When we are asked a question like our lesson asks, “How can our church make a positive difference in people's lives?” We usually round up the “usual suspect” answers. Some examples are: a. Preach and evangelize more; b. we should have more Bible studies; c. Maybe we should have more community services; d. How about having a branch Sabbath School or small study group; e. Maybe we should have more seminars about health, marital, abstinence; or f. More vegetarian cooking work-shops. But, none of these seem to work so far. The results are typically not good.
However, I believe that before we answer the question we should clarify what we mean by positive. Again, we can 'round up our usual suspect' answers: less poverty, less injustice, more education, less violence, more equality, more tolerance, etc. These are nice things to strive for, however, we have been fighting for those for decades and they still have not achieved them. And, they will not be achieved as long as we live in this world of Sin. Christ says to the disciples, “For ye have the poor always with you" (Matthew 26:11). This means there will always be greed in this world. Now, greed could be defined as the love of money, which is the root of all evil (1Timothy 6:10). As long as there is evil in this world that can not be anything positive unless it comes from God.
What comes from God? Jesus (John 3:16; John5:36), The Holy Spirit (John14:16), His angels, His word, His promises, etc. So, this means that as Christians we believe that any positive difference has to do with God or anything He sent, especially Jesus or the Holy Spirit. So, anything that brings us to our knees in prayer is positive. Anything that brings to trust and depend on God more is positive. For only God is positive.
So, how can our church make a positive difference in people's lives? Doing what Jesus did. What did Jesus do? For starters He prayed. Sometimes He prayed early in the morning (mark 1:35). Sometimes He prayed all night (Luke 6:12). He prayed for Himself and others (John 15 – 17). He even prayed for Peter (Luke 22:32). We can follow Christ example. A favorite author is quoted saying "people can reject your care, people can reject you favors, even your love, but they cannot reject your prayers.' God can do things you cannot do. And, He will do them if we ask Him (Matthew 21:22; Mark 11:24).
Christ loved the people unconditionally. We know that He taught, blessed and healed and even resurrected from the dead. He saw the people and was moved with compassion (Matthew 9: 36; 14:14; 15:32). So, He acted on His compassion. To have an impact in our community, we must also have the compassion that Christ had. This is a compassion that comes from loving others unconditionally. This is only God can give to you and you must accept it. An old cliché says, "People won't care until they know you care ... about them." You say, “This is selfish.” I say, “Yes. And, that’s just it.” They want to know that you are genuinely interested in them, before they will consider listening to you. They want to see that you are “living what you preach.” If Christ was selfish He would not have died for us (Romans 5:8). Christ said to His disciples, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John13:35). Those with unconditional love are willing to die for others.
These two things may not stop crime in your community, but it may bring people to a decision about Christ; which in the end is the real goal.
