Transforming Witness

For Christians it has always been easier to withdraw from society and feel the safety of the Church. Mix with Christian friends, go to Christian schools and when at work either deny any Christian connection or never socialise with your work mates. We can't enter into their world because it is evil, they will use bad language, tell off colour jokes and drink alcohol.

What I find so disappointing is seeing a new believer come into the church and leave all their old friends behind at the door. They cut themselves off or become so 'religious' that their friends start avoiding them. In some ways it is a natural thing to want to associate with those of like mind, people you have something in common with but what opportunity do you then to let your non-believing friends see what Jesus is doing in your life. What we need are people living within their old communities. The following is a good description of what I mean:

"An “insider movement” is any movement to faith in Christ where a) the gospel flows through pre-existing communities and social networks, and where b) believing families, as valid expressions of the Body of Christ, remain inside their communities, retaining their identity as members of that community while living under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the authority of the Bible. "

We need to be 'in the world but not of the world' we need to engage with the world, not standing to one side and throwing stones, not being against the world. However we also don't want to be completely intertwined within the world that we lose the essence of our faith, that something extra that we can give to the world.

We need to be 'transforming our culture'. Agents of change, offering to the world a sweet smelling incense of the gospel of Christ. We need to be doing three things:
Building Bridges....Our purpose is to build bridges between two communities – non- believers and Christian. Bridges of understanding, communication, and certainly love.” (Acts 17: 22‑31)
Weaving faith into life...Unfortunately in our church culture we have tended to live dual lives. People watch what Christians do and don’t do, and on that basis decide whether or not they are interested in what we have.
Creating opportunities…It is when we are walking with God, talking to him in prayer, knowing His Word that we will be more attuned to the opportunities that he places in our path. Look for them; they are often very small, and fleeting. It could be something said, a question asked or a look. Be prepared and expect them. (John 4:7‑30)