God of This City v3.2

Under the Influence

In my house there lives three cats. Each cat is different – each cat is unique. However, they have something in common… All three only see three humans most of the time – myself, my wife, and my son. So, I think it is apparent to say they have a limited circle of influence.

I don’t see much TV anymore unless it is in PBS form [Caillou is my new fave], but I do recall a commercial for Alltel Wireless (now part of Verizon) in which the main selling point was a service they offered called the “My Circle Plan”. Basically, the plan was designed to allow Alltel customers the freedom to choose who they would talk to the most, no matter who their mobile phone service was through. Thus, if I new I would be talking to Billy Bob or Sally Sue, and each of them were with completely different mobile service providers, I could add them to “My Circle” for free calls to and from my phone from their respective phones.

[I know, I made it sound much more complicated than it actually is.]

The point? We all have a circle of influence. Whether it is a small circle, such as my house cats, or a wider circle with many faces, we all have a circle of influence.

Now, lets do some re-defining of terms in light of our theme “God of This City”, and pull us back on track.

When we think of God of this city, lets change it to God of our city. And when we think of God of our city, lets change that to God of our circle of influence. And just for kicks, lets re-define circle of influence as being the people that we come in personal contact with on a regular basis. Now, to further confuse us, lets put this all together as:

(The) God of the people we come in personal contact with on a regular basis.

[Catchy huh? I thought you’d like it. I bet Chris Tomlin would have a hard time singing that!]

Now, think about this for a moment: If we decided that our goal was to help make our Savior the God of the people we come in contact with on a regular basis, then we could change the whole make up of our city, our state, our country, and our world!

Are you willing to take that chance? Who are the people in your circle of influence? Who are the people you spend your time with day-in and day-out? Who are the people that you know – who are the people that you see? Are you willing to join the challenge of promoting Christ to the people that come into our lives on a daily basis?

Paul of Tarshish was. He took it on as a personal ambition to endorse Christ as the one and only Savior to the people of his circle of influence. Now, this Tarshish native was no slouch when it came to delivering The Message. In fact, he had a pretty interesting scheme. He lets his secret out in his first letter to the church in Corinth:

19bI have become a servant of everyone so that I can bring them to Christ. 20When I am with the Jews, I become one of them so that I can bring them to Christ. When I am with those who follow the Jewish laws, I do the same, even though I am not subject to the law, so that I can bring them to Christ. 21When I am with the Gentiles who do not have the Jewish law, F47 I fit in with them as much as I can. In this way, I gain their confidence and bring them to Christ. But I do not discard the law of God; I obey the law of Christ. 22When I am with those who are oppressed, I share their oppression so that I might bring them to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone so that I might bring them to Christ. 23I do all this to spread the Good News, and in doing so I enjoy its blessings.
I Corinthians 9:19b-23 (NLT)

Paul’s plan was simple: He was not going to offend anyone unless it went totally against the Word of God. If a persons customs, traditions, habits, actions, (etc.) didn’t infect the gospel of Christ then Paul was, quite frankly, “cool” with it. It was as if he said, “Maybe as I get involved in things that don’t matter (in the grand scheme) with you, then you will get involved in things that do matter (in the grand scheme) with me”. In other words, it is all about perception. When Paul was with one group of religious people he took on their customs and traditions, and when he was with another group of religious people he took the same approach. He only wavered when their traditions and customs went against the Truth that is the Gospel. He understood that Truth does and will offend, but only the truth should offend. Customs and traditions only distinguish beliefs, the Truth sets one free.

Here’s the Burton Coffman Commentary perspective:
"Paul felt no obligation whatever to keep the forms and ceremonies of the law of Moses; yet he observed and kept such things in circumstances where his failure to do it would have antagonized the Jews, and in cases where their observance did not violate the spirit of the new law in Christ Jesus. Thus, Paul shaved his head; but there is no record that he ever ate the Jewish Passover. As he said, 'Christ is our Passover.'"

(http://www.searchgodsword.org/com/bcc/view.cgi?book=1co&chapter=009)

Novel approach, right?

Is this your motive within your circle of influence? Paul’s goal was simply to bring others to Christ. He knew that in order for God to be the God of “his” City he would have to work so that God would be the God of his circle of influence.

Recently I made a new friend. Honestly, if I came across this guy at Wal Mart I would probably go the other way. He’s a big guy with his ears pierced, tattoos, a bald head and a long goatee. Oh, and he is a biker that hangs around with biker people in a biker gang.

And he’s a Christian.

His goal is to reach bikers with the gospel of Jesus Christ. If he went to the clubhouse in a three-piece suit and a “professional part” he would probably be killed, but because he has become all things to this group of people and has encouraged the Truth among them, he has become respected by them. Thus, he has the opportunity to influence them.

If God is to be the God of This City, then we have to first make Him the God of the people we come in contact with on a regular basis. Before this city is changed, our circle of influence must be changed.

Are you up for the challenge?