This mentality seems to rear its ugly head in politics, in school, at work, and just about anywhere else. People tell me, “Hey, keep your relationship with Christ between you and Him. That has no place here at work or school or on the campaign trail or anywhere else for that matter.”
Well, I don’t know who their god is or what their relationship to him is, but my relationship with God is such that I simply cannot separate myself from Him. I can’t leave Him at my door in the morning. I can’t say, “Hey, God, why don’t you hang out here at home until I get back at the end of the day.”
I can’t leave Him at the church on Sunday and say, “God why don’t you just wait here until we meet up again next Sunday.” Having a relationship with God is just not like that. God should be involved in every facet of one’s life. It may be difficult to believe, but God is truly interested in even the smallest details of your life. If you believe any different, then you believe a lie.
I realize that there are people who do not follow the Christian faith or
consider themselves to be Christians. I’ve had many conversations with them, and
do you know what I’ve realized? Not once was anyone ever offended by my faith
when I’ve shared it with him or her.
It’s no secret to these people that
I follow Christ, and although they may not have been ready to give their hearts
to the Lord when we talked, they were certainly not offended by my beliefs.
Needless to say, being bold about God doesn’t stop with mere conversation. I earnestly wish that all those who consider themselves to be Christians would allow God to be a regular part of their daily conversation.
But, what I’d rather see is all Christians begin to let God shine through their actions on a daily basis. Scripture tells us that we will know people by their fruits. (Matt. 7:15 - 20) We’ll know non-Christian and Christians both by how they live their lives.
I hate to break it to you, but if you claim to be a Christian, then the world will watch you. That’s just a fact. When they see you in church on Sunday, but in the bars and dance club every other day of the week, they aren’t going to be convinced that Christ has changed your life.
When they hear you talk about God blessing you on Sunday, but hear nothing but four-letter words and gossip on all other days, they won’t be convinced that Christ has changed your life. Thus, they will conclude that Christ won’t change their lives and that they don’t need Him. Sadly, nothing could be further from the truth.
I read a column in this very newspaper about Christianity not too long ago that absolutely broke my heart. Many of you, I’m sure, read the same column. Yet, friends, that column explains exactly how the world views Christianity. Just in case you didn’t catch it, it didn’t portray a positive image of Christianity.
Time is short. Too many people are lost and on their way to eternity in a hell that was not created for them. These people aren’t faceless either. They are my friends and your friends. They’ve got to see and hear a positive witness from those of the Christian faith.
God wants us to be sold out and on fire for Him. If we are tepid, then He will spew us out of His mouth. (Rev. 3:15, 16) Unfortunately, many of us are guilty of being lukewarm, fair-weather Christians. Becoming and living like a Christian are not for the faint-hearted. It is a serious matter with an everlasting impact, and it takes a lot of effort. I truly desire to see this campus experience God like never before, but we as Christians must begin to truly seek God and spend time praying and reading His word.
We must intercede for the sake of our friends. We must be bold about our convictions and beliefs. We must start walking the walk and talking the talk. We must allow God to have a part in every facet of our lives. Otherwise, we will never be able to reach out to the cynical and unbelieving world.
People don’t need a sugar-coated message. They need to experience Jesus Christ in a real and powerful way. Only then will we see the lost saved and this campus changed for the glory of God, it starts with you and me.