ARCM is Mentoring in Action and Not in Secret

Life should not be lived in secret. If we are followers of Christ, we should exemplify Christ-like actions. In other words, what a mentee sees in our life and actions should be truly who we are in Christ. We should not be acting one way in private and another way in church or in front of our children and family. Christians are to set Christ-like examples in every aspect of our lives. The Apostle Paul said it this way: “For we are fellow workmen (joint promoters, laborers together) with and for God; you are God’s garden and vineyard and field under cultivation, [you are God’s building]. According to the grace of God bestowed upon me, like a skillful architect and master builder, I laid the foundation and now another [man] is building upon it. But let each man be careful how he builds upon it. For no other Foundation can anyone lay than that which is already laid, which is Jesus Christ, the Messiah, … The work of each one will become known (shown for what it is); for the day of Christ will disclose and declare it, because it will be revealed with fire and the fire will test and critically appraise the character and worth of the work each person has done.” – (I Corinthians 3: 9-13. Amplified).

Although we may think that we can hide things from other people, God sees everything we do and hears everything we say. It saddens God that we do things against His commandments and His Words. For God’s Words were written to not take things away from us, but to help us. Moreover, the characteristics of Christ are expressed throughout the Newer Covenant/ Testament. We are to strive to attain these Christ-like characteristics. So, it has to break God’s heart when “born-again” Christians ignore the Truth of God’s Word to live as they wish. No, we will never become perfect, for only Christ is perfect. However, we can strive to be that role-model and example of true followers of Christ who want to be the best they can be for Christ.

If we choose ARCM as our service, we should attempt to daily live for Christ. Christ is watching how we treat our neighbors, strangers, family and friends. In fact, Christians are known by both our actions and inactions, which are representative of what we believe and think about the rest of the world and God. That is why we cannot tell the world that we are a Christian mentor and then live as if we love all the things of this world. We cannot say we are one thing and then do something that shows we are totally something else. We have to be authentic and real in our Christianity and in serving others. We cannot express un-Christ-like behaviors and actions and then expect others to respect us or believe what we have to say.

Some actions and words can ruin a mentoring relationship. However, inaction as well as implied words or beliefs can ruin a relationship just as easily. For, inaction in not doing the things that we either should or should not do actually becomes a type of action. For, by not doing anything about something that we know is wrong means we are actually engaging in an inaction that could be negative or hurtful. This often happens when Christians allow the world we live in to invade their lives in such a manner that they can no longer recognize some things as sinful or harmful.

Just like the rest of the world, Christians can become desensitized to things that are wrong or that can spiritually harm us or our families. Although there are many ways that we can become desensitized, one of the easiest ways to become desensitized is through our televisions. The television is controlled by secularism and liberalism; regularly bringing un-godly ideas into our homes. Both passive and active mentoring occurs through our televisions. But, most Christians do not think about the damage that the television and its programming can do to our faith and our family. Instead, the television is used as a babysitter and as entertainment to unwind after a long day.

We have a myriad of un-godly ideas coming into our homes through the television screen. We allow many of the these ideas along with the sins of the world to come into our homes and to creep into our brains and the brains of our children. Thus we become part of the cultural world, as we try to incorporate the fashions and ideas of the world into our lives. Christians and Christian mentors, however, should focus on living for Christ and not on the cultural world. “For this world’s wisdom is foolishness (absurdity and stupidity) with God, for it is written, He lays hold of the wise in their own craftiness; and again, the Lord knows the thoughts and reasonings of the [humanly] wise and recognizes how futile they are.”  -- (I Corinthians 3: 19-20. Amplified).

The actions and inactions of Christian mentors need to reflect their godly wisdom and not worldly wisdom. Their actions and inactions also must set a Christ-like example for their mentees as well as their families and friends. This means that not only should mentors be authentic and real, but they should not say one thing to their mentee and then do something totally different in private or when away from the mentee. Our mentees will not believe or respect us, if in our ARCM we turn out to be frauds. Christian mentors must attempt to live for Christ in all aspects of our lives. Yes, we will stumble at times, but we cannot deliberately do things that are un-godly or that set bad examples for our mentees. Remember, you are Christ’s ambassador and what you do in secret will eventually be seen in the light. Live for Christ and mentor others for Him. You can do it!