The secret Christian communication code

“But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.”

Colossians 3:8

I have the unique privilege in my job of meeting a new group of people almost weekly. Within a few minutes of meeting a group, I can usually determine the Christians in the group. My coworkers have noticed the same thing, and we joke that Christians almost have a secret communication code. Below, I have listed the most consistent things that we notice. We encounter several thousand people each year, so our data set is relatively large.

They don’t use foul language but use words like “blessings” and “gifts.” Most Christians don’t immediately come out and tell you they are Christians. It’s often in the words they use—and some of the words they don’t use.

They clearly understand the difference between weak and meek. Weakness is not having the ability to act or react. Meekness is having the ability but choosing restraint. The most obvious Christians seem to always be engaged but are rarely aggressive or overbearing.

They don’t argue but tend to model behaviors that grow influence with people. I once had a very wise and elderly Christian man tell me, “I’m not sure if I have ever changed someone’s mind by telling them they were wrong. I have tried to model something positive for them and let them make their own decisions.”

They exhibit a true gospel humility. C.S. Lewis defined gospel humility in Mere Christianity as, "Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less." This means true humility is self-forgetfulness—freedom from self-absorption—rather than mere self-deprecation, shifting the focus from ego to God and others.

The above points can seem so obvious, yet I still mess up. I mess up when I get inward-focused and begin feeding my own ego. I live my most purpose-driven life when I try to make decisions that are pleasing to God and live an others-focused life. Are you modeling something in your Christian walk that is apparent to others?

Galatians 5:22 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness."

Roger Smithson

MD5 Facilitator