Occupy Our World

What better encouragement could any Christian have other than knowing that the World had been reached for God?  All the work was done.  Every person had shared their faith with everyone they met.  To know that God was pleased with us because we were faithful to the call He has placed on us to reach others for Him.  Matthew 5: 13-16 gives us some of the ways we can reach the World for Christ:

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled on by men. ¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

Be an influence…be a light…be salt…do not be hidden…let others see good works, so they give glory to God.  Too many Christians, probably 99% don’t do these things.  They stay clammed up in their little shell afraid to speak or even to let others see them going to church.  They are afraid of rejection.  When in reality they should be afraid of what God thinks of them more for not sharing their faith.  Even Jesus warned his disciples in Matthew 10: 24 -28 to be more concerned with God and what He thinks than what might be said by others:

²⁴ A disciple is not above his teacher, or a slave above his master. ²⁵ It is enough for a disciple to become like his teacher and a slave like his master. If they called the head of the house ‘Beelzebul,’ how much more the members of his household! ²⁶ “Therefore, don’t be afraid of them, since there is nothing covered that won’t be uncovered and nothing hidden that won’t be made known. ²⁷ What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light. What you hear in a whisper, proclaim on the housetops. ²⁸ Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Jesus wanted us to learn from Him (what might even be like whispers from Him) and then shout that from the rooftops.  Now that takes guts.  We are not to be a light that is hidden.  We are to burn brightly so all will see God through us.  So that prayerfully many others will see their way down the path by Christ’s light in our lives through this dark World in to His Kingdom.  So instead of being the 99% that sit back and let the 1% do the work for the Kingdom, let’s be the 99% and even the 100% that go out there and “Occupy the World” for Christ.  Just like those who say they are the 99% who are finally speaking up about financial and social inequalities through the World’s “Occupy Movement”.  In an article entitled, “Christians Called to ‘Faithful Presence’, not Conquest, Willimon Says” by Ken Camp we read:

“In a sense, transforming the world is Jesus’ job. We’ve got a bad record. Some of the worst stuff we’ve done has been in the name of changing the world,” Willimon said. Christians should be good citizens and make their views known in the political sphere, he said, but they should not confuse the nations of this world with the kingdom of God. “We are called to witness that God, not nations, rule the world,” he said. The main way Christians change the world may be through faithful witness expressed in love and humility in the context of local churches, Willimon urged. If Christians are going to seek to transform the world, let it be done God’s way, as revealed in the life and ministry of Jesus.”

In other words as we “Occupy Our World” we cannot shove Jesus down people’s throat.  Many Christians have given Christ a bad name over the years.  We need to exemplify Christ to a World in need. We need to live like Jesus in our homes, at our jobs, in our churches and everywhere we go in this World.  That “faithful presence” in the World will be the first important step to changing this World for the better.  Next we will need to open our mouths and share Jesus, our personal testimonies and scripture.  We cannot remain silent.  We need to be just like the “Occupy Movement” proclaims in their artwork, “We are the 99%.  We Will No Longer Remain Silent.”  Of course I am praying that Christians become the 100% that will no longer remain silent.  So, let’s go…let’s get out there and “Occupy Our World” for Christ!

 

 

Occupy Our World

What better encouragement could any Christian have other than knowing that the World had been reached for God?  All the work was done.  Every person had shared their faith with everyone they met.  To know that God was pleased with us because we were faithful to the call He has placed on us to reach others for Him.  Matthew 5: 13-16 gives us some of the ways we can reach the World for Christ:

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled on by men. ¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

Be an influence…be a light…be salt…do not be hidden…let others see good works, so they give glory to God.  Too many Christians, probably 99% don’t do these things.  They stay clammed up in their little shell afraid to speak or even to let others see them going to church.  They are afraid of rejection.  When in reality they should be afraid of what God thinks of them more for not sharing their faith.  Even Jesus warned his disciples in Matthew 10: 24 -28 to be more concerned with God and what He thinks than what might be said by others:

²⁴ A disciple is not above his teacher, or a slave above his master. ²⁵ It is enough for a disciple to become like his teacher and a slave like his master. If they called the head of the house ‘Beelzebul,’ how much more the members of his household! ²⁶ “Therefore, don’t be afraid of them, since there is nothing covered that won’t be uncovered and nothing hidden that won’t be made known. ²⁷ What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light. What you hear in a whisper, proclaim on the housetops. ²⁸ Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Jesus wanted us to learn from Him (what might even be like whispers from Him) and then shout that from the rooftops.  Now that takes guts.  We are not to be a light that is hidden.  We are to burn brightly so all will see God through us.  So that prayerfully many others will see their way down the path by Christ’s light in our lives through this dark World in to His Kingdom.  So instead of being the 99% that sit back and let the 1% do the work for the Kingdom, let’s be the 99% and even the 100% that go out there and “Occupy the World” for Christ.  Just like those who say they are the 99% who are finally speaking up about financial and social inequalities through the World’s “Occupy Movement”.  In an article entitled, “Christians Called to ‘Faithful Presence’, not Conquest, Willimon Says” by Ken Camp we read:

“In a sense, transforming the world is Jesus’ job. We’ve got a bad record. Some of the worst stuff we’ve done has been in the name of changing the world,” Willimon said. Christians should be good citizens and make their views known in the political sphere, he said, but they should not confuse the nations of this world with the kingdom of God. “We are called to witness that God, not nations, rule the world,” he said. The main way Christians change the world may be through faithful witness expressed in love and humility in the context of local churches, Willimon urged. If Christians are going to seek to transform the world, let it be done God’s way, as revealed in the life and ministry of Jesus.”

In other words as we “Occupy Our World” we cannot shove Jesus down people’s throat.  Many Christians have given Christ a bad name over the years.  We need to exemplify Christ to a World in need. We need to live like Jesus in our homes, at our jobs, in our churches and everywhere we go in this World.  That “faithful presence” in the World will be the first important step to changing this World for the better.  Next we will need to open our mouths and share Jesus, our personal testimonies and scripture.  We cannot remain silent.  We need to be just like the “Occupy Movement” proclaims in their artwork, “We are the 99%.  We Will No Longer Remain Silent.”  Of course I am praying that Christians become the 100% that will no longer remain silent.  So, let’s go…let’s get out there and “Occupy Our World” for Christ!