Ran into my ex-manager at a place of worship praying fervently. If I did not know any better, I would have believed what I was seeing. This is a person who, despite wearing a bead they would pray with throughout the day, a cross around their neck, and of course attending Sunday services unfailingly, yet nothing in their conduct at work or in their dealings with me pointed to the fact that they were actual believers let alone Christians.
Of all my terrible experiences on that team, what shook me most was the last incident that happened right before I left the company. A colleague from Belarus had their eyes set on me for whatever reason and would incessantly pick on me. At the company dinner, they cursed me to tears and even used racial slurs. This person was sat in the middle of two Christian colleagues while hurling insults and slurs at me, but when it was time to file a complaint, no one would assist me because they all claimed they either heard nothing, weren’t sure of what they heard, or simply could not remember what they heard.
Maybe I am biased for expecting a scriptural kind of leadership from a Christian in a place of leadership. In my mind, faith is not something to be worn for identity or status, but something to live. Even the Scriptures say the same. So if someone openly claims they are a Christian, especially while wearing symbols like a cross, I would think it natural for anyone to expect their leadership style to reflect the teachings of the Bible.
What I experienced from their leadership was a far cry from someone who knew God, which is why I found it hilarious when they once invited me to their Sunday service. Unfortunately, under their leadership, instead of service there was exploitation. Instead of integrity, there was deceit. Instead of justice, there was manipulation. Instead of protection, there was silence in the face of cruelty, and instead of mercy, there was humiliation. Thus one can imagine why I was taken aback seeing them pray at the place of worship.
Sadly, I have noticed this is quite commonplace in Christian society. Many Christians look the part on Sundays but live the opposite from Monday through Saturday. Outward devotion is measured in Sunday service attendance, symbols, and rituals, but the fruits that the Bible says must mark our lives are missing. In their minds they are devout because they attend denominational services unfailingly and socialize as needed. But commitment to a denomination and its rituals does not equate to commitment to God in both belief and lifestyle.
The Bible is very clear about leadership and how we should treat one another. Leaders must walk in integrity (Proverbs 10:9). Leaders must protect the weak (John 10:11). Leaders should lead by example (1 Peter 5:3). And we are to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly (Micah 6:8).
In the absence of these qualities, I always ponder where the disconnect comes from. For a long time, I used to think “devout Christians (religiously attend services like zombies)” were only commonplace in my home country. But having lived in various countries abroad, I now know better. Many of us practice faith publicly, but when it comes to real life, where we should let our light shine so our Creator may be glorified, nothing points to the teachings we claim to follow.
The Bible never said we will be known by the pew we sit on or the prayers we recite. It said we will be known by our fruits. It is not enough to practice rituals yet make no effort to love God, love His people, and live consistently in that love. We are called to live authentically so that our daily choices quietly testify to whom we belong.
The question then is: what story does your life tell? Is it one that confirms the Scriptures you profess, or one that denies them? Would someone see you at your place of work or in public and recognize whom you belong to because of the light you radiate, or would they see you at your place of worship and shudder while staring at you sideways?
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