- Yesterday was a hard day. Bittersweet. I was so glad to say goodbye to a job I’ve been struggling through for nearly four years. But man, I loved the people I worked with.
2. I have never studied nor even read on the subject of brand identity. So all of my thoughts are born of observation and speculation. But I cannot help but think modern western culture identifies with brands in an unhealthy way and very different from the generations before us. Before, men and women identified with their vocation and what they actually created and did. Now, we identify with what others have created and done. It’s odd, really.
3. Churches are guilty of brand identity also. And they are also guilty of encouraging it.
4. Looking forward to my wife putting my new lawn mower together.
5. It is good for your neighborhood to have a few foreclosures in it. Why? Otherwise you probably live in the neighborhood version of a high school cool kid clique with all the drama and snobbery and competition.
6. Protip: When someone buys something new, don’t talk about how bad it is and what a bad idea it was. They’ve bought it. Telling them it won’t work out is nothing short of cruel.
7. On my last two days of work, we had a problem locking the vault, which kept me at the bank way late and then my final customer was someone who brought me a document I was not able to notarize. Pretty good summation.
8. To suggest explicitly or implicitly the main work of a Christian is evangelization is to be completely out of step with the Scriptures. And when I say completely, I mean completely.
9. The blackened shrimp I will eat tonight.
10. Man, I wish my parents were able to share in the good news of me changing jobs after waiting so long.
Echoes and Stars 
I wish you well in your new job. I am so happy for you.
Matt, regarding #8, what do you see as the main work of a Christian? Are you thinking of Jesus’ direction to make disciples?
The glorification of God.
Happy for your new job, and understand your sentiment in #10; and thank you for #8! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. That needs to be repeated…and repeated….and…
“8. To suggest explicitly or implicitly the main work of a Christian is evangelization is to be completely out of step with the Scriptures. And when I say completely, I mean completely.”
Meanwhile, hoardes of unsaved don’t have the Gospel shared with them, 90-99% of church growth is transfer membership, and less than 10% of senior pastors say they have the gift of evangelism.
How do we reconcile your point and the facts I posted?
I don’t think that’s the right question.
However, I did not say to never do evangelization. There has to be a reason Paul never commanded evangelism in his letters to the churches. If it was the main work, it would have been commanded.
“As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”
2 Timothy 4:5 ESV
http://bible.com/59/2ti.4.5.esv
“Do the work of an evangelist”
That’s a pretty clear command, in my book.
I appreciate you and what you do, and do want to be contentious.
I just see the command in scripture, from Jesus and Paul, and I see them reflected very poorly in our society.
That’s a letter to Timothy. Timothy was not the guy in the pew. Timothy was a pastor.
Jtk, Matt referenced Paul’s lack of command to evangelize in the letters to the churches- Romans, Corinthians, Thessalonians, Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians. Timothy is a letter to a pastor.
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31. That covers every aspect of life; even the mundane things of life are concerned with the glory of God.
Brad,
This may help a little.
https://mattbredmond.com/2010/06/25/the-silence-of-paul-on-evangelism/
Sorry, this was meant for me jtk.
“The glorification of God”
Does this come down to a Calvinist/Arminian thing?
How can God be glorified if His elect do not do what He said to do (evangelize, proclaim, make disciples)?
Read what I wrote again. Did I say we are not supposed to evangelize? I didn’t even imply it.
Congratulations, Matt.
I’ve just started reading your book The God of the Mundane.
Thanks for your responses.
I simply cannot imagine giving myself a pass on that verse if I’m neither Timothy or a senior pastor specifically.
Much less the fact that only 9% of senior pastors claim to have the gift of evangelism.
JTK, I’ve been where you are. It is as we glorify God that we make paths for the gospel. In Matthew 9:37-38, Jesus doesn’t say “Get in there and start harvesting.” He says “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers into the harvest”. We should not be afraid to speak of our testimony, but not everyone is called to evangelize at every turn. Some have the gift to do that. The best I ever knew was Sumner Wemp. But to force it and not rely on the Spirit to lead just immunizes people against the Gospel.
Matt, I’ve been foraging through your blog and your Tweets to find out what your new job is, but I can’t locate any such revelation. Have I missed it? Is it a secret?
I’m working in the corporate offices for the bank.
Ah!