The Role of The Church - Part 3: Salt & Light

Introduction

William Wilberforce (1759-1833)

Partier: flamboyant socialite

British Politician who was more interested in his own advancement than help the people he represented

Came to Christ during a meeting with one of his mentors

Was so burdened by his convictions that he felt he needed to leave politics

John Newton convinced him that God had placed him where he needed to be

Became one of the central figures in the movement for the abolition of slavery (20 years)

Not alone:

In the U.S: Elijah Parish Lovejoy was the first martyr for the abolition movement

Charles Spurgeon (Baptist preacher)

John Wesley (Methodist Theologian)

Charles Finney (Presbyterian Minister)

A whole host of many Christians as the driving force behind the movement

50 - 70,000 slaves per year shipped in horrid conditions

Legalized slavery in England ended and a bill for the emancipation of slaves was passed 1833

Three days later Wilberforce died

Sadly, slavery has not ended in the world, and many Christians continue to free slaves around the world

Rachel Rogers serving to fight human trafficking here in Canada along the 401 corridor

Abraham Lincoln:

“In regard to this Great Book, I have but to say, it is the best gift God has given to man. All the good the Saviour gave to the world was communicated through this book. But for it, we could not know right from wrong. All things most desirable for man’s welfare, here and hereafter, are to be found portrayed in it.”

Recap

Who or what is the church?

Those who have surrendered their life to Christ.

You may attend a church, but if you have not recognized your need for Christ and turned to Him as your saviour, you are not part of the body.

We are not saved through church attendance

Three Roles of the Church

What is the role, or purpose of the church. Looking at scripture we might divide into three ministries:

Ministry to God: Worship and glorify him

The two others flow out of this

Ministry to one another: edification, oikodomé, building one another up

We are the church and we are building one another up as if building up a building

Ministry to the world: What is the church’s role towards those outside the church?

Before I continue, Let’s pray...

Gospel Centered

Everything we do flows out of the gospel. Everything we do reflects the gospel. Jesus loved us while we were still enemies of God and gave his life for us. It is our “reasonable service” to give our lives, our bodies, our whole selves as a living sacrifice to the will of God. If our lives reflect the gospel - if we are pursuing to be more and more like Christ, then we too would love those outside the body of Christ, just as Christ loved us. We don’t look with disdain on those outside the church.

Colossians 1:21–22 ESV

And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,

That was you - but not now, if you’ve given your life to Christ. Now we do everything for Christ, a gospel centered life.

We don’t look down our noses at the world.

[Matthew 5:43ff]

To understand the gospel is to know that there is nothing in you that deserves the love of Christ, and to be like Christ is to love as he does. Even those who hate you.

Salt & Light

So what are we to do? Let’s look to Matthew 5.

Context for Matthew 5

Jesus is speaking directly to his disciples, not to the crowds

Those who have a true relationship with Christ

The church, not the world

[5:1-12]

Salt [v.13]

We might think of salt as having three purposes:

Salt is essential for our physical bodies

“Sodium is essential for many essential body functions, including fluid balance, nerve health, nutrient absorption, and muscle function.”

Improve taste: Salt is used to help things taste better

(I love me a bag of chips)

Salt on your BBQ’d steak, baked potato

It makes food pleasant (it makes life better)

Preservative for food (particularly in the ancient world - no fridges)

prevents harmful bacteria - prevents “corruption”

Salt is essential it is needed. We cannot do without it on different levels.

Do we as the church think of ourselves as essential in the world?

Would it hurt the town of Espanola if we disapeared?

Christianity, and the church are given by God to the rest of the world to call out and fight against corruption/darkness/evil

Israel: God’s people in Canaan

When God rescued his people out of Egypt, he gave them the Law, that they would be a changed people and different people from the nations around them. God would go with them and drive out the sinful nations in the land.

Live differently - do not participate in the practices and abominations that take place in the cities that are nearby.

Don’t join them, but drive out the darkness.

The Law made them distinct.

The church

We are God’s people and are to live differently, in accordance with what God tells us.

Look at the rest of Matt 5

You have heard - but I say to you....

He is commanding us to be different!

Be salt that preserves goodness and righteousness in the world.

“Be holy as I am holy” - as I have made you and am making you. And drive out the sin in the world. Bring people to repentance.

God used William Wilberforce, and others like him to drive out the sin of slavery and racism. They saw in God’s word that all human life is valued and that everyone regardless of race is made in the image of God.

How about now? What acts of injustice do you see in the world right now?

When you look at God’s word - and compare it to what you see going on in the world - do you see something wrong, or do you think, “Yeah, all looks good!”?

I’m not saying to go tear down parliament! Wilberforce was in parliament (in England).

How might you be a force for goodness and righteousness in you community?

Light [v.14]

Christ is the “light of the world”

John 8:12 ESV

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Matthew 5:14 ESV

“You are the light of the world.

The light of Christ is transferred to us. It is alive in us. We have been made alive in Christ and we are the “light of the world”

Philippians 2:14–15 ESV

Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

God’s children take on the likeness of their Father and reflect His light.

Not hidden [v.15]

v.15 We don’t hide the light

What’s the point of having a light that you’ve prevented it’s rays from shining

It’s useless, just like saltless salt

You - [name] are the light of the world! But you are not alone

A City On A Hill [14b]

We, the church, are a city with many lights

A place of refuge when lost in the darkness

We shine the light of Christ into the shadows of the world

We expose evil. We rage against sin in the world.

The church is essential. We are the voice of Christ. We are his hands and feet. The world needs the church because it is under the rule of Satan.

Why? To glorify God [v.16]

Why are we called to be salt and light?

Matthew 5:16 ESV

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

1 Peter 2:11–12 ESV

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles (the world) honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Just as God rescued Israel out of bondage to slavery in Egypt to make a holy nation among the other nations - he has recued us out of slavery to sin that we might be a holy people among the nations and drive out the darkness and bring glory to God.

It is not my idea of what is right and wrong… (post modern thought)

Beware!

Matthew 6:1 ESV

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

Woe to those who take the light of Christ and claim the glory for themselves.

When people say that I’m a good guy - I appreciate the compliment - but may I always say it’s only by the grace of God that I am who I am. And that I was not left to be who I was.

I have been crucified with Christ...

Ephesians 2:8–10 ESV

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

My Paraphrase of Matt 5:13-16

You, Jesus’ disciples, those who are made new in Christ, those who are united to Christ and united to one another, are to live a life that reflects Christ’s goodness and righteousness – live a life obedient to Christ’s commandments – be those who transform the world by proclaiming what is good and what is right, and doing acts of love and mercy – so that the world would know how amazing God is.

May we come to hate sin in our own lives as Christ hates sin - and may we come to hate sin in the world as much!