How a Non-Christian Taught Me More About Christ than Most Christians

His seventy-something weary legs, climb aboard the yellow Cat. The big, orange ball in the sky warms the earth. Still he wears the same long sleeve and suspended jeans he’s had on nearly every day he’s worked our five acres.

Quietly, the long arm of that metal machine scoops carefully, lifting garbage the owner before us planted in our field.

I’ve known a lot of Christians over my almost fifty-years. Some serve loud and proud, announcing any good work as if the world should bow to their praises.

Others run tractors over life’s messes, pretending things are sweet, as Jeremiah the prophet once said, “They cover the wound of my people, as if it wasn’t serious.” ‘Peace, peace’ they say, when there is none.” (Jer. 6:14)

“White washed tombs, which outward appear beautiful, but within are full of…all uncleanliness.” (Matt 23:27)

This elderly man, our neighbor, has worked almost non-stop, for weeks, on our property. He refuses pay, and has gone way beyond what we have asked of him too.

He rented bulldozers, borrowed machines from neighbors and even cleared a large spot around our pond, so we might have a view of everything green and beautiful.

Over the years, I have seen Christians act like college painters, posting signs everywhere as advertisement of any good thing they do. Too many work for accolades, praise, or material gain…

While the poor are left with aching bellied and gnawing, unmet needs.

Humble Faith

Hudson Taylor spent 51 years in China. Yet, He didn’t fling the machine of the gospel wildly and haphazardly against an ancient culture.

Instead, he got low. He became like the Chinese people; dressing, even living among them, humbly.

He spoke their language and listened to understand their ways….much like my kind, gentle neighbor.

Christianity isn’t some ego boosting, money-making, people-pleasing scheme.

And we should never force our particular brand of Christianity for our own glory or earthly gain.

Serving quietly without needing praise, should be our strongest witness.

Giving so our right hand doesn’t see what our left hand is doing (Matt 6:3), a testament of true humility.

Meeting others needs, while giving up what we might gain, just shadows the gospel Christ came and died for.

And yet, I see preachers with private jets touting in luxury, seeking riches on earth, instead of eternity.

My long-sleeved, denim-wearing neighbor drops a scoop of garbage into his large, red-panneled truck.

My husband was supposed to be picking this junk up, after waking up at 3:00 a.m., working all day, going to physical therapy, and then putting up a swingset for our four adopted girls to play on.

Instead, our neighbor quietly appears, chops down weeds, clears out blackberries and is now hauling old garbage away.

He never declared, “Picking up garbage isn’t my job title”. He just serves where there is need, like he has done continually, over the past twelve years we have lived here.

And his appearance?

He doesn’t look like some saint; polished-attire, carefully clean-cut, swinging the Bible in one hand, while noisingly blasting commands for the sake of making “converts”.

Instead, his long, white beard, likely hasn’t been combed in days. His aching body and tired arms lean in to help anyone who might even mention a need.

People flock to his house all days and all hours, weekends and midweek…

Because a man who listens, serves, and gives of himself constantly, is rare and appealing.

He doesn’t ask, control or judge people by the color of their skin, the gate of their walk or the city they came from when they moved to this hill he logged and eventually build his house upon.

He just loves. Loves not in memes or quotes….but in action.

He rises up daily to bless. Not because of what he can get from people. But because separating service and his religion of love is impossible at best.

Yet, I see those who claim to love my same Savior?

They rise in anger, live immoral, or seek approval or praises from men. Too many store up riches, crush others with power. Or push away earnest, sincerely-seeking people.

And I think if Jesus came? He’d run first to my neighbor. He’d turn away from those who “talk down to people” about Jesus, without living in a way that exemplifies mercy and grace,  service and love.

He would find those content with not being seen and draw them to himself.

And they would come. They would be drawn like a magnet to Him…

Because selfless love always attracts honest people.

In our world today, aren’t we all tired of Christians “playing church”, yet putting walls between humble, honest, hard-working people…Like the one clearing our property?

The true gospel follower loves and serves with action and truth. They give, listen and learn, humbling themselves a little each day, in hopes to be more like Christ.

Where Are the Real Christians?

I hate to say it, but the older I get, the fewer people I can point my kids to, to show them what real Christianity looks like.

And when I do….those rare, once in a scarce times…I do see someone acting like Christ…it is never affluent leaders, loud showboats, or any kind of material-seekers…

It is then, I point them to the humble, marginalized, quiet martyrs, maybe even to those unsaved…like my white-pointed-beard neighbor, who came, dug up and removed what was ugly on our property…Without saying a word.

I tell them to look at people’s actions first. Because actions are the fruit of peoples lives, overflowing from whats in their hearts.

By actions, both at home and those in public, we judge the evidence of Christ in someone. (Matt 7:15-20)

And I have never seen the gospel lived out, as much as I have this day from my house, while watching my unsaved neighbor work.

Suspenders-wearing, entering our property quietly, clearing away the overgrowth, unearthing the garbage buried underneath…

Working from morning until night, clearing the path, so we might have more light.

And at the end of the day? He drives away…all of our property’s junk hauled off in the back of his truck.

He doesn’t say a word. Doesn’t ask for payment. Doesn’t shout or demand anything from us. He just drives slowly away afterwards, leaving beauty and love behind.

And I can see why the broken in the Bible might follow Jesus. The God/man who came willingly, emptied and humble…

He takes all the garbage from us, while leaving us with only good things in return.

Today, God showed me again, the real gospel, seen in a man who has been a logger for decades and serves for the sake of love.

I want to follow a man like that….

Not those climbing corporate Christian ladders, bowing to some earthly leaders, or making a name for themselves in some temporary wordly capacity.

Can I live as I speak and speak what I live? Can I seek to only live as Christ did?

Humbly giving instead of taking, serving without demanding anything in return?

Can’t we all be more like Christ, living His selfless example of love?

Because the world has too many loud preachers, boasting “apostles”, projecting their ideas contrary to Jesus actual message.

Love shines. Not just in words, but in deed. Not just in religious sermons or Bible Scripture….but in the countenance projected from each and every living being.

Real love isn’t afraid to be unseen. Real love serves self-lessly. Real love makes the pathway light for others fumbling in the dark…regardless of what they receive.

And hasn’t His overwhelming grace been lavished upon us daily?

Love was seen today, not by some famous preacher, but by the slow and steady road of my unsaved neighbor in suspenders….

Who is already so much closer to the cross, if we are honest…..than most of us.