I have also been thinking a lot about how we can be more missional in our attitudes and actions as we "do" church. I believe one way is simply to mention the name Jesus, as we come along side our friends and co-workers, family and neighbors. To muster the words "God lives," and "Jesus saves," with our words and deeds. To offer to pray with someone, simple prayers of love and care and joy, in the name of Jesus. It all sounds simple, but I see the terror in people's eyes as I encourage them to go for it.
Not able to sleep past 4:30 this morning, I pulled up my emails. One was from a dear member who attached a commentary from Ben Stein, comedian, delivered on CBS Morning Show some years back. It struck me today as I considered why we don't talk about Jesus more "out there." Bear with me, as I post excerpts. Ben Stein writes:
I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish.... I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that
In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.
Well, I say (Lyn now) God said he will leave us to ourselves. It's all over the biblical witness. And yes, God is slow to anger, but God is not tolerant when God's name and will is mocked or silenced, especially by God's people. Eventually, we who call Jesus Lord and believe God is the Creator of the Universe, and the Holy Spirit lives in us, will be held accountable for our political correctness about the God we profess.
As Christians when we have the courage to speak up as a believer in God, and as Jesus as Lord of all, we’ll be persecuted; that’s what Jesus and Paul meant by persecution and suffering. We WILL suffer for Jesus when we call out His name against the tide of political correctness. I wish more of us had that courage. Jesus has a difficult plan for us: to spread the good news in season and out, in good times and bad, at the risk of our lives and reputation and rejection.
4 comments:
It's been a while since you last posted and this is so timely. Where I work, it's very difficult to be a witness. Yet, in small ways I can show God's light in simple remarks I make, in how I behave and how I respond to different demands. There are times when my witness falters and I can only confess my failures and pray that I will do better next time.
Our actions speak louder than our words and I am so aware of that. If my actions do not reflect the Lord, then my words, when I have the opportunity to speak, will be hollow. We all need to pray for the courage to live what we believe so that when the chance to speak the name of Jesus comes, our words will have the power to change lives.
Too many of us think of witnessing as confronting people with a Bible in one hand and the four spiritual laws in another. I have been preaching a series at First NKC based on the pastoral epistles. My main theme is that our witness is how we live and respond to situations from a godly perspective. We should be different from the nonbelievers.
I think that SBPC is taking an important step this year in reading through the Bible. Reading the Word every day and discussing it in groups will allow us to incorporate it into our lives. The Word is powerful and effective, it will grow in us by the power of the Holy Spirit.
For example, a person I know once said, "I don't know what real love is." Someone in the group told him he should read 1 Corinthians 13. My friend was ignorant of the Word and was essentially a nonbeliever, but he went out and bought a Bible. He was so impressed by the God breathed words of Paul that he read more.
That was years ago and the person is an active Christian today. His life is totally different. He was resistant to evangelists and formulas for salvation because he saw no value in what they were saying. But he recognized the truth of the Word of God and those words breathed life into his very soul.
If we know the Word and it has worked in us, we will be able to lead others to the truth by sharing with them the wisdom of God. We can offer them help that is really help.
Sorry, I seem to be preaching again.
It is easy to want to blend in with whomever your peer group may be. It is difficult to stand out, or stand up to make a point or a position. Our society has taught us that people that talk openly about God must be 'strange'. But what is really strange is that we have gotten so far from having God in our lives that he's not a part of our daily lives. I know I am committed to starting everyday thanking God for the time he is allowing me to try to make a difference and then assessing each situation to see if this an opportunity to share the Lord.
Over 90 of our 200 members are in Covenant groups, reading through the Bible together, as I preach form one of the week's passages. "Into the Word, Into the World" we call the effort. Amazing things are already happening. Some are thinking of ways to reach out to the community. One lady said she wanted to know her Savior more. All are learning language to use to share Christ - from the Word.
And Will, keep preaching! Good stuff there!
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