Question 40: Engaging the World

Question: How should the church engage with the world?
Answer: The church should be salt and light in the world, sharing the gospel and demonstrating God’s love.

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:14

Jesus speaks these words to his disciples as part of his Sermon on the Mount, teaching them their role in the world. He uses two powerful metaphors, salt and light, to describe how his followers should function in the world. Salt is essential for preserving food and adding flavor, while light is crucial for navigation and safety in darkness. Jesus says his disciples are preservatives in a decaying world and illumination in spiritual darkness. They are not to hide their influence but to be visible like “a town built on a hill.” Their faith isn’t meant to be private, but to have a transformative impact on the world through their words and actions.

The church is God’s salt and light in the world. One of the key functions of the church is evangelism. Jesus followers are called to spread the gospel through the Great Commission: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19-20). Jesus followers need not shrink from the truth that Jesus Christ is the only way, truth and life. Instead, we can creatively and lovingly engage our culture to make Jesus’s message clear and compelling. Being salt and light means speaking words and reflecting Christ’s image through our character.

TODAY: Consider how you can be salt and light in your specific sphere of influence. Ask God to show you someone who needs to see Christ’s love through your words or actions, and be intentional about demonstrating the gospel. Read more about the church in our We Believe document HERE.