Your world does not consist of one on one relationships only. You are an integral part of society and culture, groups, families, organizations, institutions, workplaces, and even government.

You influence your society by how you do or do not participate as a Christian. You are called to help Christ transform your part of the world into a more Christ centered, loving, and just society.

When our group finally did step out, we were so blessed in doing Christ’s work and taking the word of God out that we would cry tears of pure joy. The things that we do are miniscule compared to the hope that Christ has given to those in need, which He has enabled us to deliver. Once, we were called by God to help a single mother and her young daughter. They had only a small package of frozen corn for food and payday was still a week away. God had directed us to help them in their hour of need. We were blessed to be able to tdeliver some food, but most importantly, we delivered to each of them a Bible. We prayed for them and God filled the kitchen of their home that night. I give all glory to God for this blessing; He chose us to be the bearer of His word to them.

Your mission is to help Christ change your community by acting as an effective Christian influence in it. As Micah 6:8 says, God calls you “… to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God“. This theme is evident in Jesus’ plan for ministry.

Stay tuned for Part Five!

John 12:26 tells us: “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor” (NKJV).

Your mission is to infuse your network of relationships with the grace of Christ, to make mey and outreaching love a part of your everyday life. Ask yourself these questions:

• Who do you know that needs encouragement?
• Who needs what only you can do or give?
• Who needs to hear about Christ from you?

Your attitude towards others will either open or close relationships as channels of grace.

Matthew 7:12: “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (NKJV).

Do you affirm people? Or do you categorize people with limiting labels? A judgmental attitude can be the greatest obstacle to the spiritual growth of another.

Do you see people for what they have been and condemn them to that, or do you see them for who they can become and encourage them to rise to their potential? A new attitude can be an offering of love to another.

Your prayers for others are acts of love. Through prayer, God can transform your relationships. Through prayer, you help others become changed people and support them in their new life. Through prayer, God can open opportunities to reach out and witness. Make sure your ministry to others flows from your prayers for others.

Your friendship with others is the means by which you can share your life and offer Christ.

Seek opportunities to share your relationship with Christ with friends. Expect them to be receptive. Be authentic in sharing your faith and the difference your relationship with Christ makes in your life. There is no right or wrong way to share your faith, only authentic and unauthentic ways.

When friends make a commitment to Christ, encourage their new way of thinking and living through spiritual support, study of scripture, and involvement in church and meaningful ministries.

Continue to Part Four: Society

Our first trap is that of the Pharisee. Because the Pharisee is not motivated by God’s grace, he is not driven by motives that are pure. Instead, his motivations are rigid perfectionism guided by strict legalism. The mission he is on is perverted into attempts to force everyone into his own mold, which is definitely not what God calls us to do. We are to simply bring the Word to the world, without infusing it with our human (therefore different) ideals.

The Do-Gooder is the second trap we should not fall into. Do-Gooders are often motivated by their own need to be needed or to make a notable difference. They are not helping because of true compassion and commitment to meet human needs. There are millions of people in this world that do good, but few do Christ’s good.

A common trap is the savior complex. Without a sense of God’s providence, caring peoplem ay feel that they must save the world themselves. Far-reaching plans and feverish activity mayb e based more on anxiet and fear for the future than attention to God and discernment of God’s will for the present.

Lastly, we have the trap of burn-out. Without a vital relationship with God and other Christians, one’s fire for the mission burns out. You cannot chagne the world if you are running on empty. We need to read the scripture daily, for in scripture we are uplifted and reinforced. Sometimes when I get discouraged, I just read the book of Acts. I always realize that what we are going through today is trivial when compared to the first Christians, and somehow that always comforts me.

We are to follow Jesus’ example if we are to avoid these traps. Jesus’ ministry came from his relationsihp with God and close friends. Between times of intense ministry, Jesus withdrew with his disciples to a lonely place to pray and share his concerns.

Luke 22:39-43 tells us, “Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him. When He came to the place, He said to them, ‘Pray that you may not enter into temptation’. And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, ‘Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” (NKJV)

Changing our world begins with changing ourselves and sustaining that change in our heart, mind, and will.

Continue to Part Three: Others

“I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ.”

He sees us just as the rest of the world sees us.

In the next few posts, I want to talk with you not only about trying Christianity, but also about making a plan to successfully live it and help Christ make a difference in the world.

Changing our world involves four fields of ministry: yourself, others, your community, and then the world.

Micah 6:8 says: “He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (NKJV).

This provides a helpful framework for understanding what God requires of us and we will bring about change in these fields of ministry: “What does the Lord require of you but to do justice (which is dealing with the community and world), and to love (others) and to walk humbly with God (ourselves)?”

James 4:10 says, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up” (NKJV).

Before you can change the world, you must have a plan for anchoring yourself spiritually.

If you are going to bring change to the world, you must start with yourself.

One of the first things our share group had to realize before we started to change the world was that we were a part of the problem, and only by giving ALL the glory to God could we even hope to do Christ’s work. We had to change our hearts and rely completely on God and His guidance. We then made a plan for ourselves to stay humble and keep our lives focused on Christ and not the world. We study, hold each other accountable, and we pray… and pray, and pray… and pray.

When we try to change the world without having firm roots in a relationship with God and fellow Christians, we can fall into traps.

Continue to Part Two: Traps