SALT

Matthew 5:13 “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.”

Saints

Actively

Living

Transformation

Recently, a set of shocking statistics came across my desk. The fellowship of ministries I am part of is preparing for their annual conference and I received an invitation to attend a Discipleship Ministry luncheon.  Within that e-mail, these statistics were presented.

The Barna Group reports:

7% of Assemblies of God pastors are satisfied with the state of discipleship in their churches

84% of people know at least one committed Christian

15% of people think the lifestyles of those Christians are significantly different than the norm.

"In virtually every study we conduct, representing thousands of interviews every year, born-again Christians fail to display much attitudinal or behavioral evidence of transformed lives." (David Kinnaman)

Okay, I’m in the 93% of pastors who are dissatisfied with the state of discipleship within the church I pastor. We need more relevant, life-changing, educational ministries.

The shocking message of these statistics is 85% of people cannot recognize any significant difference in the lives of Christians and Non-Christians. If we are the SALT of the Earth, this is a huge warning beacon that we have LOST our ability to flavor the world around us.

It is time to re-establish Christian values and stop re-defining our behaviors to accommodate this world’s expectations.

2 Corinthians 6:17 “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.”

1 Peter 2:12 “Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

When I was growing up, the question was asked, “If being a Christian was a crime, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” We seem to be rushing into a world where True Christianity is becoming a crime and sadly many of us may not be convicted based upon the evidence.

Where are we as a nation is an important question, but the most important question is who are we as individuals!  Are “WE” Christians? Can “WE” be Saints Actively Living Transformation?