Be a little candle

I heard someone say recently that Christians are no better than other people.

This is a true statement.

Christians are sinners, like everyone else. Terrible things have been done in the name of Christianity, just as they have by people of other religions, and by people of no religion at all. Christians are as selfish, weak, prideful, envious, lustful, greedy as any non-believer and Christians are no more deserving of grace for those sins than anyone else.

But the thing about being a Christian is that it is about trying to be better. To replace our failing human nature with something that is of God. And only of God, because in and of ourselves, we are all the same.

What I have wondered though is what God thinks of his people. (And by his people, I do not mean everyone who simply calls themselves a Christian.) What I have remembered is this:

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light - 1 Peter 2:9

So while Christians are certainly not better, they are called to be different. They are chosen, royal, holy and peculiar. And if upon examination of my words and actions, others cannot see that by God's grace they have been elevated beyond the mire of the world, then I am not doing a very good job at shewing forth praises, nor am I illuminating a dark world with his marvellous light.