BEING SPIRITUAL INFLUENCERS

                What does it mean for us to be Christ-like in our everyday lives? When Christ walked the dusty paths of Palestine, people from every background and every walk of life were drawn to him. He had a magnetic personality. Today, it seems that the poles of our magnet have been reversed, and instead of attracting people, we are repelling them. People today dislike openly religious people. The football player, Tim Tebow has become a whipping boy, in part, because of his strong Christian beliefs. Religious leaders are looked upon with suspicion, because of the failure of some. I read this morning of a US Catholic Bishop who has resigned from his post, because he covered up the sexual abuse committed by one of his priests. What does it mean for us to be Christ-like in our world; to be genuine spiritual influencers?

                The Bible talks much about living out our faith in Christ-like ways. We often think of these instructions in the context of the church body. This is how we should act toward one another. That is very true. It should be a hallmark of every church. But, sometimes, we fail to see the application of these truths to our everyday lives. I want to look closely at two passages of scripture that can guide us in being better spiritual influencers in our everyday world.

                First, let us examine Colossians 4:2-6. Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

                Here are some practical steps we can take that come right out of this passage.

- Intentionally and insightfully pray for your workplace, co-workers, neighborhood, etc. Pray for their success, their well-being, and their spiritual lives. Be observant about what is going on and take those things to the Lord.

- Pray for opportunities to share the Gospel in appropriate ways. This includes having the discernment to know when the time is right, and the courage to speak up.

- Be a student of your culture. Instead of being distant from those around you, try to understand who they are and why they act the way they do. See yourself as a missionary in a foreign culture trying to penetrate the culture for the cause of Christ.

- Take advantage of the opportunity to be a positive influence in another person’s life. Encourage the discouraged. Celebrate with those who are rejoicing. Lend a hand to those who are struggling.

- Fill your conversation with grace. This includes the tone of your voice as well as the words that you use. Be the kind of person others like to talk with, not the one people avoid.

- Do your part to make people thirsty for Christ. Don’t be pushy about your faith, but also don’t be afraid to define your life by and through your faith. Show people the transforming power of God’s love by the way you interact with others.

   

                The second passage is Ephesians 4:29-32. The passage gives us some very specific actions we can take to be a genuine spiritual influencer in our everyday world. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

- Make your speech positive, not negative. As James reminds us, the hardest thing for us to control is our tongue. Think before your speak. Ask yourself if what you are about to say is helpful or hurtful. It is better to remain silent, then to be drawn into the hurtful gossip that often permeates the workplace.

- Be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. We think of the Holy Spirit guiding us in worship and Bible study, but often fail to see Him guiding us in decisions and actions at work. We grieve the Holy Spirit when we act as if He is not a present reality in our lives.

- Actively eliminate negative attitudes and behaviors. Paul’s list seems rather severe, but the things he lists are all too common in our everyday world. They start with the attitude of our heart, and emerge in our words and actions. As we become aware of these negative character traits, rather than excuse them, we need to work to eliminate them.

- Actively install positive attitudes and actions. We all learned in science class that nature abhors a vacuum. If there is an empty space, something will rush to fill it. It is not enough for us to try to eliminate negative attitudes and behaviors. We need to fill those spaces with positive alternatives. Paul focuses on three critical character traits that really can make us Christ-like: kindness, compassion and forgiveness. We have received these from Christ, now we can give them to others.

                It is not easy living a Christ-like life in our world. People will take advantage of you. People will misunderstand you. People will make fun of you. But, remember that ultimately what matters is not the opinion of others. What ultimately matters is the opinion of Christ. So as Paul says in Colossians 3:23-24,Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.