Ikthoos.org: June 2012

What is your profession? Are you a plumber, an author, or a doctor? The word “profession” means:

An occupation…“My father was a carpenter by profession.”

I want to focus today on what the Bible says about “profession.”

Draw your attention to Hebrews 10:1-25 (KJV). Here the author makes some comparisons and contrasts between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant; the Old being the sacrificial system and the New being Jesus’ sacrifice in the cross for the sins of the world. This is the Gospel, is it not?

Let’s look at the word “profession” again. It can also be defined as, A declaration of belief, faith or of one's opinion.

Verse 23 reads; “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering…” (emphasis mine).

If you are a Christian, your profession can be defined by what you do, or the position you hold. But let’s all remember this; our profession, our confession is the Gospel.

We are the light of the world. Some choose to hide their light under a basket. Our western culture divides secular and spiritual. Church is on Sunday and maybe Wednesday but not for the work week. This is a mistake.

Let’s define “church.” Church is a body of believers meeting together. It is not a building. We invite people to church while at the same time they are viewing a part of the church…us. My point is this; everything we do, whether godly or ungodly, is still part of what others view as acceptably “Christian.”

Christians; we are ambassadors for Christ whether we are Christlike or not. Paradoxical?

Illustration; Set up a meeting with someone that isn’t a Christian and let them tell you the definition of “church” and “Christian.” Their definition may not necessarily based on fact. Perception has become their “reality” even though it isn’t necessarily biblical.

Christians are looked down on and even hated because of what Christians have done in the name of Jesus or Christianity. People assume Christ is a certain way through His followers, without regard for God’s written word.

If a U.S. Ambassador was in another country and acted unbecoming of an American citizen, the country around that embassy would think that most, if not all Americans must be the same. It would be an American stereotype. Believe me; I’ve experienced these stereotypes first hand while in other world countries.

What is the Christian stereotype? (I’ll write more about this topic at another time.) Are we hypocritical, dishonest, fake, weak…?

God does everything through His holiness. His love is holy. His anger is holy. For us, everything is through Christ; everything is through being a Christian. I’m a Christian dad, a Christian husband, a Christian driving a car, a Christian Soldier, and a Christian business owner. We are Christians. We speak and act on His behalf, not our own. Don’t let the separation of church and state influence you on the job site or anywhere else. There is no such thing. Just because the world doesn’t want to hear the truth doesn’t mean we have to be silent. Being Christlike and sharing the Gospel is loving your neighbor.

There are times others hate us because we are Christians. Don't forget Jesus' words in John 15:18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.”

Consider 1 Peter 2:18-21 (Submission to Authority)

“Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps

But do they hate us because we follow Christ or our own form of Christianity? Do others hear our words and see different actions? The book of James says that our faith is evident by our actions. Do we reflect Christ? Do we bear the fruit of the spirit?

Galatians 5:22-23

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

What is the antithesis of professing something? -To deny

Let’s consider one more verse:

Titus 1:16 “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”

Do we deny God by the way we act and the words we say? I challenge you to be like Christ. This isn’t a Sunday thing; this is a moment by moment devotion. We have to be devoted to be like Christ; that’s discipleship!

Luke 9:23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

So I ask you, what is your profession? Please follow our blog, share your thoughts here, and share this blog on your social media sites. Thank you for reading!

Respectfully,

George Fuller

Founder & CEO

Ikthoos, LLC

“Connecting the Christian Community!”

Ikthoos Channel on YouTube

(650) 308-4667