Watch your walk... it may change someone's life.

I'm sure most of you have seen at leas the previews of The Blind Side  a movie about a white Christian from Tennessee--the Tuohys--who invite a homeless black youth--Michael Oher--into their home and then later adopt him.  Sandra Bullock plays the part of Leigh Anne Tuohy.  Running around Thanksgiving of 2009, the movie had excellent reviews and was, as is the case in most football movies, quite inspiring.

I was surfing the web a while back and came across an article at One News Now in which Ms. Bullock--Mrs. Jesse James for you purists - ;-)--was discussing her discovery of real Christians.  She said that meeting Mrs. Tuohy, who attends Grace Evangelical Church in Memphis, TN, showed her that there really are some Christians who "walk the walk."

Bullock says thanks to the Tuohys, who attend Grace Evangelical Church in Memphis, she now has "faith in those who say they represent a faith." Getting to know Leigh Anne Tuohy, says the actress, showed her that religious faith can be authentic. "She was so open and honest and forthright," Bullock shares, "and I said, wow, I finally met someone who practices but doesn't preach."

Tuohy isn't like some hypocritical church-goers she's known, adds Bullock. "The beauty of Leigh Anne was one of my biggest questions was how people use their faith and their religion as a banner," she says. "And then they don't do the right thing, but they go 'I'm a good Christian and I go to church and this is the way you should live your life.'"
Bullock admits she was wary of Christians before she met the Tuohys. "Whereas...before I was like, do not give me a lecture on how to live my life when I know I'm a pretty decent human being," says the actress. "I might not go to church everyday, but I know I do the right thing or try to. You're going to church and you're still sleeping around on your wife...how are you better than I am? So I finally met people who walk the walk."

After reading her words my heart broke.  How many times had other Christians witnessed, proselytized, accused, and looked down on Sandra over the years and then while she watched them, contradict everything they were pushing--claiming "well, at least I'm forgiven!"
How many times have I done the same? or, at least, thought it?  I mean, c o m e  o n!  She's married to a guy with tattoos!  Doesn't that make her an even worse sinner?  I'll bet she even gets drunk now and then.... harrumph!

But that's not how God sees her...
He sees her as precious. 
He sees her as one He has known from the beginning of time. 
He sees her as one for whom he has a plan. 
He knows her heart.

Yet, all it takes is one person, who walks before she talks to make the difference.  I am going to take a minute to applaud Mrs. Tuohy.  Thank you for being an example.  I know I don't have to remind your husband Sean just how terrific you are.  And let me also thank Mr. Sean Tuohy for being a great husband in supporting his wife.  You can always tell a good husband by demeanor of his wife.

No, Sandra Bullock, I am not better than you.  No Christian on the planet is better than you.  We are all equal in God's eyes.  We all have the same opportunity to give ourselves to Christ, or not.  But that is your choice.



So, does that mean that we stop telling people about Jesus?  No!  But it does bear to mention... if you are, then remember this:

People are watching you.
People are watching US!
We had BETTER be different!
To them, it's not enough to know you're saved - there has to be a change.  And, if you are saying one thing and later, demonstrating that you haven't really changed, well then...
...wouldn't you say you're hurting the cause, not helping... truthfully?
Watch your walk... it may change someone's life.

A footnote:
Michael Oher became an All-American selection for Ole Miss and a first-round NFL draft pick. He now plays for the Baltimore Ravens.

Leigh Anne Tuohy says she hopes The Blind Side inspires more people to help others. "You don't have to go out and bring a child into your home -- that's not what's required," says Tuohy. "But you can do something -- everybody is capable of doing something. So whatever your something is, do it well. Make a difference."

Shout out to UrbanChristianNews.com for archiving the original article. 

God bless you today...
BBTO