Put a Fish on it Part 2

This cartoon really symbolizes some of the reasons for decline in the United States of America.  Way too many Christians, including me early on in my marketplace career, have used a fish symbol to indicate their “conversion” instead of using a transformed heart that “Loves the Lord your God with all your heart, Mind and Soul and loves your neighbor as yourself”.  Too much religion is about arrogance and rules and power. Jesus was all about bringing inner healing , “LIVING WATER” he said. He wasn’t about pomp and circumstance.  The issues of decline in our society are directly related to Christ Followers failing to bring the Jesus Solution to society.  Every sin issue in our world already has a solution. Jesus paid the price for all sin, even the ones you don’t think are worthy of forgiveness. When our lives depict a reticence and reluctance to forgive and bring healing to our neighbor, we are part of the problem.  A fish symbol doesn’t solve anything.  It’s original intent was to be a secret messaging tool for Christians in persecution, not an advertising tool.

Your workplace is filled with broken and hopeless people who are living in fear. You are a messenger from God to them. Be the healing balm in your workplace today.  Don’t use a fish symbol to announce your Christianity, use love, forgiveness and truth to do that.

Jim

PS. I do have a fish symbol on the back of my car. It is the iWork4Him Logo.  It keeps me in line in my driving because I know it is a statement of my faith. However, I don’t think it has ever inspired someone to follow Jesus, yet.

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!

Put a Fish on it Part 1

I love this cartoon depiction.   I can honestly say that I have had this conversation with Jesus in the past, when I just didn’t “get it” yet. I didn’t understand what it truly meant to be a Jesus Follower.  I believed if I put a fish on my marketing material, advertised in the Christian directory, wore a button or had a Jesus bumper sticker on my car, that people would know I was a Christian and that would entice them to be one, too. HOWEVER, the opposite was really true.  Since my behavior was at times in contradiction to what most people expected out of a Christian, the decorations only emphasized  the hypocrisy in my own life and drove people away from Jesus, not towards Him.

When someone becomes a true follower of Jesus, their entire life is transformed, the old life is gone and a new life has begun (2 Cor. 5:17).  When you become a Jesus Follower, everything about you  is in the process of changing.  A sticker, logo, button or pin should not be the main indicator of that change. People who know you will see the difference in your life.  People who meet you will be impacted by your attitude and actions. People you work with will see the integrity of your work.  If they see a fish symbol, they just may run the other direction because of a bad past experience.  Is it wrong to have a fish on your business card? No. Should it be necessary to have a fish on your business card?  No.  Is it what iWork4Him is all about? No.  Romans 12:2 talks about changing the way we think,  about everything - especially work.

Ask yourself this question:  Do I need a fish symbol for people to know I am a Christian at work?

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!

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!