Salt & Light in This World

Of late, the Lord has been rekindling my love for the study of Church History. Not surprisingly, then, I was up late last night reading an old seminary textbook from my Church History I class. In God's good providence, I happened upon an old letter written in the 2nd century, entitled "From an anonymous Letter to Diognetus". As I read through it, I was thoroughly encouraged, and yet simultaneously convicted, not to mention somewhat rebuked, when confronted with how the first Christians conducted themselves in the world they lived in. Below is the the letter in its entirety:

"For Christians are not differentiated from other people by county, language, or customs; you see, they do not live in cities of their own, or speak some strange dialect, or have some peculiar lifestyle.

"This teaching of theirs has not been contrived by the invention and speculation of inquisitive men; nor are they propagating mere human teaching as some people do. They live in both Greek and foreign cities, wherever chance has put them. They follow local customs in clothing, food and the other aspects of life. But at the same time, they demonstrate to us the wonderful certainly unusual form of their own citizenship.

"They live in their own native lands, but as aliens; as citizens, they share all things with others; but like aliens, suffer all things. Every foreign country is to them as their native country, and every native land as a foreign country.

"They marry and have children just like every one else; but they do no kill unwanted babies. They offer a shared table, but not a shared bed. They are at present 'in the flesh' but they do not live 'according to the flesh.' They are passing their days on earth, but are citizens of heaven. They obey the appointed laws, and go beyond the laws in their own lives.

"They love everyone, but are persecuted by all. They are unknown and condemned; they are put to death and gain life. They are poor and yet make many rich. They are short of everything and yet have plenty of all things. They are dishonored and yet gain glory through dishonor.

"Their names are blackened and yet they are cleared. They are mocked and bless others in return. They are treated outrageously and behave respectfully to others. When they do good, they are punished as evildoers; when punished, they rejoice as if being given new life. They are attacked by Jews as aliens, and are persecuted by Greeks; yet those who hate them cannot give any reason for their hostility.

"To put it simply - the soul is to the body as Christians are to the world. The soul is spread through all parts of the body and Christians through all the cities of the world. The soul is in the body but is not of the body; Christians are in the world but not of the world."

As I read this, I couldn't help but sense that there is a blatant disconnect between the church's nascent years, and what we see today (at least in North America). At the same time, I couldn't help but feel a growing (and hopefully a long-term, irrepressible) desire to imitate & emulate our faithful forefathers, who obviously were more in synch & harmony with our dear Lord's likening of His messianic community to being a city on a hill, or a preserving salt in this corrupted world (see Matthew 5:13-16, in light of 5:2-12).

May the Holy Spirit, who enabled these 1st & 2nd century Christians to be noticeably different in the world they were living in, likewise work in us that which is pleasing in His sight. May we too have such a beautiful testimony, so that we too might "in the same way let our light shine, so that others may see our good works and give glory to our Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16, note immediately previous context of persecution).

God knows this is the desire of my heart. I long to see Him glorified in this world, and subsequently, many people brought into the Kingdom of God as we both preach & live the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ.

In Him & for His renown,
Pastor Ryan