Pastor's Desk
July 23, 2006
INTEGRATING THE SPIRITUAL AND THE SECULAR
For the past several weeks we have been talking about the church in the workplace. When we gather as Christians we understand that to be a church gathering. In our celebration services we worship and are equipped for ministry through the preaching of the word. In our Carecells or small groups we often have discussions around spiritual themes and seek to follow a spiritual agenda. But sometimes the spiritual dimension of our life is not always discerned when we go to the workplace or the marketplace. However we have not stopped being the church just because we are in what we sometimes call secular environments. Our spiritual life has not been put on hold for that time. Our relationship with Jesus Christ continues. He is still our Lord. We are still citizens of the kingdom. We are who we are 24/7.
There are many who do not have any difficulty with this concept. Their life is integrated. They are as likely to pray in the workplace as in the church building. They have included the Lord Jesus in every aspect of the day. They ask him for wisdom in every decision they make. Every person they meet is another individual whose name they bring to God. They understand that everything that happens is ordered of the Lord. They also know when the devil needs to be resisted in the activities of the day. This kingdom consciousness does not distract them from their work. Rather, it enables them to be completely present in everything they do. They are so heavenly minded that they can be of immense earthly good. Love, joy and peace flow from their every pore. What their hands touch has the blessing of God on it and the blessing spills over in the lives of all those who meet them. These are wholly integrated people of the kingdom because they are in touch with the King morning, noon and night. There is an old song that sums it up:
Whisper a prayer in the morning
Whisper a prayer at noon
Whisper a prayer in the evening
So keep your heart in tune. (writer unknown)
--Rainer Mittelstaedt
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And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
This page was last updated on Friday, July 21, 2006