“for Herod was afraid of John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man…”
(Mark 6:20)
People fear what they don’t understand. Herod feared John because John didn’t make sense to him. Herod lived his life with selfishness, indulgence, and ruled with power and arrogance. John wore camel’s hair, ate humble fare, and preached repentance, sacrifice, and self-control. Herod worshipped at the temple of self. John bowed his knee to the Great I Am. This vastly difference sometimes terrified Herod, sometimes infuriated him, and led to a strange infatuation with John that, I suspect, even Herod didn’t understand.
If we are doing it right, people won’t know what box to put us in as Christians. We should be morally conservative, but liberally giving. We should be strictly disciplined while exceptionally gracious. What do you do with the stoic heart that also weeps openly? The leaders that wash the feet of those they lead and eat with tax collectors and sinners?
Christians are a fearfully wonderful creation of God and, in Christ, we stand as salt and light to the world. Bright enough to be beautiful, but also a little alarming. Confuse the world. Don’t fit into the stereotypes – follow Christ instead.
Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites