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The Need For Community

I was having a conversation with a friend recently when he asked if I thought a person could really be a good Christian and run a successful business. He didn't believe it was possible because of what he had seen in some of the people he had worked for. I always think of my best arguments at least a couple of weeks after a talk like this. But I did immediately think of principles and stories from the Bible that helped me form my opinion. I thought of the fact that there have been more passages about money included in the scriptures than those written about Hell. Honestly, I could see where someone might think that's a little lop-sided, but it's true. I told him God has a lot to say about money the bottom line in the business world. I also thought about the story of Solomon, who as a young man was given a kingdom to run after his father died. God came to him in a vision, asking what He could give Solomon as he became Israel's new king. All he asked for was wisdom wisdom to be what he knew he could not be alone wisdom to be a leader for the people. Graciously, God gave him wisdomand everything else he didn't ask for. Power. Riches. Fame. I told my friend this story and said God cares about leaders and the way they run things and will give them wisdom and everything else they need to run their business successfully.

But I wish I'd thought enough to ask my friend what meant by "successful" and especially what he meant by "Christian". I may bring it up again. I enjoy conversations like this because they help encourage me to deconstruct who I am and what I believe and the way I behave. I think all of us (if we're serious about following Jesus) should be forced to ask ourselves, "What do I mean when I say I am a Christian?" on a regular basis. Usually it's our unbelieving, or not-quite-ready-to-commit-yet friends who bring up these questions.

These discussions are holy moments when God teaches us something about how we relate to the human community. We are reminded that we are not only learning to live among brothers and sisters in the Christian family but brothers and sisters in the people family.

Whether we believe or not, God wants to embrace us. He wakes us up each morning with a standing ovation, saying "I love you" as we brush our teeth. He extends His heart to us as we pull the covers over our heads at night, and drift off to sleep. Every hour in between is filled with invitations from Heaven to fall into God's arms. The only thing that

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