Reading some interesting stuff on the internet concerning the church in contemporary society. One author points out : "Jesus Christ used salt and light as metaphors of the influential characteristics of His church in the world. Historically, salt has always been a valuable commodity used, among other things, as an antiseptic to withdraw infection. ... Likewise, the presence of the church in the world is Christ's antiseptic to sin, an influence of God's righteousness that tends to displace the infection of evil."
This is a fresh perspective on a very old metaphor. And as I think on it, I believe the writer is right. I have seen examples where a healthy church that is influencing its community has a real (often measurable) affect upon it. In addition to things like repaired family relationships and restored marriages, there are other more "social" changes. The least of these was a reduction in crime rate.
One may choose to argue about such statistical changes and attempt to attribute it to something other than the influence of a church. But when many of those former criminals are discovered IN the church ... that is having become an active member, the reason behind change becomes quite obvious. This is 'regeneration' in its most primitive form.
So are we (the church) salt and light? Take a look around next meeting. Who's sitting next to you?
Thursday, February 18, 2010
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