IS THE CHURCH STILL HIDING UNDER A BUSHEL?

Jesus urged that we be the light so that every passerby could see.  He pleaded that we not hide our light under a bushel basket where he light would still be aflame; but visually blocked by that basket so that it would be of no use to a traveler.

This is rather a strong judgment of mine; yet it is a conviction due to observation. Basically, believers have  gone into volunteer hiding merely by keeping quiet in the public square.  I don't mean that we should be preaching on soap boxes at street corners.  Neither do I mean to imply that we should be an in-your-face type who passes by others with our repulsive obnoxicity.

I do speak of the necessity to own a walk and a talk that is expressive about our confidence in God through the Spirit of Jesus.  We are urged, advised, and called to be the light to the world.  Somehow, along the way, this has been adjusted to going to church on Sundays and behaving ourselves during the week.

Do you think the bulk of believers are both hesitant and shy when it comes to being authentic lights?  Why is it that Bible class comments always revert to Well, you know we can all be good examples.  Yes we surely can.  But that can be said to cancel our responsibility to be vocal light in dark worldly avenues and alleys.

The world is growing darker.  This isn't happening just because man is increasing in sin only,  It is happening because Christians have welcomed a mutual concept among us that driving to a brick and mortar building at the given times of Sundays and Wednesdays fulfills being a light to the world.   A light hidden in a building merely allows the world outside to remain in the dark.

So how do we correct this?  What are we to do differently?

We are to be proactive by reaching into our communities even in zones that make us uncomfortable.  The withdrawing from faith activities because we are more driven by reluctance than by faith must be challenged. We have developed a comfort religion toward ministering to others of if I think I can handle this I will engage and if I might not appear to be on top of the matter, I won't.  

It is not unusual to be presented with opportunities that we don't know what to do. To act as if these don't exist is not the answer.  We must watch.  We must pray.  And, we must try.  Our casual dismissal of not knowing what to do so we will just walk away from desperate needs of community must be shed.

So many times I don't know what I am doing.  So many times I do things and get them wrong.  In each of these times I desire to use them as classrooms to learn so that the next time I might be better prepared.  Failure often arises during my efforts.  But effectiveness increases because failure is an advantage to those who hunger to increase in the Jesus work.

Do not think it sufficient to hide under the bushel of looking the other way because you wouldn't know how to approach the need?  Try to learn by practice which would most likely consist of a combination of success and failure so that others may be blessed...by your enduring traits.

May Christianity come out of the bushel-hiding closet.