Living in this World

 - A man named Abram faithfully shepherded his Church in Sudan with the only Bible in the entire village. When a ministry brought in hundreds of Bibles, Abram was thrilled. Four days later, radical Islamists raided the village. The church building was burned. Almost one hundred villagers were killed that day, and many people were kidnapped and forced into slavery. Abram was shot in the head. The new Bibles were destroyed in the fire. The price that Sudanese Christians pay is very high, but their reward will be great. It's this "better and lasting" possession that gives those left the courage to continue in their faith.

- In Ethiopia - after studying the Quran for 15 years, a scholar named Abdu finally qualified to become an Islamic teacher. But in 2022, he met a Christian and shortly thereafter, Abdu placed his faith in Jesus. Islamic leaders discovered that he and his wife had become Christians, and Abdu lost his job, and his home, and was not allowed to even rent a house in the area. A Christian organization helped him launch a micro-business selling pineapples. Abdu often uses his new job to tell others about Christ, saying, "Jesus is as sweet as a pineapple."

- In China there are highly restrictive religious laws, surveillance cameras, and police raiding church gatherings. But despite the communist government's attempts to stop it, the church in China is still growing! As efforts to close down churches have escalated, large church gatherings have become almost impossible. This has led to many more meetings with smaller numbers of Christians. One man named Enfu is the pastor of an illegal church. Enfu shared that five church elders were imprisoned, but now the Gospel was quickly spreading in the jail.

These are fellow believers in Jesus Christ. These are our Christian brothers and sisters. What kind of a value do you think that those believers have placed on their faith and their witness for Christ? This morning, I want to remind us that Jesus said that we are to be…

I. Salt and light

I want to look at a passage from Matthew. And in this section, Jesus was addressing those who were following Him. And if you follow Jesus - these words are personally for you. Try to listen as if you just received this message from Jesus, Himself…

Matthew 5:13-16 (NIV)

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. (14) You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. (15) Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. (16) In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

What do you think it means to be "the salt of the earth" or the "light of the world" to those followers in Sudan, Ethiopia, and China? Do you think they were 'tempted' to hide their light? - Probably, but they leaned completely on their faith in God and resolved to share the Gospel of Jesus, no matter the cost. When we read this passage from Jesus, what does it mean to you to be the "salt of the earth" or the "light of the world"?

How does your faith in Jesus affect your life? What kind of impact does it have on those around you? The effect, the impact – those things will be determined by…

A. Our worldview

Your 'worldview' is the underlying thought process by which you live. All of us have a worldview, and when it gets down to the bottom line, we all live out what we actually believe. Our worldview affects our life's goals, our jobs, our finances, our families and relationships - and, most importantly, it affects our relationship with God.

When you have a 'Christian worldview', a belief system that is formed by and aligned with the Bible – it becomes a 'lens' through which you view everything else. If you have 'worldly' or 'secular' worldview, your view of life and everything will be skewed; it will be distorted.

When you listened to the stories about those faithful believers in other countries, if you thought – 'Wow, they live out their faith very differently than me' – could it be because your worldview may actually be quite different than theirs..?

God's Word gives the following command from the Apostle Paul regarding our minds, our thoughts and beliefs – really, our worldview…

Romans 12:2 (NIV)

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.

In order to change your life, your actions, you have to change your mind, your entire way of thinking – your view of life and the world. Let me ask you…

B. Do you need a change?

Does this passage sound like you when we read, again from Matthew 5:16 (NIV)...

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Perhaps you're thinking, "I can't just change the way I think or believe. I can't just change my entire worldview!" Sure you can! That's what 'conversion' is all about. It's allowing God to transform us, to transform our minds; to completely change our whole perspective! One who follows Christ, is continually asked to compare his or her belief system with God's Word, so we grow to become less like the world and more like Jesus – though the power of God's Holy Spirit.

Take those Christians in Sudan, for example, those who were killed for their faith. What was it that drove them – and many others like them who have been martyred over the years – what was it that compelled them to cling to their faith even in the face of death? What did they consider most important - their faith or their lives?

Their worldview – which was directly centered on their absolute faith in Jesus – their beliefs directed their stand and allowed them to be witnesses for Jesus. They remained 'salt and light' to the very end! And it's no secret to any believer paying attention – this world desperately needs salt and light.

The stories of persecution are going on all around the world every day. There have been more martyrs, those who have died for their faith in Jesus, in the last 100 years than there have been in the previous 2000 years! There are people right now, today, in China, India, North Korea, Egypt, Afghanistan and all over the Middle East who are dying for their faith! They have a strong Christian worldview that won't let them do anything else! The truth is, being 'salt and light'…

II. Means sacrifice

Many of our brothers and sisters in Christ in other countries are taking a bold stand for their faith; but some American Christians don't seem to give it a second thought. We're so blessed and comfortable in comparison that we somehow feel we have the option of living out our faith without any real sacrifice at all..? We do not all face the same persecution, but that doesn't mean we aren't all called to sacrifice. Again…

Matthew 5:13 (NIV)

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

Many in our nation who profess their belief in Jesus don't even bother being a part of the Church, the Bride of Christ. And if we do decide to visit a Church service occasionally, is it out of obligation or a genuine desire to give ourselves in worship to God? Christians around the world hold onto their belief in God's Word to the point of death. Many American Christians tend to shape their beliefs based on their own personal preferences or even cultural changes – based upon what's comfortable or popular – despite what God's Word says.

Being "salt and light" means sacrifice, of our own desires and goals, sometimes even our own personal opinions. It can mean the sacrifice of our finances and comfort and even safety. And being "salt and light" involves…

A. Believing the right things

We are not saved by our correct beliefs or doctrine, but what we believe does greatly affect what we do – how we respond to Jesus' call. It's important that we believe the right things. Now I know that implies that there are those who believe the wrong things. But, there is 'right' and there is 'wrong'. If something agrees with God's word, it's right – if it doesn't, it's wrong. God's Word is the standard by which all 'truth' must measure up!

And I'm not talking about arguing over the small things, minor doctrinal issues, things that are left to opinion – but the core beliefs. Even in our congregation - we don't all agree on the end times, exactly how Jesus will come back, Pre-millennialism or Post-millennialism... But we should all believe that Jesus is coming back! We should all believe that Jesus is The Son of God. We should all believe that Jesus is The way to Heaven! Any worldview that doesn't start with that at its core is an incorrect worldview.

The Christian worldview is superior to every other worldview - not because of us, or anything we believe, but because of Who is at its center - Jesus Christ! "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved!" If we don't believe that - we're wrong...

If we 'believe' the wrong things, we will 'act' wrongly. Many who claim to be Christians don't live like Christians because they don't really believe the right things. They may give a 'token belief' to the basic principles of Christianity, they may accept some of the Bible as good advice; they take some scripture as 'God inspired' but others they reject because it doesn't fit with their own personal beliefs.

There are many who believe in the general idea of Christianity – but they're not willing to act upon that belief, or sacrifice for it. James says, in James 1:22-25 (NIV)...

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (23) Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror (24) and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. (25) But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does.

Our lives tell people what we believe more than our words. If you don't live what you say you believe, or you don't believe the right things, then life is going to be a constant frustration. It will be a life of contradictions and inconsistencies.

We need to consider what it means to be the "salt of the earth" and the "light of the world". It's time to understand that this is not a reference to the way that 'some' Christians should live, but it's the way that 'every'

Christian should live. There aren't different classes of Christians, there's only one kind, and that kind must learn to grow to be 'sold out' to Jesus, whatever their personal calling. That's what God wants for each of us!

My intention is to challenge you to be everything that God created you to be! Anything less will leave you disappointed, discontent, and even negative. God has placed a tremendous potential within each of His children and He has given us the resources to develop it. Know that…

B. God wants the best for us

But sometimes, we get in His way by getting distracted by the world. As we deal with trials in this life, even as we each will experience loss and pain – it is still true that, in the end, God will provide what's best for those who put their faith in Jesus. I won't deny that many things in this life are bad – they are, and I don't always understand why they happen. But simply because I don't understand doesn't mean that God isn't working behind the scenes in all things.

Back in the Old Testament, the nation of Israel, the entire city of Jerusalem had been surrounded by their enemy. Everything looked bleak - but God promised He would deliver them. And they waited through the darkness to see what God would do. God told them, in Isaiah 46:3-4 (NIV)...

Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all you who remain of the house of Israel, you whom I have upheld since you were conceived, and have carried since your birth. (4) Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

That's a promise from a loving, compassionate, personal God! And think about it - they were under the Old Covenant of the law; we are under the New Covenant of grace! God made that promise to Israel, and we are part of the new Israel, His Church! If God kept His promise to those under the law - how much more will God keep this promise to us under grace!

A while back, Erin had one of the kids out of town for some medical appointment - so I had the rest. I was going to make a special meal and even had a surprise dessert planned, so I told the kids I was going to make dinner - but I had to first finish up some yard work. I went out to work, I was thinking about how surprised they'd be and I got pretty hungry just thinking about it. When I was all done - I came inside to make the meal only to find that they had filled up on cereal and ramen noodles... "Guys, I told you I was going to make dinner tonight! I had a special plan!" "Sorry, we're full, maybe another time..."

Do we sometimes do the same thing with God? God tells us He has big plans for us - but we say, 'Uh, no thanks' and settle for a life the equivalent of cereal and noodles...

God gives us directions for getting the most out of our Christian lives. He makes it possible for us to claim a peace and a joy that can't be found anywhere else in this world! He also gives us the promise of eternal life! He only asks that we trust Him, that we put our faith in Him. It's always by faith that we must respond.

But many are content with cereal and noodles. They 'say' that they trust God, but their lives show something completely different. Their worldview - as demonstrated in their actions - gives them away. God knows in whom, or in what, you have placed your faith. When we live mediocre Christian lives while clinging to a worldly belief system - we really rob ourselves. We miss the blessings God wants to pour out!

So What?

We all make mistakes and poor decisions along the way - but don't think for a minute that any of those mistakes lessen our value, our worth to God! We were already tarnished with sin when God loved us enough for Jesus to die for us!

For the believer - when we don't live as "salt" or "light", when we don't live radical, sold out lives for Christ – Biblically speaking, it doesn't appear that you miss out on Heaven. Jesus secured that for you by His blood, not your works. But you will miss out on the joy that God has planned for you! You won't find the peace that comes from knowing that God is working in your life! You'll be more concerned with yourself than you will with reaching out to others.

Now not everyone is called to make such a dramatic sacrifice of being a martyr. Most of us weren't called to live in a foreign country under persecution. Many of us are called simply to live – to be an example, to be salt and light to those around us. But as you live your life - do you want to just limp along or do you want to run? Do you want to walk to Heaven, or do you want to fly? Give yourself completely to Jesus – again, today! You will not regret it!