Tit. 2:7 ... "In all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds."
Unless a person withdraws himself into a deserted place, he lives in contact with other people who are observers of his conduct. Day by day through his manner of life he communicates to them what he values, what he believes, and what he expects from his efforts. All of this elicits some kind of response from others, who may affirm or deny his beliefs, accept or reject his values, and support or oppose his expectations. This response constitutes some degree of intervention in the lives of others. Beginning in the third century there was a movement in the church that reflected great concern over a Christian's interaction with people about him. There were certain individuals who withdrew from society to live in isolated communes with those of like convictions or in solitary exclusiveness. Their effort was to free themselves from being objects of evil influence and abandoned the hope of improving their world through the good effect they might have upon it. For example, in ca. 285 BC an Egyptian Christian named Antony withdrew into the desert where he practiced an extremely austere life, living on a single meal per day of bread and water for the rest of his life. He slept as little as possible and devoted his time to prayer and to mental combat with the myriad demons he conceived to be about him. During the following century there were hundreds of Christians who followed in Anthony's footsteps in the same quest for isolation from society and freedom from the effects of human influence.
One person's impact upon the life of another may indeed be either for good or evil, thus imposing the responsibility upon each person for his style of conduct which the early hermits and monastics sought to evade. A Christian must of course be very sensitive about the nature of his intervention in the lives of others since he has the spiritual obligation of causing it to be for good, for the Lord wills that we remain in contact with people. In isolated withdrawal we cannot exert the beneficial force upon them that might lead some of them toward God. It is the mission of each Christian in the projection of his ideas, attitudes, and opinions to produce responses of faith in God, good will toward men, peace, humility, and purity. By his speech he should encourage others to speak truthfully, peaceably, kindly, purely, and reverently. And by his conduct he must desire to influence others to behave righteously, cooperatively, decently, and justly.
To have this kind of impact upon the minds, speech, and conduct of others, a Christian must totally surrender his own mind, speech, and behavior to the guiding power of God's word. He himself must be led by the Spirit so that his life continually exhibits "purity in doctrine," a pattern that is "dignified (and) sound in speech which is beyond reproach," (vs. 7b-8a). A life that is conducted under spiritual guidance will be an excellent example for others to behold and respond to positively, as the Lord expects. It will then produce in them the effects which Jesus anticipates in Mat. 5:16 when He says, "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." We must never underestimate the power such influence can have, as the following illustration indicates. In a French boys' school a particularly rebellious lad stabbed another student, inflicting a minor wound. He was punished with confinement in a dark room with a diet of only bread and water. Being terrified of the dark, he was in great distress. When the wounded boy, who was a Christian, heard of it, he persuaded the headmaster to let him take the offender's place. This plea was granted, but with a stipulation, the guilty boy had to bring the bread and water to his substitute each day. On the sixth day, the offender broke down and begged to take the punishment himself. When the three weeks of confinement concluded, he became a convert to Christ. The attitude and example of the Christian he had injured had been the power that persuaded him to yield his life to Christ.
