“Do all things without murmuring and arguing, so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like the stars in the world.”  Philippians 2:14-15 

        In today’s world as in back in Paul’s days and the days Philippians that he was addressing, to be a Christian, that is a follower of Christ, we must set an example to the rest of society in how we live and act each and every day. We cannot be focused on each other’s differences and arguing all the time with each other. But going out into the world that is increasingly secularized and without moral fiber and be good examples of how to live is what we as Christians must do.

Now that does not mean to be in people’s faces and tell them how to go about their lives and what is or is not right. No, what we as Christians are called to do is to be examples of how to live and what is right. Be kind and courteous to others, even when they are not kind to you. Be helpful to others even when you are not being helped or expect anything in return.  When there are disagreements do not let them become a dividing issue, it is ok to disagree as long as you talk and work out those differences peacefully and calmly.

The key, when surrounded by wrong behavior and beliefs is not only to not join in; but also not to just preach about it. To shine like the stars means one needs to be a beacon to others on what is good in God’s sight. By living and acting as Christ wants us to every moment of every day, is how we change society for the better. The change happens not when we tell others how to behave and live, but when we show them by example. No one likes to be preached at but when one sees good behavior, one is moved to do the same.