I reference the Living Church by John Stott once again in my blog for two reasons. First, it is taking a while for me to read it as I am only reading snippets at a time. Second, Stott’s snippets are better than tons of tomes by most other writers.
In a chapter entitled, “Impact” Stott gives four very brief implications of the call to be salt and light. He addresses salt and light as both an evangelistic impact and a cultural impact.
1. Christians are radically different from non-Christians.
In a chapter entitled, “Impact” Stott gives four very brief implications of the call to be salt and light. He addresses salt and light as both an evangelistic impact and a cultural impact.
1. Christians are radically different from non-Christians.
No one confuses light with darkness or preserved food with rotting meat.
2. Christians must permeate non-Christian society.
And do it more effectively than a mouse permeates a cat!
3. Christians can influence and change non-Christian society.
Retired Berkeley professor, Robert Bellah says that "the quality of a culture can be changed when 2% of its people have a new vision."
4. Christians must retain their Christian distinctiveness.
This is demonstrated through greater righteousness (Matthew 5:20), wider love (Matthew 5:43-44) and nobler ambition (Matthew 6:31-34).
May your community be different because of His church this week.
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