I heard an interesting quote on the radio which, in my opinion, exposes a dangerous thread being woven into the fabric of our culture:
"Believability doesn't matter anymore."

I heard this said on the radio once as a DJ was discussing a stunt by the illusionist, David Blain.  If you never read the articles or watched every news program highlight the story, David Blain spent the last 7 days in a water globe.  He was able to breathe through a scuba diving helmet coming in from the top.  To conclude this endeavor of his, he tried to hold his breathe for 9 minutes without any assistance...he made it to 7 minutes when his body started reacting to the lack of oxygen...he immediately surfaced to the top without accomplishing his goal.

The DJ then broke into a discussion about commercial and TV shows that are promising a miracle 5 minute work-out, life changing drugs and who will be eliminated on the latest reality show.  If you've watched any of these on TV, you know a recent trend is to drag a simple 20 second reveal into a 30 minute show.  Sometimes, in regards to the "5 minute work-out that will make you lose 100 lbs", you learn that it is only a small variable of many in order to achieve the promised results.

When I say "politician", what comes to mind?
When I say "lawyer", what comes to mind?
When I say "priest", what comes to mind?

I think we're on the same track now...the safety net of "believability" is slowing eroding away.  There was a time when you could "take their word for it"...a day when radio and TV ads didn't have to end with a guy talking a million miles a minute as he lists how the company will not be liable for anything.  I can't help but relate the worlds of the DJ to our daily relationships.  Are you believable?  When you say, "Sure, I'll meet you at 6"...will they believe you or have your past actions led them immediately to doubt?  When you tell a story, are the listeners confident in the "facts" you've shared.  Do your actions compliment your words or do you find yourself scrambling for the best excuse?

Believability obviously requires truth.  Our witness is directly affected in this...what people hear doesn't seem to carry the same weight as what we heard 10-15 years ago.  So what does this mean for us:  In our pursuit to share the love of Christ - to proclaim the Gospel, the bar has been raised in requiring more action than words.  The weight has shifted...rather than declaring your dissatisfaction with poverty, donate your clothes...donate food.  Rather than picket your disgust of homosexuality, meet them where they're at and offer the love Christ offers them.  Our direction is to live holiness rather than only demanding it in the lives of others.  I am extremely confident in the idea that when our actions become paralleled with our words, or even preface our voices, believability will begin to be restored to our culture.

Defeat is not something to accept when speaking of the Church's efforts to spread the love Christ brought to earth.  More than ever, it's critical for us to restore the passion that existed in Acts despite the persecution that followed the believers.  Let's turn our attention to action rather than rights...lets saturate our world with love rather than lament.  I ask that you join me by changing your life...be different today...make tomorrow exciting...affect someone's life for the glory of God.  Be believable.