{"id":2069,"date":"2023-08-25T14:12:32","date_gmt":"2023-08-25T19:12:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/marketplacefaith\/?p=2069"},"modified":"2023-11-10T14:15:33","modified_gmt":"2023-11-10T19:15:33","slug":"god-has-called-us-to-be-dangerous-men-and-women-for-him","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/marketplacefaith\/2023\/08\/god-has-called-us-to-be-dangerous-men-and-women-for-him\/","title":{"rendered":"God has Called us to be Dangerous Men and Women for Him"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

""<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Note: <\/strong>this post is the fourth and final of Dr. Chip\u2019s take on a series of conversations he had with businessman Greg Brenneman on Four Divine Truths About Work. We are grateful to Greg for sharing his insights on our podcast! <\/em>Listen here.<\/u><\/em><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Greg\u2019s last big idea (and ours) is this: be dangerous. \u201cGod has called us to be dangerous men and women for him.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

How do you feel about being dangerous? Is danger a positive adjective in your vocabulary? When I started out in the workforce, I was an electrician and my assistant had to watch out for me dropping tools\u2013that was dangerous but not the dangerous we\u2019re talking about here. By dangerous we don\u2019t mean cruel, recklessly harmful, or abusive. <\/span><\/p>\n

By dangerous we mean, impactful, potent, or a high capacity for disruption.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Big Idea<\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n

When you do your work for God, view yourself on mission for him with work as your platform<\/u><\/a>, and are prepared for the away game reality<\/u><\/a>, you will create ripples of influence and impact. You are singing to a different score, marching to a different beat, reading a different script. You are \u201cdangerous\u201d to the status quo.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Biblical Pattern<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

First Century Christians were described this way: <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThese men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.\u201d (Acts 17:6-7)<\/span><\/p>\n

Paul talked about the power of Jesus\u2019 message as follows: <\/span><\/p>\n

Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6<\/strong><\/a>which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing\u2014as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth (Colossians 1:5-6)<\/span><\/p>\n

In Hebrew Scriptures, we see the same pattern.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joseph became the 2nd most influential leader in Egypt. To a Pharaoh who believed in many gods, he gave credit to the one true God. (See Genesis chapters 37-50). Hundreds of years later, Daniel did the same. His \u201cboss,\u201d King Nebuchadnezzar, was a murderous egomaniac. Daniel\u2019s faithfulness and willingness to consistently give God the credit for his success eventually impacted his superior and the trajectory of the entire kingdom. (See Daniel chapters one through 4). Esther was connected, courageous, and beautiful. She found her way to the very center of power, and then as she risked it all (dangerous for her), she saved her people from genocide and brought down justice on the evil Haman (dangerous for him). (See the book of Esther).<\/span><\/p>\n

It was the quality of these women and men that made them influential, the nature of their character and courage eclipsed their learning, connections, or privileges (most had no privilege!)<\/span><\/p>\n

This pattern of being dangerous for God is not limited to legendary figures from the Hebrew Scriptures. It\u2019s also not confined to the New Testament optimism behind the spread of the Gospel through the then-known world. <\/span><\/p>\n

Gospel Patrons: AKA Dangerous For God<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In the book, Gospel Patrons<\/em>, John Rineheart describes how professionally accomplished women and men were often the quiet power behind significant movements of God. Rinehart tells the following three powerful stories.<\/span><\/p>\n