And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly.

Acts 5:12-13 (NKJV)

Christians are frequently misunderstood.

In the media and in politics, Christians and Christianity are presented in an unbalanced manner. Most times, Christians are portrayed as a group of Bible-bashing, intolerant, and judgemental religious fundamentalists. This negative vibe is often highlighted when we are engaged in public discussions on various topics that run counter to popular opinion. Worse, we Christians don't always agree with one another, and our lack of agreement reinforces that image, as we've come to expect from the media and interest groups.

The early church was well regarded by the community.

The Greek for "esteemed" is megalynō which means "to receive praise and glory". If you read Acts 5, you will see that, despite false public perceptions that led to persecutions, the church was a force of good and compassion in its early history. This is something from which we must recover today.

Being a Christian entails more than just attending church; you are a son or daughter of the kingdom! Many believers are so attached to their own church affiliations that they miss out on God's Kingdom. And we've become so preoccupied with church activities that we've forgotten to "get on with" the Kingdom's agenda of preaching, healing, and compassion in the marketplace.

Every believer is unmistakably called to proclaim and reveal the Kingdom.

It is wrong to assume that some people's place of service is in the church and others' place of service is in the Kingdom. When we hold on to such a wrongful option, we deny God's grace from working in us to transform the spiritual texture of our city.

The Kingdom of God extends far beyond any political agenda or goals. In other words, our first call is to proclaim the Kingdom is here. This is not to say that we should ignore political or public issues, but we must do so in the context of the gospel, pointing everyone to the reality of God’s sovereign reign and rule. It is about manifesting Kingdom values and principles in every area of our society. Not in an arrogant or aggressive triumphalist manner, but with humility and love.