Chaplains Corner
A Good Reputation For
Christ
Dave Brandon, of Our Daily Bread
During his college days at Florida State University,
Charlie Ward was a two-sport student-athlete. In
1993, the young quarterback won the Heisman
Trophy as the country’s best college American
football player and starred on the basketball team.
During a pregame talk one day, his basketball coach
used some foul language as he talked to his players.
He noted that Charlie “wasn’t comfortable” and said,
“Charlie, what’s up? Ward said, “Coach, you know,
Coach Bowden [the football coach] doesn’t use that
language, and he gets us to play hard.”
Charlie’s Christlike character allowed him to speak
gently to his basketball coach about the issue. The
coach told a reporter: “It’s almost as if an angel was
looking at you” when he talked to Charlie.
A good reputation with unbelievers and a faithful
witness for Christ are hard to maintain. But at the
same time, believers in Jesus can grow to be more like
Him as He helps and guides us. In Titus 2, younger
men, and by extension all believers, are called to be
“self-controlled” and to “show integrity … and
soundness of speech that cannot be condemned”.
When we live that way in Christ’s strength, we’ll
honor Him and build a good reputation. As God
provides the wisdom we need, people will have
reason to hear what we say!