Encourager or Downer?

Encouragement. Everyone likes to receive it! The Bible has much to say on the subject. Are you an encourager or a downer? Encouragement! Is that just a neat personality trait that some folks have and others don't? Is 'encouragement' a spiritual thing or just a pleasantries habit?

Barnabas is the primary example of an encourager in scripture. In fact this native of Cyprus was known as a Son of Encouragement (Acts 4:36). To be a proper encourager, one must be a Christian. What's the possibility that you might be renamed by your friends as 'daughter (or son) of encouragement?'

Barnabas is described as such in Acts 11:24. His first recorded encouragement was an act, not a word. Yet his action spoke words of inspiration (a basic meaning of encouragement) to the apostles. In Acts 4:37 we read of his voluntarily selling his land and giving the money to the church for use in the proclamation of the Gospel. Here we see that we can inspire others by our own actions.

We also strengthen one another by our spoken words. Barnabas again is a primary example. Sometime after the persecutor Saul’s conversion, he sought to join the disciples in Jerusalem. They were too fearful to embrace him as a Christian, fearful that his desired inclusion was only a ploy for further persecution. Faithful Barnabas took the initiative and introduced him to the disciples. (Acts 9:27) Later, when Barnabas was sent to Antioch, he soon sought recently converted Saul to join him in the work. This subsequently, led in God’s providence, to Paul and Barnabas being sent out on a missionary journey to Cyprus and beyond. In these journeys God raised Paul (formerly named Saul) to a place of prominence in his labors as a church planter, proclaimer of truth and an evangelist. When God brings His encouragement into your life and you let it overflow into someone else’s life, you're really sending that person encouragement from God.

Have you ever been around someone who's a 'downer?' When I'm with a pessimist, it's very draining for me--it takes an awful lot of energy to maintain a positive perspective and to continue to see that many, many good things are happening in life all the time. God can take any bad situation and turn it into good. Just read about Joseph’s life in Gensis, Chapters 39-45. Do you know someone who is encouraging, inspiring and gracious? Whose company do you prefer? When we're most discouraged, that just might be the time God wants us to lift somebody else up.

How does one change from being numbered among the downers and become a gracious, inspiring encourager? Change your focus. If you are a “downer”, you are focused on yourself. When you become an encourager, you are focused on other people.

Your homework:
Who do you most want to encourage this year? Name 2 or more people who God has called you to be their Encourager


What’s next:
For the next three months or so, CLASSE ladies will begin a series on encouraging one another. Click here to begin the first lesson.

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Should We Vote?: A Christian Perspective

Christians should seek political participation and representation as they go about their duties of evangelizing the world. Without this participation and representation, there is no assurance that the freedom to evangelize will remain secure. Can we maintain the fundamental freedoms and liberties we enjoy while standing apart from the political process? The political and social trends of the last generation should offer clear warnings that freedom and liberty require diligent care and attention -- especially by the Christian community.

There are numerous perspectives on why Christians should be involved in the political process: duty, responsibility, natural leadership, love of our brothers and sisters, a basic compassion for mankind, etc. One perspective that too often goes unnoticed is the concept of submission to government. Submission to our governing structures requires participation.

As Paul wrote to the Romans: "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established" (Romans 13:1 NIV). As Christians today, we look back upon Paul's letter, and other portions of Scripture (Mark 12, I Timothy 2:1-3, Acts 5, etc.) to determine our own relationship to government.

Americans enjoy certain rights and liberties that would seem foreign to early Christians. Therefore, trusting that God offers Biblical provision for our modern situation, we apply the principles He has given. As we read in Romans, one of those principles is submission to governing authority.

In the American governing system, submission demands participation. Why, you may ask? Whether they like it or not, American citizens are participants in the American governing structure. No one is exempt from this participation. Citizens are assessed taxes; they are counted in the Census; they are in government computer systems at all levels; they send their children to government-run schools; they are, in one way or another, participants in the government.

What does it mean to "participate?" At a minimum, it means voting. Voting implies a familiarity with those individuals on the ballot. And this familiarity is only appreciated by understanding the issues of our day. Thus, participation should drive one to an awareness of political issues. This would include social issues, economic issues, international issues, etc. Christians should rank among the most politically informed and astute people in America.