2:47 – 24/7
Transforming Community
Transformers change things. That’s what they do.
When my girls were growing up I wanted to buy them "Transformers" instead of dolls. Donna wouldn’t let me for reasons that I don’t remember now. I’m sure her reasons were good - I just don’t remember what they were - probably something along the lines of "that’s a dumb idea" along with the "look". You guys know the "look".
In case you were born too late, a "Transformer" was this really neat giant robot that could be changed into a really cool car, or truck, or something else with wheels. Then you could change it back again! The real transformation took place because of the manipulations of the boy (or girl!) who repositioned the various pieces through a series of complicated moves. Did I mention how cool this was?
Transformation is fun. It’s also mind-bending.
That God planned for you to experience transformation from a person of limited life (70 years plus or minus a few) into an infinite being on the spiritual scale above the angels is no small idea! That this individual metamorphosis is multiplied over and over until there is a vast community of new creatures is exciting beyond any earthly transformation - including tadpoles into toads, caterpillars into butterflies, and coal into diamonds.
That the church can be a transforming community that transforms the community is a truly astounding vision - and yet this is exactly what Jesus challenged his followers to be when he called them salt and light.
We are challenged to be Salt and Light
Matthew 5:13-16
13 “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 by men.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 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. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
It is the nature of Salt and Light to be Transforming
“Salt speaks of inward character that influences a decaying world; light speaks of the outward testimony of good works that points to God.”
Warren Wiersbe
40 transformational qualities of Salt
1. Preserves
2. Purifies
3. Flavors
4. Penetrates
5. Melts Ice
6. Provides Traction
7. Works Quietly
8. Cleanses
9. Lingering Influence
10. Seasons in Many Ways
11. Creates Thirst
12. Provokes Interest
13. Distinguishes Identity
14. Adds Values
15. Holds Water
16. Irritates When Necessary
17. Heals
18. Covenant of Relationship (Numb 18:19)
19. Persists
20. Stings
21. Influences in many ways
22. Useful in numerous products
23. Inexpensive but valuable
24. Necessary for life
25. Synergistic with seasoning
26. Easily shows impurities
27. Use it or lose its effects
28. Available and Understandable
29. Inexpensive
30. Easy to procure
31. Universally Available
32. Trans-cultural
33. Works in all temperatures
34. Shows no bias
35. Stimulates hunger
36. Basic identity of believers
37. Impact not always understood
38. Historically enriched
39. Created by God
40. Inherent and done without effort
40 transformational qualities of Light
1. Clarifies
2. Illuminates
3. Inspires
4. Disinfects
5. Reveals
6. Defeats the darkness
7. Reflects and Brightens
8. Shines fully and Freely
9. Chases the Shadows and Gloom
10. Provides Pathways and Guides
11. Stimulates and Motivates
12. Convicts
13. Provokes Action
14. Irritates Those in Darkness
15. Confirms Truth
16. Exposes Sin and Sickness
17. Warms and Assures of Safety
18. Displays truth and error
19. Warns of Danger
20. Provides Safety
21. Prevents Injury
22. Provides Vision
23. Gives Essential Vitamins
24. Affirms
25. Adds Renown
26. Facilitates Progress
27. Gives Life As Photosynthesis
28. Cheers the Downtrodden
29. Prevents Catastrophe
30. Compels
31. Protects
32. Chases Away Evil
33. Glorifies
34. Advertises and Gives Visibility
35. Adds Credibility
36. Energizes
37. Enlightens
38. Empowers
39. Reflects What is Missing
40. Makes Things Knowable
41. Beams to the Most Remote Areas
Salt and Light Transforms All That It Touches.
Salt changes a hunk of meat. Light alters the ambiance of a restaurant dining room. Salt makes water into a healing elixir and light makes a glass vase into a brilliant crystal.
This is all accomplished by the nature of the salt. It is the way of light. The transformation is not so much a matter of what the salt or light does. Transformation of this kind happens because of the nature of salt and light.
It is a matter of being – not doing.
We are called to be Salt and Light in a Decaying and Dark World. We are called by Jesus to be Salt and Light in a world that is coming apart at the seams.
But this is not an easy calling. There is a war involved and there are handicaps that hinder us from being effective.
In the US and particularly in our community we must overcome three obstacles.
The loud and seductive messages of the world must be overcome by a consistent living message of love
We must be Salt & Light to a Chaotic World. Our world also suffers from the greatest religion of all — confusionism.
People are confused about right and wrong, relationships, the future as well as the past. They are also confused about identity, the mystery of intimacy, and their struggle with inadequacy.
And for the most part, the Bible isn’t recognized as a primary authority. It’s just another voice in the confusion.
To overcome this handicap, we must offer clear, pertinent answers to the world’s greatest needs.
This is done in person – not in speech – We must be Salt & Light to a Chaotic World
The Transforming Message is Jesus in a world of distracting and destructive messages.
Jesus was called the "logos" - that is "message" Jesus was the message. He didn’t speak the message. He didn’t write the message in a tract. He didn’t preach the message. He WAS the message!
As Jesus is the message so are WE the message. It is not about what we do – it is about what we are – and that changes what we do!
This is a 247 transformation. This is the kind of transformation that makes an Acts 2:47 kind of church – a transforming community that transforms the community!
The Bible must be demonstrated as a relevant, down-to-earth message of healing. We must start living so people will listen when we speak. We must start being the transformed life in their presence.
This implies two things. Living for Jesus and doing it in the community!
We are called to be Salt and Light in a Decaying and Dark World
Second: Borderline Belief in God must be overcome by sold-out devotion to the Lord Jesus
But that creates another obstacle and danger… Borderline Belief. Let me explain by sharing a little OT history with you about the Border Tribes of Israel. One of them was called Reuben.
Don’t become a “borderline believer.” Enter into the inheritance God appoints for you and rejoice in it. “He will choose our inheritance for us, the excellence of Jacob whom He loves” (Ps. 47:4, NKJV). The will of God is the expression of the love of God and is always the best for us.
Since the tribe of Reuben had taken its territory from Moab, it was logical for the story of Balaam to be mentioned here (Josh. 13:22–23; see Num. 22–25). When Balaam saw that God was turning his curses into blessings, he advised Balak to be friendly to the Jews and invite them to one of the Moabite religious feasts. This resulted in some of the Jewish men taking Moabite women for themselves and thus violating the Law of God. What Satan couldn’t accomplish as a lion, cursing Israel, he accomplished as a serpent, beguiling Israel and leading the men into wicked compromise.
How did they decide to solve the problem that they themselves had created? By building a large altar of stones by the Jordan River, on the Canaan side, as a reminder to everybody that the two and a half tribes also belonged to the nation of Israel. Had these tribes been living in the land of Canaan where they belonged, nobody would have questioned their nationality. But living outside the land, they gave the impression that they were not Israelites.
This is now the eighth memorial erected in Canaan (Josh. 4:9, 20–24; 7:26; 8:29–32 [three memorials]; 10:27).
But it’s unfortunate when believers have to resort to artificial means to let people know they’re God’s people.
In recent years we’ve seen a spate of “religious” bumper stickers, jewelry, decals, and other items (including mirrors and combs with Bible verses on them)…” These do not make a person more Christian or give them a more powerful witness.
If you wear a WWJD bracelet – better live it because you are advertising it!
“Faith can never be satisfied with anything short of the true position and portion of God’s people,” wrote C.H. MacIntosh in his Notes on Numbers. “An undecided, half-and-half Christian is more inconsistent than an open, out-and-out… infidel” (pp. 457, 460).
Let’s depending on the fashioning of handmade memorials and start building a transforming community
We are called to be Salt and Light in a Decaying and Dark World
By modest estimate, more than a quarter of the entire population of the United States have professed an evangelical conversion experience. William Iverson wryly observes that
“A pound of meat would surely be affected by a quarter pound of salt. If this is real Christianity, the ‘salt of the earth,’ where is the effect of which Jesus spoke?”
William Iverson (Christianity Today, June 6, 1980, p.33)
In ancient Greece they had great theatrical events, plays in large amphitheaters. They didn’t have microphones to make their voices heard, and they didn’t have cameras to magnify their images onto screens, so they invented their own system. They developed big masks. The masks made them look like the characters they portrayed. Built into the masks were megaphones to amplify their voices. The actors got on stage, got behind their masks and they became somebody else, someone different than they really were. The actors were called "hypocrites." That’s where the word came from. There are a lot of people whose life is a big act.
Here at MCC today we are on the path to changing that. We’re not completed or whole but we are working to develop a strong sense of community and connection to one another.
It’s tough to live partly in the Christian community.
We are called to be Salt and Light in a Decaying and Dark World
Third: The message must be gotten out of the box and into the world
We must start talking to the right people. We create evangelistic programs and air them on Christian stations. We write evangelistic articles and print them in Christian magazines. We publish evangelistic books and sell them only in Christian bookstores.
We have church meetings and hold them within the four holy walls of the church facility. Then we are shocked when the world doesn’t listen.
We must take this handicap seriously. If we are to be salt and light interrelating with people in our world to bring them to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, we must prepare and present our life-changing message for those who need it most.
We have been judging the world and talking to ourselves when we really ought to be judging ourselves and talking to the world — in ways they will listen.
It seems every Christian group has its “holy huddle.” Their whole purpose is to hold on until Jesus returns. They are not interested in talking so people will listen, because they believe no one ever will listen. Such people will embalm our ministry if we let them. We must love them, care for them, and listen to them, but never allow ourselves to be managed by them. I was with a group of people recently that were upset about a minister’s attempts to reach the community with the message of Jesus.
Defeating this handicap means being managed only by God. Then we are freed to respond to the real audience.
We have some tremendous advantages…
1) We don’t have a box! We rent a box!
2) We’re focused on people
3) We’re heavy into Home Groups
4) We’re deep into Community Projects and Partnerships.
Landscape Project
Meridian Angels School Project
Clothing Drive
Christmas Breakfast
We’re building partnerships to build relationships with those who are open to the message of SALT AND LIGHT.
A transforming community that transforms the community!
Salt and Light Transforms by “Being” the message of life and hope
Let’s start by building up the community.
In the manner of Acts 2:47!
Study, Prayer, fellowship (Love), and the Lord’s supper.
