How to Survive Differentness

On Friday, I wrote about how difficult it was for early Christians to work. Because they wouldn't pay homage to the patron Greek or Roman god of their city, they were excluded from much of the economic, political, and social life of their society. How did they deal with that kind of exclusion? They clung to each other. In Acts 2:42-47, Acts 4:32-36, and a number of other passages describing early Christians, the Bible talks about how they stuck together and depended on each other and on God. Archeological evidence has revealed meeting rooms where Christians assembled. These Christians knew that they couldn't make it on their own, that they had to support each other.

So two questions. First, how are you doing being different? If you're doing it right, you probably need support from others. That may not be monetary support--it may simply be encouragement to continue living for Christ. Second, how are we doing supporting each other? It's tempting to show up on Sundays, say "hi" to everyone, and then leave that community behind as we join our "Monday" community. That's not the support we need to live for Christ in our workplaces. We need the freedom to be authentic, to be able to say, "I'm struggling with what it means to be Christ at work." Pride sometimes gets in our way, that feeling like we have to show people we have it all together. Sometimes business interferes as well, when we don't have time to really listen to people and get to know their needs. But to be truly different, to really reflect Christ at work requires a support community of fellow Christians.

To find that kind of support from others, we first need to be that kind of support. Talk to someone in need today. Find out how you can be someone's support. You'll soon find that you've got others around you, ready for when you need the support.