Responding to the Deity in Christ (Colossians 2:9) by our witness to what Christ is doing in our life ... and thus, changing America.

SCRIPTURE: Colossians 2:9 (NIV)

For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.

STORY:

In a 1983 Gallup poll Americans were asked, "who do you think Jesus is." 70% of those interviewed said Jesus was not just another man. 42% stated Jesus was God among men. 27% felt Jesus was only human but divinely called. 9% states Jesus was divine because he embodied the best of humanity. Also, 81% of Americans consider themselves to be Christians.

OBSERVATION:

Since 1983 the poll has moved more towards a human/great teacher understanding of Jesus and less towards the Divine. Our society has become more diverse as well. As a faith, Christianity is just one among many.

This has struck fear in the hearts of many. It has caused others to issue a call to “vote Christian” … to take back America … to commit a minute every Friday for prayer … and to keep forwarding the “anti” this or that emails.

At no time in the full discussion have I heard the word witness as in “we need to witness more” or “we should be telling the story of Jesus” or “winning the hearts and minds of our young people by sharing the story of Jesus”. Witnessing is at the key to our spiritual journey as Christians. We have a marvelous and unbelievable story to tell … unless nothing has taken place in our hearts and there isn’t a personal relationship with Christ. If that is the case then we should be concerned … not with the future of America, but with the reality of our hearts.

Yes, we can “take back” America, but only where we begin to witness all the more to the reality of Christ in our hearts. Jesus is the only change agent I know. We won’t find it in the Republican or Democratic parties. Jesus is the answer … let’s lift up Christ and trust the outcome of our nation to Him.

PRAYER:

Make us a captive Lord and then we will be free. Let us sing the praises of Jesus and what he has done in our life. Bring us opportunities to witness to your changing power as we tell our experience with the one and only one who make lasting changes in our world.