THREE WAYS CHRISTIANS HAVE HAD REAL INFLUENCE IN SOCIETY

"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. "Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16 14 ESV)

Jesus Christ makes a profound statement about the influence of the Christian for Jesus Christ in the world. In the Sermon on the Mount. He calls us "the light of the world" and "the salt of the earth". Both statements show that the presence of Christians in the world has great influence on unbeleivers understanding about the greatness of God. What shows people the greatness of God?

First, in the early church and throughout history it is well known that martyrdom shows people the greatness of the gospel.
When people are willing to die for what they beleive in and others witness their sacrifice as they see Christians considering their principles so important that they are willing to die for them, they may gain a new appreciation of the greatness of the gospel.

Because of their evangelistic activity the early Christians too were despised and persecuted. But they bore the persecution with such radiant power that their response served as a great attraction to the people as the light of the world.

Secondly, when Christians are willing to suffer with joy during difficult times.
I have been reading a book by Sociologist Rodney Stark , The Rise of Christianity, in which he describes how Christianity rose from a small group in Israel to the dominant force of the Roman Empire in such a short time. He presents factors that would have contributed to this great movement toward Christ. He shows that there were two great epidemics during those first few centuries. Quoting William McNeil, Neil Stark writes,

"Their faith made life more meaningful even amid sudden and surprising death...a shattered remenant of survivors...could find warm, immediate, and healing consolation in the vision of a heavenly existance...Christianity was, therefore, a system of thought and feeling thoroughly adapted to times of troubles in which hardship, disease, and violent death commonly prevailed."

The faith and beleifs of Christians had a powerful influence on those who's paganism could not comfort or sustain them in hard times. Ajith Fernando from Sri Lanka writes,

"Suffering brings the real issues of life to the surface. In the midst of suffering you see whether what a person has lived for has served him or her well. Most people fear suffering and do much to avoid it. What if people see that the Christians have a faith that will help them face suffering joyfully? Surely they would sit up and take note. Many would be forced to consider the claims of Christ more seriously because of that."

During the plagues if those who were affected were cared for, there was a good chance they would survive. But often when a member of the family contracted the disease, the other family members left that person uncared for and left their homes for places not affected by the epidemic. The Christians, however, did not do this. As a result the percentage of Christians who survived was higher than non-Christians. But more importantly, the Christians also cared for those non-Christians who were left behind by family members. This leads to the third great way we influence society is by the Christian moving away from the pursuit ofcomfort, ease, safety, health, wealth, and secuirty and moving towards the needs of others.

Stark points out that the willingness to suffer in order to care for the sick had a part to play in large numbers of people in the Roman Empire turning to Christ. Quoting Tertullian,

"It is our care of the helpless, our practice of loving kindnes that brands us in the eyes of many of our opponenets. 'Only look', they say, 'look how they love one another!'"

Jesus says that when His people are willing to die, suffer, and sacrifice in love moving away from our selfish quest for comfort and moving instead towards others needs something extraordinary happens. The world will see our good deeds and give glory to the Father in heaven.

Longing for the church to truly be light and salt for the supremacy of Jesus Christ in and through all things,

Pastor Bill