Photo credit:www.daytonabikeweek.com
As Daytona Bike Week starts up today, The Holy Spirit spoke to my heart this week about the
powerful witness of the Christian Biker and how we, as Christians who ride, can
reach out for the Kingdom of God in ways and in places that no one else can
reach. Jesus was such an example of long suffering and patience. God, the father,
is a gentleman that never forces his will upon any man. He too is an example of
long suffering. I love how Jesus told his followers that he only does what he
sees his Father in Heaven do—we should be wise to follow that same example.
All across the body of Christ there are workers. Each one,
each church, each ministry has a different calling and may reach a different
culture, population, or group dynamic; however, is the Gospel different
depending upon whom you share it with? The answer is a resounding NO!
I have shared a synopsis of my personal testimony on this
site as to how I lived and how I once believed Christians to be weak and full
of bull. I remember once when I was out west doing some business for the group
I rode with and I saw a Christian MC (not an MM). I can tell you that I saw no
difference between them and the other clubs who attended this meeting. Their
behavior was that of a gang mentality. As I have said before, I have friends
who are Christian Bikers and I have friends who are 1%`ers—I judge no man
because not only have I lived the same lifestyles as many others who are not in
Christ, but also, Christ gave me no authority to judge; however, I know what
fruit looks like. Jesus said, “You shall know a tree by its fruit” (Mathew 7:15-20). If I see a
Christian biker standing around with shades on and his arms folded like some
club enforcer, I have to laugh inside.
The 1%`er is what he is and therefore lives out his beliefs—I
can respect that because they are who and what they say they are. But what
about the Christian clubs, MM`s, or RC`s that stand with one foot in Christ and
the other in some grey area—a “wanna be” Neither the Christian nor the 1%`er
can respect that. We as Christian bikers must be what we say we are!
Having said that—who are we? We are servants of Christ. We
are his disciples. We are to act and live as peaceful, loving, kind, patient servants
of the living God who happen to also ride motorcycles and have long beards,
long hair, and tattoos.
If we ride like heathens, cuss, drink, show a tough guy
attitude or any other habit from the “Old man,” we do a disservice to our Lord
and to our witness. Can we be perfect? Maybe not, I`m not sure because Jesus
once said “Be perfect, as your Father in Heaven [IS] perfect” (Mathew 5:48). I can only guess
that Jesus believes it is possible for us to be perfect in our thoughts and
behavior or he would not have said so. I do know this for certain; our witness
is easily destroyed or damaged when we behave like those still in the world.
I love all my Christian and non-Christian brothers in the
wind. This message if for those who say they ride for Christ. You are either a
Christian biker, or not. You are either a Motorcycle ministry or a Gang. You
cannot be both, but your fruit, your behavior, your persona will show the world
whom you really are. If you wear a Christian patch (and believe me, some are barely
distinguishable) then make sure your actions are the actions that would glorify
our Lord Jesus, not your colors or your ego.
WP
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