Spiritual Reputation

Scripture: Romans 1:8-15; 16:19Jeremiah 9:24Corporate America seeks for powerful ways to build a great brand reputation. They engage public relations consultants who advise on packaging, TV, adverts, internet ads, and other strategies. Some Christian organizations have built strong brand reputation through marketing, events and worship effects. The purpose of brand reputation and the goodwill of an organization is to instill trust and confidence in their products or services It is pertinent to observe that there are people who have fame for evil things and conduct. Suffice to say that there are reputations worthy of having and emulating. So what do you have reputation for ?Spiritual reputation refers to how the world view and perceive the conduct of our Christian practice. It is the culmination of the experience people had with believers just like Paul told Timothy to be an example of believers in “speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity” 1 Timothy 4:12NIV. Reputation has value and importance in our interaction with the world and heaven. On the other hand a believer who loses his spiritual reputation can be likened to salt that lost its flavor and is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. Matthew 5:13NIVIn Romans 1:8 Paul commends the believers in Rome “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.” These believers had a reputation for their faith and Paul was thankful to God for such testimony. The nature and character of faith that gives glory and thanks to God is worth having by believers. So what is this reputation of faith that believers in Rome had acquired? Why is their reputation of faith worth emulating ? In Romans 16:19 Paul writes “Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice over you. But I want you to be wise about what is good and innocent about what is evil.” So the faith of the Romans consists of their obedience and loyalty to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul also enjoined these believers to be wise in good conduct and innocent concerning things that are evil. This admonition is necessary because in verse 17 Paul had urged these believers to avoid those who cause dissension and obstacles contrary to sound doctrines.