Christians-Count.org

We believe Christians should be making a difference in our communities and influencing our politicians not just at election time, but throughout the year.

As Christians, we need to stand up and be counted!

Take a look at some of the principles laid out in Proverbs 22 about how to make a difference. What's important is not just what you do, but the Bible is very clear that our attitude behind what we do that is vital.

Proverbs 22 helps us understand what attitude and approach we should take:

1)

v11 tells us that the way we can be friends with influential people is by speaking with grace

"He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king for his friend." v11

So often Christians can feel that they are on the defensive or victimised, which can lead to a reactionary and 'ranting' approach to debate and discussion. Yet the principles we find in the Bible stand up to strong scrutiny and have benefitted many previous generations and are hugely profitable for the wellbeing of all who live here right now.

So let's make our speech and responses gracious. This means more than just expressing ourselves in a polite manner without compromising what we want to say. It also means we need to be aware of how Jesus dealt with people when he was on the earth, and duplicate this when we engage with people.

2)

v29 says

"Do you see a man skilled in his work?
He will serve before kings;
he will not serve before obscure men."

We should all try to do our best in what we do, increasing our abilities and skills as we go. As we do this, then God will take each of us on a journey, which will include bringing us before influential people.

Christians were never meant to serve before 'obscure' men, but to be in positions of influence, and become the 'head and not the tail', as Deut 28:13 puts it.

Understanding how we should apply these principles we find in Proverbs 22 in a practical way will help us as we aim to change the world in which we live.