Remaining Relevant
It's our Job to Remain Relevant
Our beleagured world is searching for answers, for someone to come forward with a message of hope, unity or simply an idea that makes sense. Universities, businesses, cities and governments all jockey to be heard.
Churches too. Each church is a small community. We pray together, take Communion together, worship together and even socialize together. We rely on each other and become more effective as relationships grow. But within community, care must be taken. Few things are as dangerous to the Body of Christ as having people feel isolated, left out or left behind by fellow Believers.
We should not be surprised this is the area where the enemy spends much of his time. He trembles when Christians become influential, when they impact lives and people start to admire and follow them. He works tirelessly to separate us from our relevance and authority.
How does he do it? One Christian at a time. He attacks us, telling us we lack education, we're too old, we’re the wrong gender, or not popular enough. He attacks every aspect of our character and our beliefs. If that doesn't work he finds a way to physically remove us, whether through a relocation, a graduation, or even a promotion. He forces us to start all over in our relationships with others. Maybe he attacks our finances, our business or our reputation, thinking people will no longer respect our views if he can highlight our failures.
Sometimes we inadvertently assist the enemy in his efforts. We're busy and choose not to notice when a church member stops attending regularly. Or we hear they're having life or family issues and we just mutter a quick prayer and go back to our own lives. We hear a rumor, some gossip, or God actually puts them in our thoughts repeatedly. It's easy to ignore the signs.
And then they're gone. Along with their influence, the gifts God put in them, the message He was planning to have them give to us. The enemy scratches another hashtag on his wall and eventually we no longer even miss the very person God planned to use to change the world.