Those Outside

Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

1 Timothy 3:7 (NKJV)

At a pastor's funeral, a family member asked one of his neighbors to speak. Although the neighbor praised his perseverance and spiritual dedication as a man of God, he nevertheless spoke negatively about him. He clearly stated that the pastor considered everyone in the neighborhood, especially non-Christians, enemies and children of the devil. The pastor even prevented his children from speaking to them.

Even in a mocking tone, his remark nevertheless captured the audience's attention. Some even perceived a lack of leadership in the pastor; he should have been able to connect with them and teach them about Jesus. Paul's approach leads us to conclude that the pastor did not have a good reputation in his neighborhood. The neighbor mentioned this after his death because this situation had hurt many people during his lifetime. It is therefore important to understand that, even if they are not part of our spiritual family, outsiders also have something to say about us.

This is a mistake we often make: thinking that we should only show kindness and compassion to members of our church. We think that those outside have nothing to say about us or think about our attitude. When Paul says, "So as not to fall into the devil's trap," he is right. Our attitude toward outsiders can play a significant role in our standing within the community. When we reject them for who they are, the enemy can exploit their frustration to publicly humiliate us. Be kind to those outside as you are to those inside.

May God's grace and peace be with you all.