This Leads to That

Influence is also Evangelism

Painting “Life is 3D” by Myra Alibrando

---

Unrelated to the article are these bonus 99-second audios that I believe you will enjoy. Let me know if you like these nature segments celebrating nature without evolution.

---

“Begets” is Like Contagious

This leads to that. Fiction begets fiction. Religion begets religion. Violence begets violence. Perversion begets perversion. Honor inspires honor. Whether courage or cowardice, either will also be contagious. 

Example Far Greater Influence than Words

We learn by example. It is our nature. We are far more influenced by others’ behavior than we are from lectures, sermons or philosophy. 

The Evangelism of Culture

Clearly, we are influenced by our own culture, whether magazine articles, church sermons, laws, and the opinions of others. Culture and friends evangelize us and the world.

I Agree with my Friend Anyway

However, we are generally more prone to select who we listen to by how much we like them. We trust who we like more than who we don't like. We are built like that, even if some condescending expert claims to know twice as much as our friend, we often will agree with our friend. It’s comfortable.

This says so much about discipleship, doesn't it? Usually, more than authority or dominance, it is influence that wins. Who would you prefer to hang around, folks who insist on teaching you or folks who like/love you? That's easy. 

If our family blends in with a culture that is against God, it provides the environment of rebellion that is normal and acceptable. Our culture and family values surround us.

When we swim in something, it obviously gets all over us. 

Choosing Our Identity

We are all contagious. Even the quiet ones who keep to themselves. They model being quiet and blending into the scenery. But you are also contagious – always.

There is an old chorus "Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me."

There is also this verse I often quote:

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

The call by God to His followers is to not live reacting to our environment and become what it makes us (conforming to your world) but instead, to respond to His commands. When we “swim” in His love and promises we begin initiating a different and new heavenly influence to ourselves and everyone around us. This theoretically can trigger a worldwide ripple effect.

God-responders are internally rebels questioning culture and insisting God’s values are best. Throughout history, there have been leaders and governments that persecuted, and even killed Christians, for this very reason. God's children are called to introduce new inventions of new inventions of attitude, new inventions of perspective. Obviously, this requires both creativity and courage.

What do you think of this?

Contagious = Influence = Evangelism = Discipleship

God-Orchestrated Rebellion Against the World

We do not all have the same calling, but together we are the hands of God to all the various needs of humanity. Scholarly Christians beget scholarly effort. Creating feeding programs to the needy awakens others to not only the hunger need that exists, but also the possibility of helping.

Talking Good Deeds is Still Talking

I think it is a spiritual crime to elevate those talking theology as the number 1 example of Christianity, because it models words rather than deeds. 

Of course, it is also an error to publish good deeds alone as the value of good, because too many people do good things for financial profit or to politically parade their good deeds as a distraction from their own corruption. Don’t be frustrated from such manipulation, nothing gets past God. God knows those who serve and those who do not.

. . .  "The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.” 2 Timothy 2:19

Obeying God is Not Isolation

Together, the various callings of God reveal and provide a splendid realm of not only the heart of God toward the world, but the complete salvation and calling of God. The will of God is to destroy the disease of foolish sin and to complete us, connect us, empower us, and answer all of our needs.

Although we need teaching, we need to talk to one another and God even more.

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8

Of Course, You Are a Leader

By default, no person can claim to not be a leader, even if he or she shrinks from others. We are all always contagious. 

A Beautiful Tree in the Jungle

Somewhere in the jungle is a beautiful fruit tree with perfect wonderful fruit; luscious, sweet and ripe today but it will begin spoiling after that. How sad that such sweet fruit is not found or enjoyed. I am asking you to not allow that fruitful tree to be you.  

Let one thing good in you be given courageous permission to be visible today, and again tomorrow. 

Your gifts are wasted unless shared with at least one other person. Even given in secret, your gift is not wasted.

Have a truly wonderful week. God bless.

---

Could you try downloading the audio segment up top. I want to know if that is possible and if it is, I will tell everyone. Thanks in advance.