are picking up our own cross to follow Him, the curiosity of others will ignite setting fire to our feet to walk a little farther, dig a little deeper, and let our little light shine illuminating the path before us.

Father, in all we do, in all we are… let us be honest and devoted to your name, never wavering in our faith. Help us to let go of the old so that you may usher in the new. And above all, let us represent your house well for we are the children of a Most Righteous King. In Jesus name, amen.

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