The World Needs Active Relational Christian Mentors More than Ever

Last night my husband and I sat around the radio to hear a live broadcast from Houston, Texas. Several celebrity and well-know Christian leaders were in Houston,Texas to stand up for the Houston Five. If you haven't heard, Houston's mayor and city council pushed through a city ordinance in addition to the one that was already on the books regarding sexual discrimination. Because of the extreme and far-reaching implications of this ordinance, the people of Houston wanted this ordinance to be voted on by all the people. So they collected many more than just the required signatures needed to put it on the ballot. However, the mayor wouldn't put it on the ballot. She threw out names that did not appear as exactly stated on birth certificates (shortened names and middle names were questioned).The mayor used any exclusionary means possible to keep the new ordinance off the ballot. So, five Houston pastors filed a law-suit to get the ordinance put on the ballot. In retaliation the mayor and city attorney subpoenaed all the sermons and sermon notes of these five Houston pastors.

Many people all over Houston and around the United States suddenly were awakened from their slumber. How could any mayor have the right to subpoena pastors' sermons and notes. What was going on? Christians everywhere were suddenly awakened to the negative possibilities that could arise with this kind of power being used against the churches of our nation. So, hundreds, if not thousands, of Christians got together to voice concerns about our religious freedoms being taken away. The rally in Houston, Texas was broadcast Sunday night, November 2nd. It was a rally presented in love but in concern for our Christian apathy.

Across the country, our religious freedoms are being taken away in one city at a time, and Christians aren't doing anything about it.We set back and talk about how things are awful, but we are not standing up for Christ and for our freedom to worship Him.The Christian leaders at this rally, including Mike Huckabee and many others, were there to tell all Christians that we need to get on our knees and pray for our country! We have to vote! We have to do our part as Christians and stand up for the Truth and for our freedoms. We also have to live a Christ-like life! This means that we have to be gracious, kind, caring, and loving. But we also cannot be apathetic! In fact, Christ was not apathetic! He constantly infuriated the Pharisees and Sadducees, because He told the truth even when they did not want to hear it. Jesus even went so far as to directly address the Pharisees. In one instance, Jesus pronounced "Woes" upon the religious leaders. Jesus said, "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the Kingdom of Heaven in men's faces, You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to do so. ... You hypocrites! ... You have neglected the more important matters of the law -- justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain at a gnat and swallow a camel." (Matthew 23: 13, 23,24 NIV). This was just three of the several woes that are mentioned in this chapter of Matthew. There were also many other times when Christ spoke directly to the Pharisees even as they continued to plot His death. Christ stood up for the Truth, and He expects us to stand up for the Truth too.

For Christian women, standing up for the Truth means that we live the Truth of the Bible. We are to live out our acquired attributes of Christ everyday. In standing up for the Truth, we are to serve the Lord in any way that we can. One of the most important ways that we can serve is to be active relational Christian mentors in our home, for our family and for our friends. But we have to go further as well. We need to seek out mentees so we can share the Word of God with them, so we can help them understand that Christ is there for them through every circumstance, and to let them know that we will be there for them in whatever way we can. We have to make sure that our Christ-Light can be seen by everyone we encounter! Christ said, "Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed to shut out the light? Of course not! A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine." (Mark 4: 21 NLT).

Not mentoring another woman when the opportunity presents itself is hiding our light under a basket.True Christians have been given the "light of the world" to share with other women. How then can we take that light and hide it? Sadly, there are many ways we hide our light under a basket. From being complacent about our Salvation, to believing that because we are Saved we don't have to do anything else, we have all found ways to hide our Christ-light from others.

One of the worst ways we can hide our Christ-light is through our failure to stand up for the issues of our day that directly relate to Christ's values and attributes -- His Light! We have become apathetic about other people's morals, about the loss of values in our schools, about our freedoms being taken away one at a time and about the lies that the world tells us. Perhaps it is our acceptance of the lies that is the very worst. By accepting lies and not standing up for the truth we are indeed hiding our Christ-light under a basket.

Most of us don't call people on their lies. Consequently, we have especially become numb to the lies in the political arena and in our government.We accept politicians' lies as part of their political position.We don't expect politicians to be honest or to do what they say they will do. Instead, we turn a blind eye when a politician, i.e. someone who represents us or our country, does something that is immoral, amoral, unethical, and valueless.We accept their lying! We must stop, though, and look at the individuals we are voting into office. Do they follow the teachings of Christ? We can no longer be apathetic and say that their personal beliefs don't matter, because those beliefs will be brought to the office they win.Then their values and beliefs will be imposed upon our lives.I don't know about you, but I don't want someone telling me that I don't have the right to worship Christ wherever and whenever I want. I don't want someone instituting laws that will take away any of my constitutional freedoms in the name of political correctness. I don't want someone in a political office who will impose their religious beliefs, or lack thereof, on me. I will not impose my beliefs on them either. But, I will tell everyone I can and who will listen that Jesus Christ is the way. Are you willing to speak up for the Truth?

Christian women can no longer be apathetic! We have got to make sure that we are mentoring the next generation on correct and important behaviors and attitudes. As women we have great influence on our children and family members. Home and family is where our mentoring should start for the Lord.Then we can mentor other women; making a difference in the world one woman at a time. Active relational Christian mentoring takes time, though. We cannot start a mentoring relationship by telling someone they are wrong or that our knowledge is more important than theirs. Instead, through fellowship, caring, graciousness, kindness and gratitude, we can share our gifts, knowledge, resources, talents, and loving hearts with others. Then, our mentees may come to understand why we believe the way we do and why we live for Christ. You can do it! You can be an ambassador for Christ through ARCM. You can mentor another woman for the Lord as you stand for the Truth!