Christians are “salt” and “light” in their communities, which means that people perceive them to be different in moral areas.  They are seen as hard working, honest, loyal, refusing to take advantage of people or to cheat, managing money properly, acting honorably towards the opposite sex, people who are true to their word, and people who love and honor God.  Even though different societies have different definitions of “godly person,” the list above is true for every society. 

 

In the times of the early church, there were three clearly defined types of people:  Civilized Gentiles, uncivilized Gentiles, and Jews.  Christians were so different from all of these they became known as the fourth group: followers of Jesus and as a consequence were also quite persecuted.  But, people knew they were different.

 

Are you perceived as a godly person?  One missionary who served in India would always introduce himself this way:  “I am a businessman and my business is to help people invest their money for profit.  I honor God and therefore I am honest, do not cheat my customers, care about the community that I am in, so am involved in working with youth for better education, and desire that my business helps India and Indians and that God is pleased with what I do.”  He said that he did this so that people would know right off that he was a Christian and that his Christian beliefs influenced what he did and how he cared for people.  Also, if the person he was introduced to was not put off by that, he knew he could raise his Christian values in further conversations.  Right from the start he identified himself as a “godly person.