What can christians do to be a positive influence

[Space_Karen]

 

In reading the bible, there is one vitally important thing that stands out to me that no one talks about.

People did not listen to Noah. They didn't listen to Moses or Samuel. None of the great prophets or biblical figures were taken seriously by their own people. Later in the bible, Jesus walks the earth. The people choose Barabbas over Jesus. God also makes many appearances, even going so far as to dwell inside the tabernacle of the israelites. But generally God is not taken as seriously as we might expect:

Quote

And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.  As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you.

1 Samuel 8:7

While encouraging people and speaking truth might be integral parts of the christian religion.

On some level we must acknowledge that people are not good at listening. Most prefer pleasant lies to unpleasant truths. Many prefer to follow what is trendy rather than what is right or true. 

People of past eras did not listen to Noah, Moses, Samuel, Jesus or God.

And they most likely will not listen to you either.

(Not unless people are evolving, becoming smarter and more developed than those of past eras)

But you still have to try.

 

Let's take a closer look at this topic.

Noah:  "A great flood is coming. We must prepare."

People: "This conspiracy theorist living in his mom's basement thinks a flood is coming lol."

 

Moses: "If you listen to me, we can all reach the promised land. Here's what we need to do."

People: "LOL this nerd with his stone tablets is always taking things too seriously when he needs to just live his life and not think or worry so much about things."

 

Samuel: "God said if you choose a king to rule over you, he shall make you his slaves."

People: "Having a king worked for europe. It will work here. Its the cool and in thing, everyone is doing it. Don't be a hater."

[Who me]

What can Christians do to be a positive influence? 

The primary are thing is to live as a Christian.

If one is serious,  then things like the 10 commandments are rules one follows. 

Not stealing  time, little supplies, electricity  etc from your employer.   Think about it.

Being able to as 1 Peter 3 says:- 

 ¹⁵ But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

to be able to care for people, even when they are unlovely.

 

the early Christians where know by how they loved other people.

[Starise]

Our positive influence is to be "salt" and "light" to the world, and there are scriptures that say we should never hide our light under a bushel, or basket. If we did the light would probably catch the basket on fire and burn the house down, but I'll leave that for another thread.

Stubborn, fleshly, obstinate people we are told will be more common in the last days not less common. " Professing themselves to be wise, they became as fools" When did you ever think we would be arguing the sex of girls and boys with the appropriate plumbing? But no, I can be a woman today if I want to identify as one. This is truly insane what they are doing under the guise of education.

Most people today can be summed up with " I wanna". If you let the "I wannas" have their way on the highways, you usually won't have a problem. Let them be a rude as they want to be. Same anywhere else really, they are blinded by the "I wanna" syndrome. They have tunnel vision and they only see what THEY want to do most often in THEIR interest. 

These are not difficult problems to point out because they are so apparent and they are everywhere. Negative human traits on steroids. When two "I wannas" clash we end up with a wild west shootout.

We are not commanded to try to control them, we are commanded to be lights in a dark place. Maybe one of them will look up and temporarily snap out of their I wanna stupor long enough to think about why they are really here and the things they are pursuing are not true happiness. Unfortunately most of them won't and they will follow each other in a quest to have the most toys and the best jobs and the highest pay right off of a cliff. It's really a sad thing to behold. 

I can't "save" anyone, but God can and sometimes maybe He uses us to the task. The world is described as a field and we are the ones helping to gather the crop....or fishermen and women out there with our line in the water hoping for a nibble.

Edited October 18, 2022 by Starise

[steve morrow]

POSITIVE  INFLUENCE    ---    LOVE---BELIEVE---OBEY--- LOSE  YOURSELF

JOHN 14:24  he that  --LOVETH--  ME  not  --keepeth not  MY  sayings-- and the word which you hear is not mine but  --THE  FATHERS  WHICH  SENT  ME--

JOHN 5:44  how can you  --BELIEVE--  which receive honor one of another and  --seek not the honor that cometh from  GOD  only--

 

2 THESSALONIANS 1:7  and to you who are troubled rest with us when  THE  LORD  JESUS  shall be revealed from heaven with  HIS  mighty angels   --1:8--  in flaming fire taking vengeance on them --THAT  KNOW  NOT  GOD  --  and that  --OBEY--  not the gospel of our   --LORD  JESUS  CHRIST-- 

 

MARK 8:35   FOR  WHOSOEVER  WILL  SAVE  HIS  LIFE  SHALL  LOSE  IT  BUT  WHOSOEVER  SHALL  LOSE  HIS  LIFE  FOR  MY  SAKE  AND  THE  GOSPELS  THE  SAME  SHALL  SAVE  IT 

 

LOVING  THE  LORD  JESUS  CHRIST