Who are we?
Since this website is mostly for christian workers, pastors and missionaries, this article will focus on their position in the kingdom of God. Over the years i have encountered many different people in those positions and they all have different ideas of who they are as believers or christian workers.
First, one of the things that help all christian workers (i am not going to list all 3 separate categories so the first one will suffice for all three) is that we are all members of the kingdom of God. Now conversion immediate puts us at odds with the world. we are no longer a part of their ways, their thinking or their ruling ideas. Though we have to obey certain laws, we have joined another kingdom which we owe our allegiance and dedication along with patriotism.
Does this mean we can't be good citizen of the worldy country in which we were born? No, it just means that we have to watch what we say in terms of things like pledges and vows. Upon conversion, we now represent the kingdom of God and we cannot compromise that position no matter how attractive the compromise may be. One cannot pledge alliegience to a flag when they have given their lives over to God, as the Bible says, 'one cannot serve 2 masters' and we need to be careful on how we participate within the secular realms so as not to cross up our duties or testimonies as members of God's kingdom.
Second, our actions must be inline with God's words and when the secular government requires contrary acts to what God has said then we must be prepared to stand up and exclude ourselves from participating in such acts no matter the cost. God's ways must be clear and God's people must be true to God not the government. People will not know right or wrong, or what truly is of God if Hispeople meekly follow the crowd and do the same deeds as the unbeliever.
Once a believer has compromised, they have lost and God has never compromised with evil so His followers should not either. The impact ap person wants to make depends upon how they conduct themselves as we see by the example of daniel and others. We do not live for this world thus its loss should not bring fear nor regret but joy as we serve Him who has a purpose for our lives.
Third, this is the crucial issue. Too often i have heard many christian workers say things like: "this is my church...', 'this is my congregation...' or 'what i want to do...' and so on. You get the idea and some do not mean it in the way that it sounds, yet it happens and many christian workers take ownership of their appointed place. This cannot happen as servants of God, we christian workers, do not own anything in the kingdom, it is all God's. It is Church, His sheep, His creation and this fact should temper any thoughts which lead one to assume they have a right to possess their area of work.
The christian worker is 'promoted' or called by God to lead others and this elevation should be humbling leading the worker to lean and rely on God for all things. This calling is not to be 'the taskmaster' over others, commanding and controlling the parishoners lives but to lead the way in how the christian life should be done right. They are directed by God and achievements or objectives do not come from themselves or what is the current fad in the christian world but from God's orders.
God knows what He wants to accomplish and He knows how He wants it done and it takes good servants to put down their own desires, their own way of getting things done and listen, while being ready to fulfill those directives from the Master. Too often we see too many christian workers seeing what others are doing and get it in their heads that they must do the same, and then ruin what God wants done in that particular community.
God knows the hearts of all people and He knows how He wants to reach them thus the good servant must put down the popular ideas, the secular strategies or philosophies and pick up God's strategies and way of doing things. In God's kingdom one way is not greater than another. If God directs two different workers to do two different things then the two ways are on the same level and will produce what God wants them to produce. it is up to the christian worker to be obedient and humble when following God's instructions.
The christian worker is not greater than God and they must follow all of God's directives as found in the Bible so that they will not miss out on what God would have them to do nor miss out on reaping the harvest that God wants. Not everything makes sense but then the servant is not privy to the master's thoughts nor sees the logic in every command thus humility plays a big part in being a member of God's kingdom.
Fourth, the christian worker is given responsibilities to carry out. They must discipline scripturally, guide the flock into the ways of god and away from destruction, they must warn about things of the world even if those things look harmless or are fun. They must also feed the flock honestly, removing their own personal ideas or pet peeves substituting them with what God says He wants them to know, so that the believers can grow strong and be able to withstand the attacks or deception of the devil.
The christian worker cannot be with his charges 24/7 so they must teach and instruct completely so when the believer faces a challenge or temptation at work they will know what to do. They must also be confident that if they fail they can come to the christian worker and find compassion, understanding, instruction, and not rejection, insults and so on. God's kingdom does not shoot its wounded but its memebrs are prepared to help one another, guard their dignity, and defend those weaker thanthemselves. This kingdom is not like the secular ones where it is usually every man for themselves. No, it is a community where all look out fo eachother especially in times of need or hurt.
Finally, who are the christian workers of the kingdom of God? They are the people who have been given a special job by God because he has endowed them with gifts and talents which enable them to lead others. it is not an elevation to being suprior to those they lead, but a call to be true servants who learn and implement what God has said in the Bible and to them. They set aside their human understanding and replace it with God's thinking, they set aside their own goals and wants while leading others BUT they do not sacrifice their own families. At no time has God said that their own families must suffer or sacrifice unjustly. The christian worker must balance their family with their duties as their families have needs and are in need of them.
God has said that a christian worker must rule their own houses well but that does not mean that position is a dictatorship or one is a tyrant. No, they must implement God's teaching and wisdom towards their own as well as the congregation they guide. the christian worker's family is important as it is the example for the flock to see how well the christian worker can serve God.
