Remember This; God Affiliated Himself With Us

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Remember This; God Affiliated Himself With Us

Here’s my perspective:
Let’s compare a couple things.
I’m a home inspector and I put affiliate logos such as certification (to include radon, mold, etc.) as well as local chamber of commerce logos on my marketing materials. Some home inspectors get on a Realtor list for referrals. I’ve had people call me because I was not on a Realtor list. It’s the customer’s choice. Some people will look down on certain affiliations, etc. But some people like that I’ve aligned with authorities in the industry such as continuing education trainers and home inspection associations.
Consider this, I just reenlisted this morning for 6 more years in the Army. I don’t say this for attention; that’s not my point. I put Veteran Owned Business on my business cards and website. Why? One reason is for accountability. I hold myself to the military standards and experiences within my business because that’s who I am. Another reason is because I know people want to do business with Vets. Does that make me greedy? Some may think so and that’s okay. I’m proud to serve the greatest nation on Earth.
Putting affiliation logos, showing military pride, and/or sticking a Christian fish on your marketing materials is to show who you are and what you will and will not stand for. It may or may not affect your customers base in a negative way. However, we need to remember niche marketing. In the marketed masses, one has to pick a target market. A lot of marketing has become white noise. Mr. Keeter is on point when he gave his example of buying an expensive suit. Market to those you know will do business with you for maximum ROI. I don’t market to renters as a home inspector. Does that affect or negate potential customers, yes. However, my other marketing efforts more than make up for marketing to the wrong people. Those who fish go where the fish live. Sometimes those fish are Christian fish. That’s was my attempt at humor.
If someone has done a study on the comparison of Christian owned business vs. not revealing Christian owned business and how it relates to dollars, I think we would all benefit from your quantitative findings. It is about dollars. That’s why I’m in business; to provide for my family. I’m looking for concrete statistical information. Business marketing involves what works and what doesn’t work. I’m working on a project to show the public’s opinion on this very topic.
The important thing is to remember that we are ambassadors for Christ, wherever we are, if we show our Christian affiliation or not.
Remember this; God affiliated Himself with us.
“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
(Romans 5:6-8 ESV).”
For all Christians; those that stick a fish on their car and those that don’t want to show a Christian affiliation within the market place and may be believe that personal life is personal and business life is business, let me challenge your thinking as well as my own by asking;
How does the world know you’re Christians? Are we known by a Christian fish?
No, we are known by our fruit; what our inner man (heart) produces and our outer man does (word or deed). (Matthew 7:16)
Jesus said we speak out of the overflow of the heart. Do I run my business according to Scripture?
If we don’t show the “fish,” we are to still bare the fruit of the spirit.
If we do tell everyone we are a Christian Business Owner, we are to still bear the fruit of the spirit (Gal. 5:22-23 ESV) Some act as the world when they have “Jesus saves” printed on their estimate or invoice.
I’m a Certified Home Inspector and a Veteran Business Owner. I’m a Christian but my business isn’t. I’m a Christian Business Owner not a Christian Business Owner.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the Founder and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
(Hebrews 12:1-2)
Do all things unto the Lord!
God bless you and your business!
Respectfully,
           
Founder & CEO
“Connecting the Christian Community!”

www.ikthoos.org

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Mission Statement:

Ikthoos.org exists to provide a cutting edge link to Christian businesses & organizations to the general public through the internet in a God honoring way.

Ikthoos.org was born out of a desire to connect, integrate, and promote Christian owned businesses & organizations with the ultimate goal to glorify God.

After returning from a deployment to Iraq, SFC George Fuller (U.S. Army) started a small business in Springfield, Missouri. After operating that business for a period of time, George observed local business owners sharing their faith in Jesus.

Their faith set the tone for their life, to include their business practices. Encouraged by the commonality and commitment of fellow Christian business owners, George set out to bring them together online.

He developed a mechanism that links consumers, businesses, churches, missionaries, non-profits, and other organizations committed to God’s glory.

Ikthoos.org brings Christians together from all over the map. Use it to find a church. Use it to find a plumber. Use it to take your business to the next level. Above all else, use it for God’s glory!

Why the fish?

Christians have used symbols to express their faith in Jesus for hundreds of years. Many Christian symbols have been found in the catacombs under Rome. Some symbols included the cross, Greek letters such as XP (which was the first two letters for the Greek word for Christ), and even a peacock. A fish was also used as a Christian symbol. Some believed it was used as a code. When two people met face to face, one would draw an arch. The other person would draw an identical arch completing a stick figure fish shape. During the underground church age in Rome, this expressed their faith in Jesus.

Fast forward a couple thousand years and the “Christian fish” can be found on the back of cars or even tattooed on the skin to express faith in Jesus. The Greek word for fish is IXΘYΣ or spelled phonetically as ik-thoos. The Greek letters form an acrostic;

I – Iησοῦς, Greek for “Jesus”

X – Χριστός, Greek for “Christ” (synonymous with “Anointed”)

Θ – Θεοῦ, Greek for “God”

Y – Yἱός, Greek for “Son”

Σ – Σωτήρ, Greek for “Savior”

Together, this forms the statement, “Jesus [the] Christ, God’s Son, Savior”

The fish symbol is still used today to distinguish Christians. More specifically, the ikthoos is used to distinguish Christian businesses and organization. And rightly so;

Romans 1:16 

For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Using the ikthoos on your car or your business card lets others know that you follow Jesus; that you are a Christian. Christians, according to Scripture, are known by their love. Christians are called to possess high moral values and are ambassadors for Jesus. Christians are to live by Biblical standards and conduct themselves in a God honoring manner. Christians are called to be equally yoked, not only in dating relationships and marriage, but in business as well. Christians are to fulfill the Great Commandment of loving God with their all and loving their neighbor as themselves. Christians are to fulfill the Great Commission.

So go ahead, put an ikthoos on your business card. Slap a chromed out ikthoos on your car. Just remember, if we show the world we are Christians, what will the world see?

Ikthoos.org is not a church. However, we are conscious of God’s glory, the proclamation of the Gospel, and the fulfillment of the Great Commandment in our daily lives.

Hebrews 12:1-2 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the Founder and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.