Name Tags: You are… Cunning, But Innocent

I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

Matthew 10:16 (NIV)

When Christ sent His disciples out alone, He told them to be shrewd and innocent. His advice might seem contradictory. 

The first is worldly. The next is godly, but so is a working saint's life on Earth. Only in Jesus can these terms mix well!

I believe some of the modern-day church has reinterpreted our Lord's orders. 

  • Instead of shrewd, some Christians can be snide: condemning outsiders with harsh disdain.

  • Instead of innocent, they're unprepared: unskilled in their King's rules of engagement.

Actors, models, and talent for Christ:

Look at one more (confusing?) Bible Verse:

'His master praised the unrighteous manager, because he had acted shrewdly; for the sons of this age are more shrewd in relation to their own kind than the sons of light' (Luke 16:8, NASB).*

So what does all this shrewdness mean to you?

  1. Your Manager clearly says: BE SAVVY! Learn the entertainment industry well. Master all of its qualifications. To shine amidst world-class competitors, you must match or exceed its reigning stars. Much like Daniel, Joseph, and Esther did within pagan, idolatrous cultures.

  2. Your Rock Star/Model NEVER acted snide. 'For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved' (John 3:17, NKJV). Jesus was kind to sinners and outcasts.

  3. At the very same time… be innocent! Be innocent of condemning others. Be innocent of judging every sin. Be innocent of “sanctioned” selfishness. Be innocent of “accepted” idols… that (sadly) prosper in many churches.

But above all, safeguard your innocence by following and obeying Jesus.

Name Tags: You Are… Cunning, But Innocent (Part 28)

* This Verse is from The Parable of the Unrighteous Steward, and It's One of the Lord's most debated Parables--specifically the Verse quoted above.

* Full Parable: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke+16%3A1-18&version=NASB

* Various scholarly interpretations of Luke 16:8: http://biblehub.com/commentaries/luke/16-8.htm

NOTE: God is my Ghostwriter. If what I write is good, it’s from God. You may see notes to 'Actors, Models & Talent for Christ.' If you think you're not in show business, think again. Shakespeare said, 'All the world's a stage and all its men and women merely players.’ Mostly true. But you're not merely players. You are messengers and ambassadors for the King of kings.

Carey Arban