Rethinking Our Mission as Christians: Being Salt and Light in the World

In But Not Of: Rethinking Our Mission as Christians

“In but not of” is a popular phrase used in Christian circles. It is meant to convey the idea that we are present in the world but not controlled by or influenced by its values. However, this phrase can give the wrong impression about our mission as Christians. Rather than simply focusing on not being of the world, we need to rethink our mission and actively engage with the world.

The Starting Point: Our Identity in Christ

Before we can understand our mission in the world, we need to understand our identity in Christ. As believers, we are called to be in Christ, to be new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17). Our identity is not found in the world but in Christ. This means that we are not defined by our nationality, race, or social status, but by our relationship with Christ.

When we understand our identity in Christ, we can begin to see the world differently. We are no longer bound by the values and priorities of the world, but we can see the world through the lens of Christ. We can begin to see the world as God sees it and see the people in it as people for whom Christ died.

Our Mission: To Be Salt and Light

Jesus describes our mission in the world in Matthew 5:13-16:

“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 underfoot.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 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. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

As Christians, we are called to be salt and light in the world. This means that we are not just meant to avoid being influenced by the world, but we are meant to actively engage with the world. Salt is a preservative that adds flavor and prevents decay. We are called to be a preservative in the world, to add flavor and to prevent decay. Similarly, light illuminates darkness. We are called to be a light in the world, to illuminate the darkness and point people towards Christ.

The Danger of Being Too “In” or Too “Of” the World

While we are called to engage with the world, there is a danger of being too “in” the world or too “of” the world. Being too “in” the world can lead us to conform to the values and priorities of the world. We can become so focused on fitting in and being accepted that we compromise our faith and compromise the message of the gospel.

On the other hand, being too “of” the world can lead us to withdraw from the world and isolate ourselves from non-believers. We can become so focused on avoiding the world that we miss opportunities to share the gospel and be a witness to others.

As Christians, we need to find a balance between being in the world and not being of the world. We need to engage with the world, but we also need to remain faithful to our identity in Christ and the message of the gospel.

Engaging with the World: Examples from the Bible

The Bible provides us with examples of how we can engage with the world as Christians. One example is found in Acts 17, where Paul engages with the philosophers in Athens:

So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we would like to know what they mean.”

Paul engaged with the philosophers by reasoning with them and sharing the gospel. He did not compromise the message of the gospel, but he also did not isolate himself from non-believers. Instead, he engaged with them and shared the good news of Jesus.

Another example is found in Mark 2:13-17, where Jesus engages with tax collectors and sinners:

Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.

While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Jesus engaged with tax collectors and sinners by eating with them and spending time with them. He did not compromise his values or participate in their sinful behavior, but he also did not isolate himself from them. Instead, he engaged with them and shared the message of the gospel.

Conclusion: Our Mission as Christians

As Christians, our mission is not simply to avoid being influenced by the world, but to actively engage with the world as salt and light. We need to find a balance between being in the world and not being of the world. We need to engage with the world, but we also need to remain faithful to our identity in Christ and the message of the gospel.

Let us not be content with simply not being of the world, but let us actively engage with the world and share the message of the gospel with those around us. Let us be salt and light in the world, preserving and illuminating the truth of the gospel for all to see.