Our Impact on others
Our actions, words, and behaviors significantly influence those around us, creating a ripple effect that can either uplift or harm.
Thinking about this, my mind went to the seven name churches of Revelation chapters two and three. Five of the named churches were/are having a negative impact on others of the overall church as well as those of the world. Only two of them were having a positive impact on both. The church in general, was/is meant by God to represent Him to all of humanity, to other Christians, and those of the world, non-Christians. This was/is so important to God that Jesus Christ, the head of the church is seen in Revelation, one as scrutinizing it with intensity. It reads: “I John (the human author of the book) saw Jesus clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire” (1:13-15) representations of royalty, eternality, holiness, perfection and righteous judgment.
Jesus is seen by John as the overseer of the church judging its activities, condemning many of its practices, including its tolerances and outright sin. As mentioned above, only two of the seven churches meet His approval, the other five He condemns and judges.
In that the church is comprised of called out ones, individuals formed into a collective body, it holds that Jesus’ commendations , or condemnations are not abstract. Church members are observed with the same intensity as is the collective body. Why? Isn’t it because the conduct, the practice of each individual has an impact on others? Me thinks so! For the church, collectively of individualistic to have a positive impact it must meet the standards of conduct that are acceptable to its head, Jesus Christ. Each member must not conduct themselves; you and I must not conduct ourselves by standards of their/our own conclusions but by the standards that are acceptable by Jesus Himself. We do have an impact on others, a positive impact, or a negative impact.
Steve