Anxiety Leads to Opportunity
Monday, October 20, 2008 :: 339 Views ::
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The wide spread fear and anxiety over economic uncertainty is opening doors for Christians to express their faith and trust in God to friends and neighbors who do not share our beliefs.
The wide spread fear and anxiety over economic uncertainty is opening doors for Christians to express their faith and trust in God to friends and neighbors who do not share our beliefs.
Our friends and family without Christ often place their trust and hope in wealth. Careers, investments and possessions provide their personal identity, self-worth, security and significance. All of these foundations are now shaken. Their experience stands in stark contrast to Christians, who find identity and self-worth in the cross and waters of baptism. Our lives are formed and shaped by God, who continuously provides for all our needs.
Around the southern region I'm seeing members of churches encouraged to care for their neighbors by explaining why we as Christians are not experiencing the same fear and panic as people without faith. The themes for sharing are in many ways summarized in Matthew chapter 6.
Some of our brothers and sisters in Christ are utilizing verse 33. God leads us to seek first His kingdom so we never were chasing after worldly wealth. Since we never were counting on things that perish we are not so shaken now. Others are focused on verse 11, pointing out the fact that we expect God to provide our basic needs. We are not as anxious because God has proven faithful in the past and promises to be faithful in the future. Finally, I'm hearing Lutherans offering to their neighbors hope that God is personally concerned about them, reflecting in a way the beatitudes where God blesses the poor and meek, those who hunger and thirst.