Titus 1:4

That was how the tired pastor felt as he boarded the plane. It wasn’t a dove, but this flight meant time to relax and clear his crowded head and heart. He watched a young man board the plane. Talk about generational and cultural differences; the two of them were as opposite as night and day. “I sure hope his seat isn’t beside me,” the pastor silently prayed.

Pleased that the young man walked past him, he sighed, “Thank you Lord.” Then the strangely dressed enthusiastic young person turned and came back to sit beside him. “Why me Lord” was the pastor’s disappointed prayer. “We have nothing in common.” Then suddenly the young man asked, “Do you know Jesus?” A very embarrassed pastor answered, “Yes I do.” What a pleasant trip it became when the outward appearance no longer mattered.

As Christians we are each a fraction of the whole family of God. We can be different, and yet have a common denominator in Jesus Christ. I have often found that some who didn’t “look like a Christian” (Whatever that looks like) have been wonderful examples of living like Jesus. I have also known people who went the extra mile to have a Christian appearance, but the inside was hollow. Jesus called them, “whitewashed tombstones.”

When a woman washed the feet of Jesus, a Pharisee said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!” If Jesus were in the flesh among us today, would we expect him to agree with us in our appraisal of another’s faith? Surely, we must know that he is not influenced by how we judge another. In fact, the only sin he mentioned that day was the unkindness of the Pharisee.

It’s a great freedom to not have to be a judge of others. Only God knows how wrong we usually are when we appraise another person’s faith by our standards. John Wesley had it right: “If your heart is as my heart, then give me your hand.” We can have a common faith in an uncommon world.