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Being a Christian in the family
God has established a clear family order. Every family member who loves Jesus follows the true word of God—the Bible. In His word, every person finds instructions for the right way to live.
It is a privilege to live as a true follower of Christ. Being able to participate as a Christian within your own family is the first step in all activities of following Jesus. Remember this and keep it in mind: Evaluate yourself every day in the light of the Bible. Jesus is the one who can give you the strength to become a true follower of Christ. Do you want that too? What are you doing to make it happen?
The following Bible verses should help you:
“Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous in your ways and will act wisely.” (Joshua 1:8)
“And Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Mt 22:37-39).
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and your mother’—this is the first commandment with a promise, ‘so that it may go well with you and that you may live long on the earth’” (Ephesians 6:1-3).
“Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did not do for me.’” (Matthew 25:45).
“Let no one despise you because of your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity!” (1 Tim 4:12).
“For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead” (James 2:26).
We must be there for our neighbor and help him.
Being a Christian in the community
The Apostle Paul considered it very important to give Timothy instructions, and so he wrote that Timothy should know how to conduct himself in the church (cf. 1 Tim 3:15). Then he explains what the church actually is. It is a pillar and a foundation.
I assume you are a born-again Christian and belong to a local church where Jesus Christ is the head (see Eph 5:23b) and where pastors, deacons, preachers, etc., are appointed. A church can only remain alive if everything is in order, if it functions like a body. We read about honoring the leaders of the church. We remember David when he had the opportunity to take revenge on Saul. He said, “For who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and remain innocent?” (1 Sam 26:9). He did not act like Miriam, who rebelled against her brother Moses and consequently became leprous.
A Christian who loves Jesus Christ and is part of the body of Christ will do everything possible for the well-being of the church. He wants to serve and edify others. Recently, a sermon in our church mentioned that we have a lot of work to do in our congregation. This immediately reminded me of a conversation I had with some young people who said they couldn't find any tasks to do in the church because they were all already taken care of.
So what now? At school, teachers demand a lot of diligence from their students. And in the church, it's not enough for a Christian to simply attend church services on Sundays. He should be willing to do everything to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, and this doesn't limit himself to just attending services.
What does this look like in practice? If I have certain talents, such as manual dexterity, I immediately recognize where something needs to be done and want to do it for the glory of God, not for other reasons such as a need for recognition or personal gain. No, I carry out the task out of love for Jesus and see it as my duty to perform this work. It is an enrichment when a church has a vibrant community life. The fruits of such a life are not only necessary for the church, but they also enrich the people around it.
Being a Christian in the workplace
You usually spend most of your day at work. It's certainly worthwhile, therefore, to consider what God expects of you in your workplace. The very title of this paragraph suggests that there are people who are indeed "Christians" among their friends, family, and church. But when it comes to being a "Christian" at work, some (and perhaps you too?) have to bow their heads in shame.
What are the reasons for this?
- You are not a good role model
- Words and actions do not match.
- You don't want to be the "outsider".
- Own doubts or uncertainty
- No foundation in the Word of God, no boldness because of sin
The following is a 4-point plan to help with being a Christian in the workplace:
1. Be a role model
It is written that we are a letter from Christ, recognized and read by all people (cf. 2 Corinthians 3:2-3). The people around you should see in you the reflection of Christ. Your manner, your orderliness, your style, your clothing, your demeanor, your character – everything about you should reflect Christ. That's half the battle. Either you are a Christian EVERYWHERE, or you are not a Christian.
2. Don't attract negative attention
“Furthermore, we strive to live in such a way as to put no obstacle in anyone’s way, for the ministry we have been given must not be discredited” (2 Corinthians 6:3). This is probably where we have the biggest “problem areas,” for example, taking sick leave, laziness, theft at work, unpunctuality, dissatisfaction, or disrespect towards superiors, to name just a few possible issues.
3. Dealing with colleagues
You, in particular, are being watched! Do you join in gossiping about colleagues? Can you take criticism sometimes, or do you always have to insist on your rights? Do you treat your colleagues with respect and deference? Are you genuinely interested in your colleagues and their well-being? These questions are meant to help you find the right, "Christian" way to interact with your colleagues. Pray to God for wisdom and pray for your colleagues.
4. Your speech
“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Colossians 4:6/Luther Bible 1912). Have you already told a colleague about Christ and the Good News, or is it always “just” about the church and its rules? Do you join in the jokes and teasing from your colleagues?
According to Christian research, about 2% of Germans are true born-again Christians. Christian studies state that a country is only considered fully evangelized when 10% of its population is true born-again Christian. Think of Daniel, Joseph, Esther, David, and Tabitha. Through their faithful service, they all glorified God and led many people to salvation. Therefore, don't begin evangelizing and living for God in Africa, Peru, or Bulgaria, but allow God to use you where you spend most of your time.
From Youth Compass 03/2019