Two Realities

Ray Ortlund post:  Nobility

Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable.  1 Peter 2:12

F. W. Beare comments, “The word [honorable] unites aesthetic with moral elements.  It is used of goodness which commends itself to the beholder by its evident quality, goodness that manifests itself in beauty, in nobility, in attractive power.”

There is nothing harmful, nothing even mediocre, about Christian conduct, because there is nothing harmful or mediocre about Christ.  He is honorable, and he creates honorable, noble, beautiful people.  There is a reason why the apostle Paul speaks of “the upward call of God in Christ” (Philippians 3:14).  The gospel lifts us to practical nobility.

There are moments when we may feel like treating others shabbily.  Our hearts can sink to low levels of self-indulgence, which are ugly.  That is why this verse deserves to be near us at all times.  The call of Christ is so beautiful, it will cost us dearly and deeply.

Francis Schaeffer, in his famous address “Two Contents, Two Realities,” proposed that the two realities which must mark us are true spirituality and the beauty of human relationships.  Those two realities always go together.  Where there is true spirituality, there will also be relational beauty.  Where that beauty is not obvious, true spirituality is lacking.

How many people in our cities, if a poll were taken, would associate the word “church” with words like “honor,” “beauty,” “nobility”?  But if we will honor Christ with honorable conduct, fewer people will say that Christianity is a threat, fewer people will simply be dismissive, and more people will say, “I don’t believe what those Christians believe.  But I have to admit I am attracted.”