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Influence and Representation
By William R. Cunningham
November 19, 2006
Introduction
There are two things that accompany every Christian and even every person born on earth. We all influence others and we all represent something. Some influence others for the better or the worse and still others represent good or evil. Christians should be a good influence on the people around them and surely an effective and true representation or witness of the Kingdom of God and even God himself.
I find now that Christianity is portrayed by the religious community as a club. It isn’t about Jesus Christ or those who have put their faith in him. Christianity to many is just a religious club with certain standards and activities. On so called Christian radio we hear of churches having concerts, conferences, and all types of other activities that have little or nothing to do with the truth of the Christian faith. I heard on the radio today an advertisement for a watchnight service where had to purchase tickets. Why tickets you say for a Christian gathering? Well first of all it wasn’t really a Christian gathering and secondly it was more about the big names in the “industry” and not about Jesus Christ or things pertaining to him.
Religious people give God a bad rep. Church has falsely represented the Christian faith and as a result there are many who think that they are Christians and truthfully they are not. Religion has hidden the truth about Christianity and Jesus Christ and therefore many people remain blind, but yet they think they have found the light.
We are going to discuss the influence that Christians should have and how our witness of God and his kingdom should be true. We are going to look at a statement that Jesus made in regards to “us” being the light of the world and that he is the light of the world. Let’s move on and see the influence of Christians on the world and the witness of God that we are to the world.
Light of the World
Matthew 5:14-16 (NKJV)14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
John 9:5 (NKJV) As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
Jesus said that you are the light of the world. He also said that he is the light of the world. How can both be true? Jesus Christ is the source of the light that is in us. We can only be light to the world because Jesus is the light that illuminates us in the first place. It is not our own light that we light the way, but the light of Christ that is in us.
John 1:4 (NKJV) -- {4} In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
There is one thing that we must ask here and that is, who is the “you” in that statement (Matthew 5:14)?
Well verses one and two answers this question. Jesus was directing his teaching to his disciples who had come to him. Therefore we can say that the disciple of Jesus Christ is the light of the world (and salt of the earth). Here’s a question for you. Are you a discple of Jesus Christ? Well another question comes up at this point and that is, what is a disciple of Christ?
A disciple is a follower so a disciple of Christ is one who follows Jesus Christ. Following here means that we abide by his way and live our life according to what Jesus revealed to us about God and his kingdom. A disciple of Jesus Christ is an ambassador for Christ and therefore a representative of Jesus Christ and the kingdom of God. A disciple should reveal the way of Christ and truly represent the Christian way.
Influence
We are an influence on others around us whether we realize it or not. This is true especially when we profess a particular faith or belief. People are watching you and people are looking for answers to the many problems that they are having. They hear about God in churches and religious activities, but many times these do not satisfy the craving for effective answers. This is where you and your life comes into play.
Your behavior is analyzed and used to help provide answers and direction for many around you. Your behavior is used by some to ridicule and to obtain information about you to use against you. However, Christians should realize that we influence those around us. People will limit certain behaviors or language because a Christian is in the vicinity (or church person). It is unfortunate that some people if not many equate church people with Christian people whereas the two are not necessarily the same.
Church Folk
Church folk influence those around them, but they are not necessarily Christians. Church folk are those people that profess faith in Jesus Christ, but their Christian lifestyle is limited to going to religious activities such as weekly church services and other such rituals. A Christian is also one who professes faith in Jesus Christ, but their faith is evident by their works. Consider what James said.
James 2:14-18 (NKJV) -- {14} What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? {15} If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, {16} and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? {17} Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. {18} But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
The faith of a Christian is evident by his or her lifestyle, which are the things that he or she does. Our faith is seem through the manifestation of God’s love onto others. Christians (God’s people in general) are to love God and to love others.
This love is not evident in mere church folk. Please understand that I am in no way suggesting that those who go to church do not love God or others. The point that I am making here is that a person who comes out of a church is not necessarily a Christian and therefore will not necessarily reveal the love or God.
Therefore we need to be careful of the associations that we make; the Christian and non-Christian alike. What I mean here is that Christians should be careful not to be too associated with the religious institutions because those institutions are false representations of the true kingdom of God and therefore people do not necessarily associate associate you with the Christian way, namely the truth. The non-Christian does not realize that the church and church folk are not true representatives of the truth of Jesus Christ and the Christian faith.
Glory to God
Why do Christians shine and why should we do good works? Well Christians shine to bring glory to God according to Jesus Christ. We have to always remember the primary activity of God in the earth right now. The primary thing that God is doing now is calling the lost to him. God wants people to be saved. Jesus Christ came so that we would have everlasting life and therefore experience an eternal relationship and union with God. We must remember that else we will lose focus and begin to pursue religious activities instead of what God wants.
We do good works to to bring glory to God as well. It appears that good works are the manifestation of the light that is in us. Remember what James said. He said that he would show you his faith by his works. That means that the faith comes first and then the works. That means that the works are an expression or manifestation of the faith that we have.
Let me say it this way. A righteous person does righteous things because of the righteousness that is within. A religious person does righteous things to appear or gain righteousness. Do you see the difference? A true Christian is a Christian because of his or her faith in Christ and that faith is expressed in a lifestyle consistent with God’s way. That then brings glory to God.
That light influences others in at least one of two ways.
- It influences people to conform to or respect the righteous lifestyle
- It reveals the way of God
Ultimately our lives should bring glory to God. People need to know the truth about God and they surely need to know God personally. We should therefore avoid those things that would drive people away and embrace those things that would reveal the truth about God and his kingdom so that those who are truly seeking will come closer to the truth, namely Jesus Christ.
Righteous Living
Now since our lives should represent the truth of God’s kingdom and reveal God’s way to others then Christians should have a righteous lifestyle. That means that the lifestyle of the Christian should be consistent with God’s way. We know God’s way by reading and understanding the Bible.
Now understand that no human being is perfect, i.e., without sin. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. So we should not expect any person to be sinless or flawless. However, the lifestyle of the Christian should be consistent with biblical revelation. An person that accepts such things as homosexuality as an alternative lifestyle, or premarital sex, etc. is not representing the true Christian way.
Now surely there are people who struggle with these and other issues. For example, I’m sure that there are homsexuals that don’t want to be homosexuals, but don’t know what to do about it and they therefore struggle with their sexuality and sexual preferences. However, these same people are not necessarily the ones crying for understanding or gay rights. These same people are not trying to condone their lifestyle. However, there are those who would prefer to live in their sin instead of “getting off of the ride” so to speak. Christians are always trying to “get off of the ride” instead of redefining the ride so that it is good.
So a Christian will live righteously, though not perfectly or sinless. Christians shouldn’t be among those who try to condone sin, but instead are those who try their very best to resist sin in their own lives. The righteous living of a Christian will show those around them a little something about Jesus Christ and therefore the kingdom of God. Doing this makes Christians true representatives of God and his way.
Effecting Change
How can we effect change in others by influence? We simply live the righteous lifestyle. Our lifestyle will tend to influence others to behave similarly or at the very least to respect your lifestyle. Remember that our lifestyle is seen by the things that we do and the things that we (Christians) do are a result of the faith that we have. Consider that just because someone does good things doesn’t mean that he or she is a Christian. That is a very important point to remember.
We can effect change in at least two ways.
- Influence behavioral change by how we behave
- Influence change by determined efforts
We have already discussed the fact that our lifestyle is a way that we influence others. So we can affect the behavior of others simply by how we behave in a particular environment or situation. There is probably someone watching you wanting to see what the Christian will do.
Another way that we can influence others is by a determined effort. That is to be an advocate for what is right in regards to the way of God. This doesn’t mean that we have to be violent, though sometimes that is necessary (See Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). It simply means that sometimes we are going to be active in promoting righteousness, justice, and truth.
For example, Martin Luther King was a champion for human rights. Jan Hus and Martin Luther were champions for Christian truth in an environment where religion reigned. There are many Christians that fought for righteousness in our society and they weren’t always religious in nature. I dare say that religion is not concerned with the wellbeing of others. Religion binds people to serve it and those bound people (church folk) don’t even realize it.
Your Life Matters
Here is the punch line. As a Christian your life matters! You are significant to God because you have a relationship with him and you influence others to come to the same place, namely a relationship with the Lord God. Your life is a light to others that will help them to see the way to Jesus Christ.
We tend to think that we are nothing or perhaps that our lives do not matter. However, nothing could be far from the truth. I must admit that religion has duped us into thinking that the only way we can make a difference is if we have lots of money, a really nice car, a big house, and other material abundance. However, consider Jesus Christ himself. He did not have great material possessions. As a matter of fact, he had very little material possessions. Consider the apostles. They had little and yet they changed the world. Consider how their lives and their ministry influenced others to come to Christ.
It is not our place to save hundreds or thousands of people during the course of our lives. It is only our place to do what God says to do (See Ecclesiastes 12:13). What we can do is simply to live righteously (this assumes that you are saved). If you are not saved then the first thing that you need to do is to put your faith in Jesus Christ. You must believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God and that he died for your sins. You must believe with your heart that God raised him from the dead. You have to believe that Jesus Christ paid the price for your sins and you therefore have forgiveness of sins.
If you are not a Christian then you must realize that you cannot save yourself. All of the religious activities in the world will not get you any closer to God. All of the church services and money in the world will not save you.
Isaiah 64:6 (NKJV) -- {6} But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.
So you need to cease from all of the effort to save yourself and realize that Jesus Christ has already provided the way out.
Christians need to realize that even though you are saved that you still should live a righteous life. As a matter of fact that is something that you really don’t have to tell a Christian because he or she will always strive to live righteously even though he or she may struggle with sin. Being a Christian does not mean that we are not accountable for doing what is right. Our life is a light to the world and the world is watching.
We influence the world and we should be true representatives of God.
2 Corinthians 5:18-20 (NKJV) -- {18} Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, {19} that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. {20} Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.
Final Remarks
Christians influence those around them. As a matter of fact all humans influence others that are around them for good or for evil. Christians should be aware of the power that they have in regards to influence. We should be available and determined to influence others so that others would know the truth of Jesus Christ and therefore the Christian faith.
Christians represent the kingdom of God because we are all that people have to get a better glimpse of God besides natural revelation. Our lifestyle and the things we do are expressions of the light that is within us.