Bishan church

If a man cannot be a Christian in the place where he is, he cannot be a Christian anywhere.

June 20th, 2005

I thought I mention and extend our wonderful sharing from a previous Sunday.

A comment that got the discussion going was from Henry Beecher Ward: If a man cannot be a Christian in the place where he is, he cannot be a Christian anywhere.

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/h/henry_ward_beecher.html

One starting point I mentioned was: do you see yourself as a manager, engineer, IT person, housewife, student OR Christian?

The answer to the question will be able to address the discomfort of the quote above. Why are we uncomfortable with the quote? Is it because we live a compartmentalised life instead Jesus as a way of life?

I am James regardless of whether I am manager or father, faults and all I am still James unless I am a chameleon and not being myself.

One thing we struggle is that we tend to view ‘Christian’ more from the performance point of view than a relationship with grace from God.

Are you a child of your father because of how you perform or simply who you are? How you answer this question affects your subsequent behavior /performance.

It is a way of putting the horse in front of the cart.

We talked about our jobs. Should we give up the jobs we have that are not ‘ spiritual’ because we are Christians? I mentioned that I have been uncomfortable with certain brethrens working in a liquour/entertainment business e.g. pubs.

On the flip side they are in a very unique position that all of us do not have access to that is reaching out to people in such industry!

Maybe it helps to think in this way.

1. If you are not strong spiritually, avoid certain jobs that may weaken your faith and do not get into it at all.

2. If you are already in it, be clear whether it is spiritually good for you. If not work towards getting out with lots of prayers AND in the meantime be true to your belief.

How do we be who we are in the place we are in? It does not matter whether by God or our own choices we end up in a situation or job.

In the case of Lot he himself chose to go to Sodom and Gomorrah which was an attractive place (Ge.13:10)for making lots of money ( sheep, harvests etc because the land was rich). He had great influence since ” he sat at the gates”. Decision makers sat at gates during those times.

Was he spiritual? On the surface he may not be but I think he did his best with what he knew.

Peter described Lot as “righteous” although I believe Sodom and Gomorrah may have given him a distorted sense of moral where he proposed the Sodomites gang raped his daughter(Ge.19:18) instead of the handsome angels.

2 Peter 2:7-10 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

Are you vexed when evil is around you? Can you take it spiritually? Of course intellectually you may be able to take it but spiritually what kind of person have you become? If you can stand it without getting burnt AND able to reach out to save others by all means go ahead. It is not a question of your ability but your wholeness. If you are slowly transforming into something esle and not Christ like, beware!

Jude 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

Whatever it is, be true to your faith until God brings you out.

How can you show your faith in any situation?

Some thoughts for office situation:
Firstly like any sick person, a difficult person is showing symptoms of spiritual sickness. Every difficult behaviour is a need of spiritual doctor that is where you and I come in.

Matthew 9:36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

In some version these people are described as ” harrased/distressed, helpless and like sheep without shepherd.

Mahathir said that if you throw a stone into a crowd in Malaysia you will probable hit a Datuk or two. If you throw a stone into a crowd you will definitely get someone who is stressed, need help or fellowship or seeking direction.

A difficult person is spiritually hurting either 1)he is stressed by something, 2)needs a friend at that moment in time or 3)seeking direction at that stage in life.

This is where we can come in. As a Christian e.g. in a meeting you get a glimpse of a political person in action, a vulgar one, a quarrelsome fellow … All are in one of the 3 categories.

Try to get a glimpse of what is happening in that person’s life to have a fellowship of suffering with him/her as a starting point.

If you are married, I am sure there are marriage sharing you can have with this person, or your children’s struggle with 2nd language or too many business trips or stress with work. We all have common grounds based on the 3 types whom Jesus has compassion for. Lonely people can be difficult too. They may simply need a listening ear to pour out their sorrows perceived by us a constant complaints!

Just make sure you protect yourself in our modern Sodom and Gomorrah in jobs where you are most vulnerable spiritually.

To avoid being accused of sexual harrassment or being fresh or making a pass at some one, include your spouse, or church or prayer group etc in your offer to help outside office hours or late in office

Examples I can think of to reach the difficult people yet be ever watchful for the devouring devil:

-I know that you are not a Christian, can my wife AND I pray for you ?

-Maybe we can have dinner with my wife AND I to share our experience

-Can my church and I pray for you?

-If you write a personal note/card/letter/email of encouragement mention your spouse when you sign off

I hope as you reflect on these you will have an idea that it is possible to be a Christian where you are with the help of the Holy Spirit.

We are foremost Christian, all other roles follow from this identity.

Like a electronic video game, when you have done what you have been placed to do, you will enter an open door to the next level of the game to score more points for Jesus!!

God bless

Entry Filed under: General, Christian Walk