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Surrounded
By: Randal Myers
The story goes that a visiting preacher was finding it difficult to make conversation with an old farmer who attended the typical small church in rural Alabama . Searching for something to create a little dialogue, he asked the farmer, "What time do you go to work in the morning"? The farmer replied, "I don't have to go to work. I just get out of bed and in a few minutes, I'm surrounded by it!"
What the preacher learned from the old farmer that day is a lesson we might all benefit from in the church. The five dollar word is "compartmentalization". We tend to think of our lives in divisions or compartments. I have my family life, my work life, my social life, my church life, etc. Now there's no doubt that each of these things, and many more are important to all of us. The problem comes in making these areas of life segregated from each of the others; especially in regards to Christianity. When spiritual things are allowed to become just another segment of life our relationship with God will suffer, our influence on the world will be hampered and the chances of fulfilling our purposes in life will be slim.
In my view compartmentalization is responsible for people making certain decisions and life choices that absolutely baffle me. It usually plays out something like this. A guy goes out to the bar with his buddies and party on Saturday night, then is in church on Sunday morning. Or maybe he'll slip a fast one in on a client at work to pick up a few thousand dollars, and then lead prayer in Bible class. A family will go on vacation and skip worship while away, then be in church like normal when they return home. A woman might make cutting or derogatory remarks about a co-worker to friends and be teaching the children in Sunday School . Maybe a teenager boy will curse like a sailor around the football team and then go on a mission trip with the youth group.
"Christianity
was never meant
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What allows for this type of divergent behavior? Compartmentalization. My work life is my work life; my social life is my social life and my church life is my church life. No one actually ever says that, but it becomes the reality.
Christianity was never intended to be a part of our lives. It was intended to become the whole of our existence. Our social lives are dictated by spirituality. Our work persona is the one that is subject to the Lordship of Jesus. Every aspect of life from sunup to sundown is steeped in, filtered through and governed by my relationship to God through Jesus Christ.
I am not a man who is a Christian; I'm a Christian man. I'm not a spouse who is a Christian; I'm a Christian spouse; I'm not a Christian banker, I'm a Christian banker. I'm a Christian athlete, a Christian mother or father, a Christian employee or employer, a Christian friend, neighbor, relative, etc. In other words, Christianity isn't a segment of my life; it is my life lock, stock and barrel. Paul said it this way.
Since , then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life , appears, then you also will appear with him in glory .
--Colossians 3:1-4 (NIV)
This is the only way we can have an effect on the world around us. We then become the salt and light of the world. What time do we go to work being Christians? We just get out of bed and in a few minutes, we're surrounded with it.
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