but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15-16, N.K.J.V.)

In his booklet How to Kill a Church Without Really Trying, Tom Malone tells the story of a female church member who didn’t live a life of personal holiness. As bad as that was for her, it caused even worse repercussions for a local dentist who knew her. I’ll let Malone tell the story in his own words. He writes:

I will never forget meeting an unsaved dentist. I tried every way in the world to get him saved but could not. Finally I got him to come to church during a revival meeting. During the invitation someone went back and spoke to him and said, “Doctor, we would like for you to be saved.” The dentist said, “There will have to be some changes made before I get saved.” The person asked, “What do you mean?” The dentist answered, “There is a woman up there in that choir with a set of false teeth in her mouth for which she has owed me for two years. She has been singing to me tonight about Jesus and a Christian life; but if that is the Christian life, I don’t want it.”

Malone closes that story by saying of the dentist, “I don’t blame him.” Speaking for myself, I’m with Malone on that one. Why would anyone want to embrace a Savior whose followers don’t pay their bills?

Christian, let this short post find a lodging place in your heart and life. When you use profane language, engage in sexual sin, gossip, lie, cheat, steal, get drunk, get high, slack off at work, don’t pay your bills, etc., you hurt more than your own reputation. You also hurt the reputation of the Savior you profess to love and serve. Remember that you are the only Bible some people ever read and they are drawing their opinion of Jesus and Christianity by watching you.