Adding light through love

I think it’s time for some hard questions about the things plaguing our country.  As Christ Followers it is our privilege to represent Jesus here on earth. How are we doing with that? 

The church, {and when I say church I mean you and me as followers of Jesus}, was established by Jesus to bring Good news to the inhabitants of earth. We are called to share the message of Jesus who came to rescue us from eternity in hell and provide salvation and redemption and restoration of our lives.   This Good News is to flow so vibrantly through our lives that it should pour out to all those around us and be a blessing to them, whether they believe in Jesus or not.   

We have a problem, the church is not doing its job on a large scale in this country. I have a responsibility to love my neighbor, no matter who that is, regardless of what clan of Noah they come from. You have that same responsibility. We cannot solve the hurt and hopelessness by ourselves. But God never intended for us to do it alone. He said he would never leave us or forsake us, but to be strong and courageous.

 So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”  Deuteronomy 31:6 (NLT)

Here’s a few of the hard questions to ask yourself. 

1. Why did God place me here on this earth, living where I live, doing the work that I do, with the people I do it with? 

2. What gifts talents and abilities have I been given that are helpful in ministering to my neighbor? 

3. What am I doing now, to minister to the least of these in unison with the Spirit of God? 

The solution to the unrest in this country is not political and it is not a government program. Jesus presented the solution, it is us. His church. We are to be a light in the darkness. You are part of the solution. Guilt is not the driver but Love. Let us love one another and ask God to be your guide.

Last year we shared a timeless conversation with our friend LEGIN about reconciliation and hope.  We had an honest conversation with a few quotes like:

“The Gospel never works by ignoring the sin issue”

“Let’s talk:  we have the only answer but most times we’ve removed ourselves from the conversation”

“There is HOPE for reconciliation with God and man”

(take a little time to listen to this conversation and then pray about the answers to the questions above as we each do our part)

Jim

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!

Word To Understand:

Church

We have heard our listeners say things like:

“I hate my work environment, I wish I could work at a church.”

What do they really mean when they say the word “church”?

The church was Jesus’s idea. The church was another word for a gathering of Christ followers. The church is the church wherever it gathers. The church is not defined by a building. If Jesus had wanted us to build a bunch of buildings, he probably would have downloaded a few blueprints for us like our Father did for King David. No, the Church isn’t a building and the Church is everywhere: in our neighborhoods, in our workplaces and of course in the 4 walls building we also call a church.

There is the Big “C” church – the whole entire complete Body of Christ and the little “c” church - which is the building we meet in on Sunday. Please, I beg you to stop saying that you wish you worked at a church. You are the church! You are part of the Body of Christ. Some of you are a mouth and some of you are corpuscles but all of you are CRITICALLY important to the mission set before us by Christ.

Your workplace can be a “c” church if you gather with others to pray and meet. You bring the big “C” church into your workplace because you are part of the Body of Christ. Church is not a word defined by buildings, it is defined by your heart. You want to see a difference in your workplace, believe you are part of the “C” church when you walk through the doors of your workplace today. Check out www.iWork4Him.com/jointheNation

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!

Words We Just Don’t Use Any More: Parachurch

Since the beginning of the church, the Body of Christ has struggled with unity.

“I follow Paul”

“I follow Apollos”

“I follow Jesus”.

In the early church they struggled with division and taking sides, and many still struggle today.

Until now. Inside the religious institution of the 4 walls church, there are 45,000 denominations worldwide. 45,000! How does that match up with John 17:20-23? Jesus wanted us to move towards complete unity. This unity hasn’t happened, until now. No longer are there “churches” and “para church ministries”, those are diving words. Everywhere the body of Christ is scattered around the globe, it is THE Church. It is free from division and making an impact.

How do I know…Martha and I have been experiencing it.

Since 2006 I have been studying the Faith and Work Movement and for the past 6 ½ years we have been the Media mouthpiece for it. So much time invested in highlighting what God is doing in the workplaces of our country.

What have we seen?

When the Body of Christ is outside the 4 walls church the body of Christ is unified in reaching the workplaces of this country. There are over 3000 Faith and Work Ministries in this country and all of them are unified with the sole task of discipling Christ Followers to live out their faith in their work. Not one person is in charge of this movement. The Holy Spirit is in charge and He is raising up men and women from every occupation to speak Truth into work and redeem work from the enemy. Work was God’s idea and He is out to transform the workplaces of our country.

So let’s not bring division into the Body of Christ. Stop thinking there is a little “c” church or parachurch, we are THE Church and it was Jesus’ idea.

Have fun in your mission field this week.

Jim

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!