character

        First off, I am horrible at keeping my commitments to this blog. And as my readers I gave you full right to call me out on my lack of blogging. But alas I have not blogged, and I must. I want to keep my promise to myself, just like Horton the elephant. But good news! I can use my blog for school credit because I've been writing about a lot of emerson's concepts. So to stick with that theme, I wanted to write about character. (which is an emerson piece)
          So Emerson wrote this essay called Character. Which is basically a commentary on who you are innately, how you come to be who you are, what makes you who you are, and what you do with that. He plays off of a lot of his other ideas. He writes about how we have a character about us that is guided by nature (which I basically translate as God). A lot of what he says he walking in circles (haha, get it... like emerson's other essay...  #emersonjoke #nerdhumor) but I love one of his quotes "new actions are only apologies and explanations of old ones." I like it because first it brings up the idea that "action speaks louder than words" and then it basically says that you can't remake a first impression.
        The quote makes you think about your actions, your initial actions. How you act around people and how you present yourself shapes the perspective of how people will view you forever. This is from the very beginning of a relationship with someone. And every other action following the first impression is a  explanation, or apology of the first impression. And no matter who you really are, if you present yourself a certain way you will be viewed with that presentation in mind forever. This is pivotal for christians.
       As followers of Jesus we wear his name wherever we go. Plus we are supposed to be attracting people to us so we can have an opportunity to witness to them. So if we get caught on a bad day when we are cussing out traffic and avoiding people and being generally grumpy and impatient then people will not only view you through a 'miserable grump' framework. Then they will view all christians with that frame work. And then how will that person ever believe that Jesus is the way to peace? He/she will forever believe that all christians fake joy and are truly miserable. and likewise for overly pushy christians. If  a christian is shoving the gospel down others throats then society will forever expect that from christians everywhere. Situations like this make it very hard for Christians to build a positive reputation. Christians with the right character making the right impressions is still explaining and apologizing for the actions of other christians. Which puts each of us under extreme scrutiny.
      So where does that leave us, right? We are forever stuck with the reputations of other christians but we have the carry Jesus' name well. Quite honestly that just kinda sucks for us. But sometimes you are the first and only Jesus that anyone will ever see. If you give someone a good framework for viewing christians then it will rebuild our reputation. Maybe people will stop believing the stereotypes. But we are still under scrutiny. We are sinners and we mess up, and every time we do someone is waiting to associate our sin with all christians everywhere. Which again, quite frankly, sucks. But maybe we should pull a Taylor Swift. She avoids using red solo cups because if anyone snaps a picture they will assume she is drinking. She is a role model and doesn't want to represent her character in any inappropriate way. We need to be on our best behavior at all times. That does not mean we need to wear a mask and try to pretend we are perfect, because society needs to know that christians sin too (and thats why we are christian in the first place). But we need to make an effort to show people an appropriate representation of christians.
      Beverly Carroll always says we need to wear Jesus well. Maybe thats what I'm getting at. Being christian is part of your character. And your character is shown through your actions. And your actions can never be taken back according to Emerson. Your actions build how the world sees you. So watch what you do and say, because you are representing a lot more than your character. As a christian you are at all times representing Jesus.