How Contagious Are You?

I work in a hospital. I spend an awful lot of time taking care of people and their infections.  I happen to be in a hospital as I write today’s blog. And somehow, I’d bet you a dollar you or someone you know have already had an infection this season.

It’s hard being on the receiving end of medical care. Things never move quickly enough. Doctors never have all of the answers. Nurses don’t always love the patients they are caring for.

And I’m sure I’m not at all a demanding family member either.

But as I consider the nature of infections and how contagious they can be, I’d like you to think about your faith: is your Christianity contagious?

I don’t mean it in a sneeze a big wet one on the guy next to you kind of contagious, but is your christianity spreading to the people surrounding you?

There are some principles to keep in mind as you consider infection spread.

1.  You’ve got to have an active infection to be contagious. In other words, you’ve got to be a living Christian if you’re going to impact others for Christ. The only things you should be dead to as a Christian is your old self and sin! Galatians 2:20 says “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me”.  Are you living like the dead, or are you alive in Christ today?

2.  The higher the infection load the greater the spread. It’s true. The more buggers you produce the higher the likelihood of getting it on others! Is your life exuding the fruit of the Spirit? The more fruit you produce the higher the impact on others. Remember that it takes time to produce fruit, and you often have to wait thru seasons of pruning and purging before you get a lush season. All I know is this, Christianity is one infection I don’t mind having a lot of!!

3.  The closer you get to others the higher the likelihood of being infectious. An infection will not spread to others if you quarantine yourself. In the same way, you will never impact anyone for Christ while you stay locked up in your home, or your small group, or your church. Christ told us to be in the world but not of the world. Get out of your door and don’t be afraid to rub shoulders with others!

4. There are many ways to spread an infection. It’s true. Some infections are spread through respiratory droplets, others are spread through touch, while still others require even closer contact. There isn’t one specific formula to spread the love of Christ. In some situations, only a word will do, in others a deeper friendship is needed. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in it!

Can you think of other ways that your Christianity can rub off on others?

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