If you are looking for a feel-good editorial, this isnt it. This is a call to action. Its a call preachers, ministers, Sunday school teachers and Christian authors have been making all along. Its a call to action we thought we could heed someday but now has urgency.

If who we say we arefollowers of Christis going to make the positive difference our world needs now and into the future, then we must grow in Christ now. We must submit our thoughts, decisions and actions to Christ now.

We must submit to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives now so love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control will grow in us now to produce the needed fruit in the days ahead.

We also need to undergo the rigorous testing of our faith called for by James and referred to by Paul. In opposition to our normal modes of burying ourselves in the news or seeking constant distraction from it, we need to allow Christ to do his work in us.

My undergraduate degree is in criminal justice. When it became apparent the coronavirus was spreading in the United States and our communities would need to practice social distancingwhat morphed into stay at home ordersI mentally went back to my education in criminal justice and group dynamics.

From what I know about human behaviorparticularly human behavior among stressed groups of peoplewe are going to need all the fruit of the Spirit we can get. And we cant assume its going to fall out of the sky. It must grow in us through regular submission to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Over the intervening weeks, Ive been grateful for how many have responded to social restrictions. Many people have done their best to be positive and helpful. We have seen some of the best of humanity, which is a joy.

But

As David Brooks pointed out in an op-ed a couple of weeks ago, we have a difficult time remaining positive under the weight of a pandemic. In fact, we have a difficult time refraining from expressing our worst selves in times like these. The best news I have for you here is I wont give examples. You dont need them. You already know.

All indications are things are going to get harder before they get better, and they may get much harder. As more people get sick, more people die, more jobs are lost, money gets tighter, people become exasperated with being cooped up and on and on, it will become increasingly harder to be patient, encouraging, compassionate, hopeful, all the things we need to be.

Decisions will have to be made that no one wants to think about. People will behave in ways they will want to forget. As we reach the end of our reservesphysical, mental, emotional and spiritualwe will begin to act out of what comes naturally.

If such an ominous prediction comes true, then our world will need followers of Christ to be full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control. We must be able to persevere in the midst of trials and suffering. We must, we can, and we will, but not under our own power and strength.

If we will submit ourselves to Jesus Christ and the work of his Spirit in us, we will produce the needed fruit, we will persevere, and God will be glorified in us. Whats more, the world will take notice.

Heres something to feel good about: Despite whats true about humans under great stress, the Lord is gracious and good and holds us up through times like this. The Lord also accomplishes great works of redemption during times like this. Remembering the Lord already has demonstrated the character he expects us to demonstrate gives me hope.

When I was in college, I told a friend I wanted to play the guitar like Eric Clapton. He told me I should have started last week. It was deflating but true. If I was going to make a guitar sing the way Eric Clapton can, I couldnt think it would happen after a handful of 30-minute self-taught lessons. I needed to dig in and practice seriously. I never did.

In the same way, if we are going to reflect Christand we need to reflect Christ right nowwe cant expect to live the way we want to live and turn on the patience come crunch time. We still have opportunity to grow in Christian character. We can practice every minute, hour and day we are holed up, whether we are with other people or not.

We have to practice these things, not to earn salvation or to win Gods love and approval (Ephesians 2:8-9), but because they dont come naturally for us, because Jesus said what will come out of us is what fills our heart, and because there is good work for us to do in Jesus name. (Matthew 12:34, Luke 6:45, Proverbs 4:23, Ephesians 2:10).

Christian character matters. The fruit of the Spirit matters. During good times, we dont give much thought to these things, but these arent what anyone would call good times. This is the big squeeze, and frankly, we excuse me, Ishould have cared more about growing in Christian maturity before now.

Eric Black is the executive director, publisher and editor of the Baptist Standard. He can be reached ateric.black@baptiststandard.comor on Twitter at@EricBlackBSP. The views expressed are those solely of the author.

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Editorial: For the tough times ahead, grow in Christ now - Baptist Standard