Is Christianity Relevant Today?

Introduction

Introduction

Attention

An ancient Greek myth tells of a goddess who came to earth unseen but whose presence was always known by the blessings she left behind in her pathway. Trees burned by forest fires sprouted new leaves, and violets sprang up in her footprints. As she passed a stagnant pool its water became fresh, and parched fields turned green as she walked through them. Hills and valleys blossomed with new life and beauty wherever she went.

An ancient Greek myth tells of a goddess who came to earth unseen but whose presence was always known by the blessings she left behind in her pathway. Trees burned by forest fires sprouted new leaves, and violets sprang up in her footprints. As she passed a stagnant pool its water became fresh, and parched fields turned green as she walked through them. Hills and valleys blossomed with new life and beauty wherever she went.

Another Greek story tells of a princess sent as a present to a king. She was as beautiful as Aphrodite and her breath was as sweet as perfume. But she carried with her the contagion of death and decay. From infancy she poisoned the very atmosphere around her. Her breath would kill a swarm of insects; she would pick a flower and it would wither. A bird flying too close would fall dead at her feet.

Both of these women had influence on their surroundings. The first created a beautiful atmosphere. Her presence was uplifting and added growth and beauty to everything around. The princess, on the other hand, though beautiful to look at was contaminated with poison which so infiltrated her body that everything around her died from the poison of her presence.

You and I have an influence on the world around us. Perhaps when you walk down the halls of your home, the walls aren’t being re-painted in beautiful colors, but your influence affects the people you are around every day.

Need Element

The question we are dealing with this morning in our series is whether Christianity is relevant today? And I believe our relevance to today’s culture is related to our influence in today’s world.

The question we are dealing with this morning in our series, Faith Under Fire, is whether Christianity is relevant today? And I believe our relevance to today’s culture is connected with our influence in today’s world.

Relevance, as defined by Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, is “something that is practical and especially socially applicable.” In other words, it is about being practical to a community’s culture. Rick Warren, author of Purpose-Driven Life, says, “There will always be people who need to be loved or who feel guilty, resentful, or lonely. People will always need purpose, meaning, and a cause to live for.”

So to answer the question of whether Christianity is relevant today, we must first deal with the issue of whether we as believers are having an influence, and indeed if we are even attempting to have an influence.

Bridging Statements

Are we, the church, meeting the needs of our community and culture?

Textual Idea

Take your Bible and join me in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 5.

Sermon Idea

Bridging Statements

Interrogative

Transition

In , Jesus taught his disciples that they should have a specific impact on their world (MIT). Likewise, believers today should influence their world (MIM). The question is how? How can we as believers have a sizable impact and influence on the world around us? (Interrogative) How can we live in such a way that people might see that Christianity is relevant, that it is making a difference in our lives, and that it can make a difference in their lives?

By answering 5 questions, we can learn how to make an impact on our world (Transition). These 5 questions build a framework for the believer’s understanding of their role in today’s culture.

Having found your place, if you are physically able, would you stand for the reading of God’s Word!?

Division 1: Who is to be the source of God’s influence (vv. 13-14)?

Who is to be the source of God’s influence (v. 13/14)?

Jesus begins a new teaching to his disciples with a very emphatic phrase. He uses it on two occasions here in both verse 13 and verse 14. In so doing, Jesus defines for us the source of God’s influence in the world. Now we would all agree and understand that ultimately God is the original source…but when it comes to the personal interaction that today’s church, today’s Christian, today’s follower of Christ has on today’s world…the source that is defined by Jesus is simple, “You are!”

Explanation

Illustration

Argumentation

Illustration

Application

Jesus begins a new teaching to his disciples with a very emphatic phrase. And he uses it on two occasions here in both verse 13 and verse 14. In so doing, Jesus defines for us the source of God’s influence in the world. Now we would all agree and understand that ultimately God is the original source…but when it comes to the personal interaction that today’s church, today’s Christian, today’s follower of Jesus has on today’s world…the source that is defined by Jesus is simple, “You are!”

A source is the point of origin, it’s where something begins. I was watching Monday Night Football a few years ago, and they gave a video camera shot of the Niagara Falls. The commentator made a comment something like, “This water has been flowing like that for years and years.” And that made think, where is this water coming from? The 3 water falls that combine into what we call the Niagara Falls has the highest flow rate of any waterfall in North America...with an average of 6 million cubic feet flowing over the crest line of the falls every minute. Where does all that water come from? The Niagara Falls are fed by the Niagara River, which finds its source in Lake Erie. Of course Lake Erie is fed by snow melt and rivers.

In the same way that Lake Erie is the source of the water for the Niagara Falls, we are to be God’s source of influence in this world.

And no doubt, every believer has an influence on this world. Just like the Greek goddess and the Greek princess, that impact can be positive or negative. Many of us have been affected by gossip, back-biting, bitterness, etc. That can be a negative source of influence. But there can also be positive influence.

In the movie, “Pay It Forward,” starring Helen Hunt and Kevin Spacey, a little boy was given a class assignment by his teacher on how he could change the world. That boy did one good deed, and told the person to “pay it forward.” That person in turn did a good deed for another, who did for another, etc. But the source was that teacher giving the assignment to a little boy, who obeyed.

But there can also be positive influence. In the movie, “Pay It Forward,” starring Helen Hunt and Kevin Spacey, a little boy was given a class assignment by his teacher on how he could change the world. That boy did one good deed, and told the person to “pay it forward.” That person in turn did a good deed for another, who did for another, etc.

But the source was that teacher giving the assignment to a little boy, who obeyed.

Argumentation

The Apostle Paul continues Jesus’ teaching in . There, Paul says that this is what we were created for. Verse 10 says,

Ephesians 2:10 NASB95

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

We are to be the source of influence in the world…that is what God has created us beforehand to be and to do.

Jesus begins this teaching by identifying who the source of God’s influence would be on this world. He says it is to be “YOU” and me! The word there is in the emphatic, and gives the understanding, “You, and only you!!!” In other words, if people are going to believe that Christianity is relevant in their world, YOU must be the original source of God’s influence. We must be like that little kid who heard the assignment from his teacher and obeyed…in the same way, Jesus is the teacher and believers are the students…are we obeying???

Division 2: What sort of influence does God desire (vv. 13-14)?

What sort of influence does God desire (v. 13/14)?

Explanation

Illustration

Argumentation

Application

The second question that we see answered in the text is, “What sort of influence does God desire?” Jesus answers that question using two metaphors. He takes two real-life, practical aspects of the disciples’ lives, and he compares that to the kingdom of God. You and I are to be both salt and light.

First, in verse 13 Jesus says, “You are the salt of the earth.” Salt is a very stable compound composed of sodium and chloride. Just as our culture today is familiar with salt, so were the disciples in Jesus day. In the ancient world, as today, salt was used to flavor food. It was also used as a preservative of food since the advent of the refrigerator had not come about quite yet.

Salt was a very valuable commodity in that day. In fact, it was sometimes used as a form of payment because it was so valuable. At the end of the work day, instead of receiving payment in denarius, gold, silver, sometimes you were given salt. If you didn’t work a day’s labor or perhaps you loafed all day, they would say, he’s not “worth his salt.” This is because of the high value on salt.

Many of the people of the ancient world were familiar with using salt as a preservative, to prevent decay. Being a fisher-friendly society, they would often “salt” their night’s catch of fish in order to make it keep until they could sell it at the market. The salt was used to prevent the decay and the deterioration of the fish.

Application

The first type of influence God desires his church to be is one that prevents or at least hinders the decay of society.

The world around us is very much on its way to spiritual decay and deterioration, and Jesus looks at his disciples and tells them, “Boys, you need to be like salt to the earth…and keep it from deteriorating.” In other words, you need to make an influence, an impact, on this world.

Question: Are we as Christians helping to prevent the decay of our society? If we are not, then perhaps Christianity is no longer relevant!!! Sometimes we as Christians choose to sit on the sidelines in the midst of morality and culture and politics…but we need to be actively involved in preventing decay!!!

Jesus gives us a second metaphor in verse 14 when he adds, “You are the light of the world.” Again, using a very common object lesson, Jesus paints a powerful word picture. Without electricity in the day of Jesus, they used the light of lamps and candles. This light was used to read, to see at night, to light one’s path while walking or traveling, to illuminate the city, etc. Light was a very powerful influence on its surroundings.

What’s the purpose of light? To illuminate a given area…to shine or expose. Sometimes we get spot lights to hang on the sides of our homes to illuminate a large area like a parking lot or driveway. Other times you may only want a flashlight to focus light in a very specific area. But whether large or small, the purpose of that light is to illuminate a given area.

When Jesus tells his disciples to be the light of the world, He is saying, “Boys, you need to show this world how to live.” You need to show them what’s right and what’s wrong. You need to explain to the world around you who I am.

Wouldn’t it be great if people were to walk up to us on the street and say, “Twinkle, twinkle little star! How I wonder what you are!” Because they see our light, and they want to know more about our lives. That’s the sort of influence Jesus wants us to be.

In two simple words, salt and light, Jesus tells his disciples that they are to have two different sorts of influence on their world.

The first, a negative influence, is that they should prevent or keep this world from decay.

And second, a positive influence, is that we are to spur it on towards righteousness.

Salt is a preventive measure to prevent the world from decay. Light is a direct influence that illuminates and shines on the world and shows the way to life.

Application

In answering the question of whether Christianity is relevant today, we—the church—must take the timeless truths of God’s Word and apply them to today’s ever-changing culture. We can’t simply look to our left and look to our right and see our world falling by the way-side, we cannot stick our head in the ground like an ostrich! We must seek to influence and encourage our world for the better.

Division 3: Where is the scope of our influence for God (vv. 13-14)?

Where is the scope of our influence for God (v. 13/14)?

Explanation

Illustration

Argumentation

Application

Then Jesus answers a third question for the disciples. He defines for them, as for us, what the scope of our influence for God should be. That is, where are we to focus? What are the limits of our impact? Who should we try to influence and change, and who should we leave alone. Where is the scope of our influence for God?

A few years ago, we were living in Carthage, NC. I was sitting in our playroom at the house and in a period of about 2 minutes, over 8 gun shots went off. It was deer season in North Carolina, and that meant it was time to grab your gun and head for the woods. Now, I didn’t grow up in a hunting family, but I understand something about guns. In many cases, on top of that gun is mounted a looking device, called the scope.

The purpose of the scope is to allow you to take aim at a particular target, and when you pull the trigger to hit the crossbar on that target. In the same way a hunter aligns his prey in the sites of his scope, so we as believers should line up the correct target in our scope as well.

Most people would say our target is only good, clean church looking people like we are. No. Others would say, we as the church need to only target the government and make an influence there. No. Others would suggest that we target the school system and make an impact there. No. Others would see the children, others the young people, and others the adults. No, no, and no! Jesus gives us our scope of influence in verses 13 and 14.

Notice what He says, “You are the salt of the earth” and “you are the light of the world.” Our scope, our field of battle, our aim...is to impact the entire earth, the entire world. So we must ask ourselves, “What is our global impact?” What kind of influence is Chris Dickerson having on Zambia, or on New Zealand, or on Scotland, or even on Fayetteville? But all of those areas are aspects of the “earth” that Jesus says we are to be salt and light to.

And I believe what that means is that we need to have a positive influence on all areas of life. Yes, we need to impact our culture. Yes, we need to impact our government. Yes, we need to impact our schools and the children they are teaching. Yes to the young people and yes to the adults. Yes, yes, and yes!

Application

But the question is how? How can we have an impact on the entire world?

I believe one way we can impact our world is by first living sold-out lives for Christ in the first place. It must begin with us on an individual basis, before we can ever assume it to go worldwide. Then we must apply those principles to our families, our jobs, and our hobbies.

We must take our Christian beliefs with us to the marketplace, to the job site, and to the voting polls. We must, as Christians, help place people in public office and places of influence who are believers. And if there aren’t any, then we need to raise up a generation of people who can be. Part of the reason we don’t have mobs of public officials who are believers is because we have tucked our tail between our legs and trotted away. But we need to take back our city and our country for Christ’s sake…and then we can and we will have an impact!!!

Division 4: What are God’s stipulations on our influence (vv. 13-15)?

What are God’s stipulations on our influence (v. 13, 14-15)?

Explanation

Illustration

Argumentation

Application

Jesus also gives us a couple of stipulations to our influence. The word stipulation means an “assumption on which rests the validity or effect of something else.” And here, in , Jesus gives a stipulation to our influence. In fact, he identifies a stipulation for salt, as well as for light.

First, in verse 13, Jesus says you are to be the salt of the earth. Then he adds, “but.” And he then identifies the stipulation. “But if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.” In other words, Jesus says…you are to be salt, but if you are no longer salty…you can no longer have an impact.

All of us know the difference in food having or not having salt, especially in so much as it affects flavor. Take country ham! Country ham that has been rubbed down in salt is delicious. But you take that same ham, and don’t rub it down in salt, and it is not worth the eating.

Take French fries! To me, you just can’t eat French fries without salt…they just don’t taste the same. Really, french fries are just vehicles to eat salt!!! :-)

Now notice what Jesus is saying here. First, you are salt! He doesn’t say you are to be salt, but you’re not. No, He says “You are salt!” But then he adds the stipulation, “But if you have lost your saltiness.” Now remember I told you that salt was a very stable compound. In fact, salt in its pure form can never cease to be salty tasting. There are some things that lose their flavor overtime. The older it gets, the worse it tastes. There are 2 things that never lose their flavor due to their age: chocolate (can I get a witness?) and salt! So how could Jesus have gotten this wrong here? Why would he give a false stipulation?

He didn’t! Salt will never lose its taste due to age. Salt in its natural state cannot lose its flavor. But when salt is combined with other minerals, the salt does in fact, lose its flavor. In other words, when salt gets contaminated by some other mineral it loses its flavor. And in the same way, we as followers of Jesus, when we get contaminated by the world we live in…we become tasteless and useless to the Kingdom.

Application

When we get so connected with the world so that they can’t tell the difference in the life of a follower of Christ and an enemy of the cross, our impact is drained.

When the Christian looks and dresses as much as like the world, our impact is drained.

When the follower of Christ talks and laughs at the same jokes the world does, we lose our impact.

When our gossip and our language are as discolored as the world’s, we lose our impact.

When the church is as racially divided as the world, we lose our impact.

When the church is as immoral, impure, and insecure as the world, our impact is, as Jesus said, no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.

And that’s exactly what they would do with a bag of contaminated salt…they’d toss it on the walkway and the sidewalks where it would be grounded into the road.

Jesus gives us a stipulation about our impact. He says, the only way you can be an impact is when there is a difference in your life and that of your neighbor. Jesus didn’t say you need to wear funny clothes and talk in King James English to be an impact. He did say, though, you need to not be contaminated by the world.

James asks the rhetorical question,

James 3:12 NASB95

Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh.

In other words, we cannot be “of” the world and have an impact on it. Yes, we are to be in the world, but we must be different from the world. We must be the distinguishing flavor which draws the attention, not the subtle flavor that is grossly ignored. And there are a lot of followers of Christ whose influence has waned and their impact has evaporated because they have more of the world in them than they have the Kingdom of God.

Second, Jesus gives a stipulation for our influence as the Light of the World! Look at verse 14, “a city on a hill cannot be hidden.” In those days, the walls of the city as well as the walls of the homes were built out of the clay and mud of the area. And most of the dirt was laced with limestone. And in the day, the limestone reflected the light of the sun and you could see the city from a long ways a way. It was like the light reflecting off a mirror, or the top of the car, off the top of my head...when you see the glare and have to turn away. And at night, obviously, you could see that same city on a hill because of the candles and torches that were burning throughout town.

And so the city, even way up on a hill, could not be easily hidden. Then Jesus clarifies his statement about being the light of the world in verse 15. “Nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket.” The purpose of light is to illuminate an area so that you can see. And so Jesus, in a rather comical sense, says, ‘who would light a lamp and then cover it up?’ No, you take the light and you put it up on a lampstand so that it gives light to an entire area. A light on the floor only lights up a small area, but that same light lifted 6-10 feet can light the entire room.

And so the stipulation Jesus gives the disciples here is, don’t have a light and hide it! Take your light and put it up for everyone to see. Let your light shine so that all may see (v. 16).

Application

I wonder, how many of our students are known at school as Christians? I wonder how many of you, at work, are known as “a Christian.” I wonder how many of us, have a light burning bright for Jesus, but it has been hidden under a bowl of timid-ness, shyness, hidden under the premise of “I don’t want to offend” anyone.

A story is told of a man in a small Midwestern town whose job was to watch the railroad crossing for trains, then to wave a lantern to warn those driving cars down the narrow road and to stop them until the train passed by.

One particular night a train was on its way down the tracks as usual, so the man hopped out of his seat, grabbed his lantern and began waving it to warn any cars coming. He could see a car in the distance coming, but it wasn’t slowing down. So he waved harder. The train was only seconds away, but the car was not even slowing down. Harder and harder he waved the lantern, until he finally had to jump out of the way of the car. The car sped by and hit the train dead on, killing everyone in the car instantly.

At the investigation, the grief-stricken man explained to the authorities how he tried to warn the oncoming car, but it would not stop. The officer in charge replied, “Sir, you waved your lantern—but you forgot to light it.”

As Christians, we need to make sure our lights are on!

Our lights are off when we are quiet when we should speak up.

Our lights are off when we’re going along with the crowd.

Our lights are off when we deny the truth.

Our lights are off when we let sin dim our witness for Christ.

Some of us need to turn our lights on!

Division 5: How can believers lead others to God’s salvation by their influence (v. 16)?

How can believers lead others to God’s salvation by their influence (v. 16)?

Explanation

Illustration

Argumentation

Application

Finally, Jesus answers one last question this morning. Assuming that our ultimate purpose is to lead people to Christ, how can believers use their influence to do just that? How can believers have an impact on society that results in the ultimate influence? How can believers lead others to God’s salvation by their influence? Notice what Jesus says in verse 16.

He begins first with an imperative verb…which is a command, a call to action! He says, “Let your light shine before men!” Jesus is not giving his disciples a suggestion, anymore than the Great Commission is a “great suggestion.” He is saying, “Do this! Go and let your light shine, and let your salt be salty! Go and be about my work in this world.”

Notice the first result that occurs: “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they [1] may see your good works.” Now let’s stop right there! Jesus is not talking about simply the doing of good deeds. The phrase here for good works refers as much to the acceptance of the truth, the living out of the faith, and the doing of good works. In other words, He is saying, let your Christian life be an example to the world…he’s saying, “Live out loud for all the world to see!”

Now notice the second, and final result, that occurs when we do live in that way. “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may [1] see your good deeds and [2] glorify your Father who is in heaven.” The final result is that God is glorified.

So what brings God glory?

Look with me at .

Galatians 1:3–5 NASB95

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forevermore. Amen.

Paul is writing his opening greeting to the church at Galatia. Christ died for our sins that He might rescue us from this present age and thus give God the glory. In other words, God gets glory when we are rescued, when we are saved. And so the best way to give glory to God, according to Paul in Galatians and according to Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, is to lead people to the saving, rescuing power of Jesus Christ. When we, as believers, lead others to God’s salvation…we give glory of God.

Look also at .

Romans 15:6–7 NASB95

so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.

Romans 15:6 NASB95

so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

When God saw man covered in the stains of filthy sin…it was only because Jesus accepted us…he rescued us…he saved us…that God accepted us. And Paul says, that’s how God gets glory!

Here, Paul says, “so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.” When God saw man covered in the stains of filthy sin…it was only because Jesus accepted us…he rescued us…he saved us…that God accepted us. And Paul says, that’s how God gets glory!

So if you want to know how to be relevant as a Christian in this world, if you want to know how to have an impact or an influence on this world for the betterment of society, Jesus says, “let your light shine before men in such a way that” they get saved!!! And so I want to ask you a question this morning believer. Are others coming to Christ because of your impact? Are others looking at you and realizing that the light that shines in you is from God Almighty and they are saying, “Twinkle, twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are!” Do they want to be saved because they see the faith lived out in your life? We’ll never make a relevant impact on our world if we are not making an eternal impact in our world.

Application

So if you want to know how to be relevant as a Christian in this world, if you want to know how to have an impact or an influence on this world for the betterment of society, Jesus says, “let your light shine before men in such a way that” they get saved!!!

And so I want to ask you a question this morning Believer:

Are others coming to Christ because of your impact?

Are others looking at you and realizing that the light that shines in you is from God Almighty and they are saying, “Twinkle, twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are!”

Do they want to be saved because they see the faith lived out in your life?

We’ll never make a relevant impact on our world if we are not making an eternal impact in our world.

Conclusion

Visualization

Several years ago when we lived in Carthage, NC, Stephanie and I drove to Durham to see my parents. On our trip to Durham almost every time, we drove by the Jordan Lake area. Jordan Lake is a beautiful lake, surrounded by trees, nestled there along the road on our journey home. One of the reasons we would drive that particular route home and back was because it such a scenic drive by the lake, crossing the lake several different times.

But in 2007, we were in the midst of a fairly serious drought in NC. Governor Mike Easley announced drought conditions in all 100 counties, restricted water conservation, even encouraged all homes to hike their thermostat by 2 degrees. By August, federal disaster aid was requested for our farmers. By September 2007, 98 counties were in extreme drought situations. It was pretty bad.

If you drove by the lake, it was not so scenic. The lake had dried up. There was an odor in the air, probably from the decay of fish dying on the side, the aroma of stinky mud exposed to the air, etc.

Why was there such decay and such a smell? Because the source of the water had vanished! No longer was water flowing into the lake. No rain equalled no water…equalled death and stink!

In the same way, Christians are no longer flooding the good news into the world around us…and in turn we are seeing the filth, the decay, and the demise of the world we live in.

In the same way, Christians are no longer flooding the good news into the world around us…and in turn we are seeing the filth, the decay, and the demise of the world we live in.

Is Christianity relevant today? I believe it is.

The problem is not whether Christianity is relevant or not…the problem lies in whether we as the church are being influential and making an impact.

Reiteration

Jesus defined the source…you! Jesus clarified the sort…we are to be salt and light. He even marked the scope…all of the world. He limited our influence to being an effective influence…not tasteless salt or hidden light. And finally, Jesus said to have the most impact, we need to be leading people to God’s salvation.

Action

What about you today? Are you making an impact on your world? Is this church influencing this community? Are we making a difference? Are we being relevant to the world around us?

If our church were to not exist tomorrow, would anyone even know we were gone? Would they be sorry that our light was no longer shining in this community? Would this community and our world begin to decay because we no longer existed…or would our absence even make a difference???

Appeal

To make an impact, we need to first check our on lives. Are you a believer? Are you a committed follower of Christ? Are you committed to this church family? Are you committed to making a difference?

Is God calling you to make a difference in this world? Maybe God is calling you to be involved in the political realm. Maybe there is a committee or service group that needs a strong Christian influence. Maybe there are ministries here at the church that need you to help that ministry become effective.

Today, make a commitment to our Lord, to our church, and to our world that you will be the salt and the light that Jesus is calling you to be today!!

Points to Ponder

In your own estimation, are YOU making an impact on our world for the cause of Christ?

When was the last time you made a “direct” influence into your world for the cause of Christ?

· When was the last time you made a “direct” influence into your world for the cause of Christ?

While we all want to share the gospel with the world, what is the scope of your influence? Think about the pond that you swimming in every day?

· While we all want to share the gospel with the world, what is the scope of your influence? Think about the pond that you swimming in every day?

What is preventing you from be an influence? Perhaps you need training? Confidence? Opportunity? How might you take an intentional step this week to fix that!?

· What is preventing you from be an influence? Perhaps you need training? Confidence? Opportunity? How might you take an intentional step this week to fix that!?