To understand the life of following Christ, one must not only understand the scriptures, an application of them must be applied to daily living or they are of no use to anyone. To set the theme for this lesson the definition of the church must be restated since it seems many people don’t know what it is or have forgotten the biblical meaning. The church is a group of people following Christ to secure eternal life as opposed to those who are seeking eternal death by not obeying the gospel. Paul defines those in Christ thusly: [2 Corinthians 5:17] Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. All things become new for the members of the church.

The church is described or defined in numerous ways, fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; (Ephesians 2:19) a holy temple in the Lord; and last but not least among many other descriptions of the church in verse 22, In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. Through the Holy Spirit, God lives in each member.

Being in Christ and a member of His body requires that the new life in Christ follows the teachings in all respects. Yet, that seems to be a very difficult concept for many believers to follow. We hear and see in this day and age the implementation of programs to aid the needy coming from the government. Daily in newspapers across the land, those who claim to be Christians defend the actions of the government and approve of government sponsored charity. But the Bible speaks of nothing of the kind. The message isn’t to the government to supply the need but to individuals, members of his body, the church. How can it be any plainer when one understands the scriptures? (See Two Americas in Sorting It Out)

But, acts of charity aren’t the only place that the government is being looked to for help in the troublesome areas of life. More and more, individuals want the government to pass laws that will create a more moral climate. In order to do so, there must be a moral standard on which to base the laws; yet, the courts rule against any mention of God and his moral standards and teachings. How can a government teach morality when they must be amoral (not concerned with moral standards, neither moral nor immoral)?  The answer is it can’t.

Jesus said to his followers:  Matthew 5:13, Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. A two fold message is in the Lord’s words: One, if you aren’t different from the world, then you aren’t any use to God. Then Jesus said: 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. The work of the members of the church is to effect change in society through good works that comes from the new life in Christ. As Paul wrote in Romans 6:4, Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. That newness of life includes both good works and practicing morality. How can anyone be the salt of the earth that Jesus teaches if we look to politicians and the government to do the works we are to do and to set a moral tone of life? The answer is it isn’t possible.  

The church is being supplanted by the government and all too many Christians are willingly going along, looking to the government to do what the Bible tells us that as members of the Lord’s body must do. The politicians acting as agents of the government can’t change anything for the better, but the church members can create change by doing what God and His Son teach us to do. Things will become better when the church members truly become the salt of the earth.    

© 1-18-2007 DEC