Goody-two-shoes, Do-gooders, and all that

Has anyone ever called you a "goody two-shoes?" It is usually not a compliment, given that the reason someone receives the title is that someone is so good so as to be annoying to regular, imperfect people. I often wonder from where we get such expressions. It turns out it comes from a 1765 children's book. It was about a poor, orphan girl named Margery Meanwell (she means well, get it?) who walks around forlornly with only one shoe until a wealthy benefactor gives her a new pair of shoes, after which she runs around town knocking on doors and telling everyone she can find that she now has "two shoes." See? Annoying.

Of course, there are other variations on being a goody two-shoes. You can be a "do-gooder," which conjures up images of the old cartoon Canadian Mountie Dudley Do-Right, or you can be a "goody-goody," which sounds like something that fell from an ice cream truck.

Paul advises that followers of Jesus not grow weary in doing good. We will reap the fruit of such persistence in doing good, if we do not give up. He also says that we are to do good to everyone, whether they follow Jesus or not. You can read this in Galatians 6:9-10.

Comedian Jeff Foxworthy and host of the cancelled television quiz show "Are You Smarter than a Fifth-Grader?," is well known for his "You might be a redneck" one-liners. Think about how people might complete the sentence, "You might be a Christian if ..."

How would a Christian respond? What is a biblical response to this sentence?

You might be a Christian if you love God with your heart, mind, soul, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself.

You might be a Christian if you see by faith that God was in Christ reconciling the world to God.

You might be a Christian if you ponder the deeper meaning of the Ten Commandments.

You might be a Christian if you are growing in your faith, hope, and love.

You might be a Christian if you are growing the fruit of the Spirit, such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, self-control.

You might be a Christian if you persist in doing good to people, whether they deserve it or not.

You might be a Christian if you are engaged in ministry through the spiritual gifts God has given you.

You might be a Christian if you identify with the Body of Christ and if Christ is taking shape in you.

How might a non-believer respond? David Kinnaman’s book, Unchristian (2008) might suggest the following.

"You might be a Christian if you are against everything."

You might be a Christian if you are hypocritical.

You might be a Christian if tell everyone to “get saved.”

You might be a Christian if you are anti-homosexual.

You might be a Christian if you lead a sheltered life.

You might be a Christian if you are too political.

You might be a Christian if you are judgmental.