“Prove yourself brave, truthful, and unselfish, and someday you will be a real boy.”

Philippians 4:4-9

Pinocchio wanted to be a real boy more than anything. He was tired of being a puppet and living at the mercy of someone else making his every move happen. And yet, he couldn't just demand that this happen to him. He had to prove himself worthy of being a real boy through the school of hard knocks.

Let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus...

Pinocchio is told "prove yourself brave, truthful, and unselfish, and someday you will be a real boy." In other words, you have to figure out what it means to really be a human. Do you just get to be one, or do you have to exhibit the qualities that make you 'human'?  

Stands to reason that Paul would hold the Christ followers accountable to the same sort of high standards when they are organizing the early faith communities.  To what standards should someone called Christian be held?  Paul is saying to the people of Philippi, "if we are setting ourselves apart as persons who profess to believe in the Risen Christ, who profess to follow his way, what standards do we hold ourselves to?

Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

It is both very simple and very difficult. It really is just about doing whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, pleasing, commendable, excellent, worthy of praise.  But, on any given day, there is no more challenging task.  When we would rather have our own way than follow the way of Christ, we fail to meet most of the above criteria.

Our country's political leaders have fallen into this trap. And we let them do it. Long ago we quit requiring of them to do 'whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, pleasing, commendable, excellent' and are content to hold them accountable for almost nothing.

That sentiment follows us into our everyday lives, too. We have got to learn what it means to be a real boy (girl), just like Pinocchio had to learn. We have got to align ourselves with that man who became our Savior and be brave, truthful and unselfish... then, and only then, will we become REAL Christians.

Thoughts? Comments? Email me or comment below.