I'm I Being Heard?

Just some thoughts:

"The number one cause of atheism is Christians. Those who proclaim God with their mouths and deny Him with their lifestyles is what an unbelieving world finds simply unbelievable.

-Karl Rahner

As I was making breakfast this morning, this quote popped in my head. Not really sure what triggered it, but it's led me on a thought train which I wanted to share with you.

I was thinking about how we as Christians acknowledge God with our mouths, but deny him with our lives. What if it was the other way around? At first it seemed a little crazy, and perhaps "unchristian", but the more I thought about it I don't know that it's such a terrible idea. What if we did follow God is our actions, in our lives, but denyed him with our tounge. Not meaning we swore and took his name in vain, cut others down, or just did/said terrible things, but rather that we didn't claim to be followers of Christ. What if our lives spoke it so strongly that even our words couldn't convince others we weren't Christians.

This led to the old addage "actions speak louder than words". It's truth. I think God could have sent a prophet in the Old Testament to said those very words. It might have sounded something like:

"O listen people of Israel, live your life as a testimony to God, for actions speak louder than words, thus sayith the Lord."

Anyway about it I think we need to reflect on that idea. If actions speak the loudest, then are we whispering for the kingdom? Seriously, think about it. If we are called to declare the Glory of the Lord, are we nothing more than a whisper in the world of sinful actions by ourselves and non-believers. Even the heavens cry out, rocks and stones, the world he created, and it's not using words. Is is possible that inanimate objects could have a louder voice than we do? I guess it is? If each action were audible, perhaps a musical note or phrase, would the melody of Christ be heard in the symphony of our lifes, or would it be overpowered by a clanging gong and a crashing symbol. Is that all people can hear? I think of the Casting Crowns lyrics.

Empty hands held high...If not joined with my life, I sing in vain tonight.

May the words I say, And the things I do...Let my lifesong sing to You.

-Lifesong by Casting Crowns

Now what? I don't know. That's for you to figure out. I guess we might need to examine our lifes, and our hearts. From the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.