When we worked for the same company, and she was in town without meetings scheduled, Empee and I would go to lunch on Tuesdays. Not because of the day itself, but because our favorite restaurant (Armend’s in Southlake) has an exceptionally delicious Meat Tortellini with Aurora Sauce special on Tuesdays.
As our company’s products, and offices, are world wide, our discussions covered subjects just as varied. We discussed internal and external politics. We always included a sharing of what our preacher’s gave to us on Sunday.
With how many people are you able to discuss both religion and politics? Both of these are off limits in many families, much less among friends or co-workers. Yet both impact each and every life on this planet. The misuse or abuse of either can be life shattering. Why then, do we put them in hidden categories?
Evangelicals are often castigated for wearing their religion on their sleeves, talking to anyone who will listen about their testimony, their salvation, their ministry (every Christian has one, you know.) They are much as the New Testament disciples, willing to discuss their beliefs with anyone: Philip with an Ethiopian (Acts 8:27-40); Peter with Cornelius (Acts 10); Paul with Felix and Agrippa (Acts 25:13-26:29). Note that in each of these instances the witness was speaking to a person in a position of power and authority.
Yet we are constrained and often do not speak our faith even to peers, friends and family. Instead it is treated as personal, as very private. To discuss it openly would offend another.
Then we see yelling and screaming demonstrations – not in favor of either subject, but against the other as streets fill and signs clash. That I do find offensive.
Spend some time in prayer about what to say and the Lord will provide, as He has promised:
… take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. (Matthew 10:19b-20 KJV)
I have readers who are very much like the Bereans:
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. (Acts 17:11 KJV)
When you check Matthew 10:19 you’ll find I’ve taken it slightly out of context. Jesus is instructing His disciples when He sent them to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matthew 10:6), which was before instruction to us all:
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:19-20 KJV)
As easily as we discuss our work, our hobbies, our decorative likes and dislikes, let us discuss our beliefs and foundations, trusting God to give us in that same hour what ye shall speak. (Matthew 10:19b KJV)
Always remembering that we should be speaking the truth in love, (Ephesians 4:15a KJV)
As our company’s products, and offices, are world wide, our discussions covered subjects just as varied. We discussed internal and external politics. We always included a sharing of what our preacher’s gave to us on Sunday.
With how many people are you able to discuss both religion and politics? Both of these are off limits in many families, much less among friends or co-workers. Yet both impact each and every life on this planet. The misuse or abuse of either can be life shattering. Why then, do we put them in hidden categories?
Evangelicals are often castigated for wearing their religion on their sleeves, talking to anyone who will listen about their testimony, their salvation, their ministry (every Christian has one, you know.) They are much as the New Testament disciples, willing to discuss their beliefs with anyone: Philip with an Ethiopian (Acts 8:27-40); Peter with Cornelius (Acts 10); Paul with Felix and Agrippa (Acts 25:13-26:29). Note that in each of these instances the witness was speaking to a person in a position of power and authority.
Yet we are constrained and often do not speak our faith even to peers, friends and family. Instead it is treated as personal, as very private. To discuss it openly would offend another.
Then we see yelling and screaming demonstrations – not in favor of either subject, but against the other as streets fill and signs clash. That I do find offensive.
Spend some time in prayer about what to say and the Lord will provide, as He has promised:
… take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. (Matthew 10:19b-20 KJV)
I have readers who are very much like the Bereans:
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. (Acts 17:11 KJV)
When you check Matthew 10:19 you’ll find I’ve taken it slightly out of context. Jesus is instructing His disciples when He sent them to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matthew 10:6), which was before instruction to us all:
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:19-20 KJV)
As easily as we discuss our work, our hobbies, our decorative likes and dislikes, let us discuss our beliefs and foundations, trusting God to give us in that same hour what ye shall speak. (Matthew 10:19b KJV)
Always remembering that we should be speaking the truth in love, (Ephesians 4:15a KJV)
What a difference it makes in HOW we say things. No matter how you try to correct it, people can sense how we really mean it. Talking about the Lord should be a part of day as much as talking about what's for supper.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sandra 100%. HOW we say something makes all the difference in the world when speaking to someone about a sensitive subject. I know first hand. When people would talk derogatively about Catholicism while I was Catholic I would imm. become defensive without even meaning to. I felt attacked. When someone finally spoke to me about it in a loving manner... it changed my life. :) Grammy, you can email me at kristyquinn22@yahoo.com :D
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