Chivalry

One of my favorite bloggers just posted this...

Let's Talk Chivalry

I LOVE IT!!!! Comment for her if you will, I love her writing.

My thoughts are: I just really want to simply encourage you guys out there. I know it's not easy -- really, believe me, I know it's not! I once heard a guy speak and he said, "Guys just want to know the answer to a life-long question, 'What do you girls want?!?'" It can't be easy when one girl get mad that you open a door while another gets mad that you don't. It's tough, and scary, and dangerous.

But then, when does the culture dictate what's right and what's not? if we lived by the culture, it would be fine for girls to walk around with their entire midriff exposed and guys to sleep around every other day... But we KNOW that's not right. It's at that point that we have to say, "Whether I get cussed out or thanked is not the point. Whether I'm being the best representative of Christ or not is the ultimate point."

When I'm at work, I make it a point to call everyone (no matter their age) Mr., Mrs., or Miss. Some of my co-workers can't stand it! But, under no circumstances will I change my behavior. When someone gives me a hard time about it I just say, "Mrs. Smith, I would never, under any circumstances, deny you the honor and respect you deserve by NOT calling you by your title." Once again, whether they deserve respect or not isn't the point. I'm being an example of Christ.

So why? Why should we go through all this trouble, if nothing ever happens? If all we ever get is criticism and never thanks; why even bother? Why not just stand back -- not deliberately be rude, but not going out of your way to be a gentleman? Think of it like this... If you see a girl dressing immodestly what kind of guy will she attract, and what do you think of her? She probably won't attract very godly guys, and you probably don't think she's a godly girl. However, if you see a girl going out of her way to dress modestly -- putting up with teasing and the extra work of finding modest clothes -- then what? Your perception of her changes. She suddenly becomes a very godly girl and will attract not just godly guys, but godly people in general! It works the same way with being a gentle man. By never doing anything that sets you apart as a gentleman, you will probably not attract a group of godly people. However, if you put foreword the extra effort, and put up with the teasing, eventually you will attract a godly girl -- and not just that, but godly PEOPLE!

John 15:20 "Remember the word that I said to you, 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also."

I'm not gong to sugar coat it, I probably don't need to. It won't be easy or simple trying to be the godly gentlemen God has called you to be. Some would ask, "Why even try then? If it's so hard, and most of it to no avail, why should I even put forward the effort? Just to get my face slapped?" I have one very simple reason (several actually)...

#1 Because God has called you to be a representative of Him. Anything you can do to be a better example of Christ, isn't it REASONABLE to do it?

#2 Even if all of your earthy works are in vain, every time you did just a little bit extra gives you heavenly rewards. If you live a 100 miserable years on earth, doing everything God asked of you, but no human noticed, it still pails when we get to the year 500 zillion in heaven!

#3 No act of gentlemanliness, no matter how small, ever goes completely un-noticed.