Posted on 12/11/2008 12:23:18 AM PST by WhatNot
Ephesians 6:12
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood....
Have you ever heard someone say, "I will never do business with another Christian"? I hear this comment quite often in my dealings with Christian businesspeople. This comment represents the battle that rages against us by the enemy of our soul to destroy the witness and effectiveness of Christian businesspeople. We must realize that we are in a war-a war for the souls of men, a war to discredit all that a Christian stands for, a war that is designed to divide Christian against Christian.
Satan's ploy in the life of Christian businesspersons is to do several things to make them ineffective as soldiers in the marketplace. First, he wants to discredit them by allowing them to fail other people in their professional services. This often shows up in failing to perform what they committed to do or performing in an unsatisfactory way. Sometimes, this is a result of a downright failure of the businessperson to perform with excellence. In other cases, it may be a misunderstanding in the midst of the service that causes strife and division instigated by the enemy.
The result in both cases is the same: a division among Christians and even non-Christians, further resulting in a damaged witness for Christ. The apostle Peter admonishes us to "live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us" (1 Pet. 2:12).
There are times when each of us is thrust into situations out of our control. Sometimes this results in our inability to pay a bill on time, or to deliver a service. Defeating satan in these battles requires extra communication with those with whom we are dealing. If the motive of your heart is to do right, then God will give you favor in order to work through these difficult spots. Ask God today to show you where the enemy is seeking to make you ineffective.
We wage a spiritual war that is not flesh and blood. We must fight this war with spiritual weapons applied to practical daily living.
>> Have you ever heard someone say, “I will never do business with another Christian”?
No, I haven’t.
I haven’t either but the article had some good reminders.
good evening/morngin - and yes, the article has its merits.
morngin —> morning
I have heard people say "I will never go to Church, because Christians are such hypocrites." Of course, my responce to that is, "Well, than one more won't make any difference."
I have never heard someone say they will not do business with another Christian either.
Maybe he meant that people accuse us of hypocracy. We are ceratinly in a spiritual battle and that is one of the enemies tools.
It’s amazing to think that Christians have been pushed in the closet. Can’t mention God, but homosexuality and sexuality in general are in our living rooms, daily life, and even around our little children.
I have said it. I don’t go out of my way to do business with any firm that advertises their christianity.
My experience has been lower service, higher prices and dissappointments because I expected more from them.
At least with non believers I don’t drop my guard or trust them so easily.
I have said it. In the music business "Christian" is just another market, not an actual standard of beliefs. And this "market" is populated by people who combine the worst of the "secular" market and the presumption of so called "Christians" (ie religiously self-righteous). As a Christian, I find this combination particularly revolting.
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