The tradition of Merriam-Webster’s ‘word of the year’ is a short one beginning in 2003 with the word ‘democracy.’ A quick glance of the previous years most searched for words gives us a snapshot of what was on the minds of those searching that particular year. In 2004 the word ‘blog’ was getting noticed and I’m fortunate it’s still influential today as you would most likely not be reading this. 2005 and 2006 were years of mistrust and defining our own truth as the words ‘integrity’ and ‘truthiness’ took the top spots. The Presidential election year of 2012 saw two words share the honor, ‘socialism’ and ‘capitalism.’ The social network of LGBTQ+ had the general public searching for the word ‘they’ in 2019, a pronoun pertaining to individuals whose gender is not revealed or identify as non-binary. The last three years are very fresh in our minds as ‘pandemic’, ‘vaccine’, and ‘gaslighting’ had effected almost every soul across the globe.
Looking over the last twenty years it is easy to see the interests of individuals with the changes occurring within the ‘culture’, which ironically was the word of the year in 2018. It is also a picture of history in the present day being unveiled before us of world events and the changing culture, some good, but most not so good. What is evident is how most of these searched words over the years are defining society and our current culture. It is where things are going. And sadly all seem to have a political, social, and deceptive agenda attached to them. This year is no different with the 2023 word of the year ‘authentic.’
‘Authentic’ in Merriam-Webster is defined as: (1. not false or imitation: REAL, ACTUAL. 2.true to one’s own personality, spirit, or character. 3. worthy of acceptance or belief as conforming to or based on fact.) It certainly seems on the surface that most people are having a hard time determining what they are seeing or hearing as authentic. There is not much that is authentic.
Merriam-Webster also noted on its website, “Authentic is often connected to identity, whether national or personal: words frequently modified by authentic include cuisine and dish, but also self and voice. Celebrities like singers Lainey Wilson, Sam Smith, and especially Taylor Swift all made headlines in 2023 with statements about seeking their “authentic voice” and “authentic self.”……… And with the rise of artificial intelligence—and its impact on deepfake videos, actors’ contracts, academic honesty, and a vast number of other topics—the line between “real” and “fake” has become increasingly blurred.” *
A great deception is overshadowing every walk of life in our present day. People are being deceived by lies and corruption presented as truth, honesty, and moral by those with a hidden agenda for power to control and push through their ideas for a Godless society. The apostle Paul writes in the New Testament book of 2 Corinthians, “But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve.” (11:14-15 NLT) They have succeeded in convincing manner; what was wrong is now right and what was right is now wrong. Is it any wonder why ‘authentic’ is the 2023 word of the year?
“I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one. So now I will pour out my fury on them, consuming them with the fire of my anger. I will heap on their heads the full penalty for all their sins. I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken!” Ezekiel 22:30-31 NLT
The United States of America is still the greatest, most prosperous nation in the world today. Cemented on Judeo-Christian values from the pages of Holy Scripture by the founding Fathers, the United States has been blessed as no other nation for the undivided attention given to God’s commands and the truth given to us from our creator. But, I’m afraid those days may be coming to an end. The United States as a country has abandon God and we are starting to see the beginning of the end of our freedom unless radical change back to God is made very soon.
It is impossible for anyone to not be aware of the deterioration of the very fabric of our nation. Even the casual observer of the news is confronted with, political turmoil, ever increasing crime, hatred towards others, racism, scandals within our government institutions, attempts to silence free speech, discrimination, churches turning away from the truths of God’s Word, and the spending of the Federal government causing the rising debt ceiling. The hard fact is, although being aware of the crisis in in our country, many are either uninterested or simply don’t care, others are too busy with their own concerns, some are part of the problem, and then there are others who do care but only complain and never take the initiative of getting involved to help in any way they can, even praying for the country.
The Lord speaking through the prophet Ezekiel was looking for someone to intercede on behalf of the people of Jerusalem who was about to be taken captive and the city destroyed. Their continued sinning by turning their back on God, who had blessed them overwhelmingly, is about to unleash the consequences. Sadly, the Lord found no one to ‘stand in the gap’ rebuilding the wall of righteousness. There was no one to teach repentance and return to the Lord their God. Jerusalem was destroyed and the people were taken to Babylon in captivity.
The United States must heed this warning from the Old Testament book of Ezekiel. If the Lord God did not spare His own people from destruction due to their sin, what makes us think He will spare the United States of America? “So now I will pour out my fury on them, consuming them with the fire of my anger. I will heap on their heads the full penalty for all their sins. I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken!” (Ez. 22:31 NLT) Who will help rebuild the wall of righteousness, the sacred Judeo-Christian values that established the United States of America, and stand in the ‘stand in the gap?’ Will it be you? Will it be me?
“And He was giving orders to them, saying, ‘Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.’” Mark 8:15 NASB
Warning signs are put into place to protect one from falling into danger. They appear on roads and bridges, on pedestrian walking and biking trails. They are posted in restricted areas, and even your neighbor may have a “beware of the dog” sign on their front door. There are also verbal warnings by way of instruction to warn us of potential dangers we encounter as part of our daily lives. Jesus gave His disciples such a warning recorded for us in the gospel of Mark.
Jesus’s warning was given as instruction, or giving orders when He said, “Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” The warning was of a spiritual nature, but the disciples missed it entirely as we also so often do today. The disciples were exclusively living in the moment of their physical and tangible needs. They couldn’t see past the immediate future as to Jesus’s words having a deeper meaning. They had just witnessed Jesus’s second miracle of feeding thousands of people with a few loaves of bread and a couple of fish. When Jesus said to “Beware of the leaven (or yeast)” they wrongly reasoned that He was referring to the fact that they forget to take along bread for their journey. How wrong they were.
How wrong we are today in our assumptions that all warning signs from our heavenly Father refer only to our physical or material needs at the moment. God’s instructions through His Word to us who believe in Him is to beware of the false teachers who claim to know the truth and who claim to preach Christianity but conveniently ignored certain passages of His Word. He also warns us to watch out for those who hide their hypocrisy, preaching the truth of God’s Word and then engaging in the opposite. This is the leaven of the Pharisees.
The leaven of Herod refers to the world system of increasing secularism. Sadly, we have seen the moral decline of our world throughout the centuries, but never more so rapidly as in the last few decades. Jesus tells us today, as He told His disciples, “Watch out! Beware.” It is far too easy in our day to get caught up with false teaching and in the effects of the world system.
The truth is in God’s Word, the Bible. As we read it, study it, and meditate on it, ‘all of it’, we will know the truth and the truth will set us free from false teaching and the secularism of the world through God’s ‘warning signs’!
Betting on sporting events has been around as long as there has been competition between individuals touting their favorite team, or their choice of the victor in the neighborhood playground brawl. The method of sports betting up until a few years ago consisted mostly of money exchanging hands between friends, co-workers, and an organized pool of a greater extent. Gambling even at this small level is considered illegal in most states but has not been on law enforcement’s top list of crimes to enforce. For the causal sports fan betting on their favorite team, the Super Bowl, or filling out a NCAA March madness bracket (which I confess to doing and enjoy), seems to the average person as ‘no harm no foul.’ But that all began to change in the year 2018.
The Supreme Court, in 2018, stuck down the case Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association. The courtruled a Federal ban that prohibited commercial sports betting in the United States was unconstitutional. Las Vegas, Nevada was the only legal avenue to wagering on sporting events. Now through 33 states and the District of Columbia, 146 million people have the opportunity to bet legally on sporting events. Lifting the Federal ban on sports betting has proven lucrative for the betting operators and Casinos across the country and for the coffers of state governments, but an ensuing problem of addiction, debt, and broken relationships have escalated.
“The Hill” addressed this growing concern in an article posted by on February 10, 2023 titled “Sports betting has risen tenfold in three years. Addition experts fear the next opioid crisis” Quoting Timothy Fong, a clinical professor of psychiatry, The Hill writes, “We have a movement toward expanding what was once considered a sin, what was once considered a vice, and embedding it at every level of American culture, down to kindergarten. ‘Sports gambling market.’ ten years ago, those words didn’t exist, what you have is this massive, exponential expansion of gambling into homes, faster than we can study or monitor it.” (1)
CNN noted the ‘Council of Compulsive Gambling of N.J.’ reported a 60% increase on their hotline since 2018. “Newsweek” reported the main target of sports betting companies are young men. In an interview with Pew Research last year, Keith Whyte, executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling said, “We believe that the risks for gambling addiction overall have grown 30 percent from 2018 to 2021, with the risk concentrated among young males 18 to 24 who are sports bettors,”(2)
The attractiveness of sports betting is enhanced by the many celebrity sports figures promoting it, along with the major networks televising the games noting the betting lines and the odds of winning before, during, and even near the end of the game. It’s non-stop betting. The networks do this in partnership with the top betting on-line sportsbooks and the blessings of the professional sports leagues and the colleges and universities.
More from “The Hill’ article; “Teams and league owners love sports betting because they ‘have found that engagement is off the charts among people who are placing bets on games,’ said Daniel Barbarisi, author of ‘Dueling with Kings: High Stakes, Killer Sharks, and the Get-Rich Promise of Daily Fantasy Sports.’ People who bet on games ‘are not just tuning out if it’s a blowout,’ Barbarisi said, because they bet on more than the final score. Fans can place wagers on the margin of victory, the combined point total from both teams and other metrics — such as whether Aaron Judge will hit a home run or Max Scherzer will ring up double-digit strikeouts.” (1)
In 2021 sportsbooks generated approximately $4.3 billion in revenue. That’s just a little too much for some top executives to pass up despite the additive nature of it, including Bob Iger, the CEO of Disney. In 2019, Disney was skittish of engaging in sports betting in fear of tarnishing their family friendly entertainment image. But that fear has now dissolved into the opportunity to make millions of dollars. “Livemint.com” posted on October 13 of this year, “In August, the company struck a 10-year deal with sports-betting company Penn Entertainment to bring gambling to Disney’s ESPN sports network. Sports fans will be able to wager on games on their phones through a new app called ESPN Bet that accepts bets through Penn’s sportsbook.” (3) Iger changed his mind on sports betting as he observed his two sons involved with it. “Livemint.com” reports, “Iger, who saw his two adult sons glued to gambling apps on their smartphones, the chance to engage a younger male audience, and the money, were eventually too good to pass up. Penn will pay Disney $1.5 billion in cash while ESPN will receive warrants worth about $500 million to purchase shares in the gambling company. Penn will operate the app and Disney will help market it.” (3)
It is not too difficult to see how and why sports betting with easy access is so alluring and can be addictive. The acceptance by the American people has also increased due to the constant exposure during games being televised and access through their smart phones. A recent poll conducted by the ‘The Washington Post’ and ‘The University of Maryland’ noted 55 % of Americans approved of legal sports betting in 2017 before the Supreme Court decision, today 66% approve. (4) The troubling fact is that most people engaging in sports betting and supporting it are blinded to the side effects on those who are subject to addition, even themselves if not controlled. In writing for the “Gospel Coalition” Joe Carter expressed his concern, “A frequent concern expressed about sports betting is that it encourages predatory gambling and leads to increases in problem gambling. Predatory gambling is the practice of using gambling to prey on human weakness for profit……….. the casino industry, a major source of predatory gambling within the US, attracts a disproportionate share of low-income workers, retirees, minorities, and people with disabilities. The poor are often the targets of predatory gambling in all forms—and the most susceptible to it.” (5)
Christians need to be aware and deeply concerned about this growing vice, and it is a vice. A little bet placed on your phone may seem harmless, especially with all the incentives and perks offered by the sportsbooks (how can I lose), but once started the lure of excitement and winning may be too much to handle. Soon we find ourselves in deep despair.
Psalm 37:4 says, “Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires.” (NLT) Looking for excitement and joy in your life, it is found in the Lord, a guaranteed winner.
We are to be good stewards of our money, such as caring for poor. “If you help the poor, you are lending to the LORD—and he will repay you!” (Prov. 19:17 NLT) Sounds like another guaranteed winner.
And the apostle Paul gives us a stern warning about the love of money in 1 Timothy 6:9-10, “But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.” (NLT)
Sports betting has now become a legal accepted part of the sports culture. If you are an avid sports fan or a casual fan, take note it is now impossible not to avoid the enticing ads placed by the sportsbooks in every sporting event. I’m afraid they are here to stay. How should we as Christians respond? May we become the ‘All in the Praying Family’ being wise stewards of our money, along with helping, encouraging, and praying for those who have experienced addiction, debt, and a broken relationship as a result of legalized sports betting.
“Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.’” John 14:6 NLT
“There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 NLT
Think of the following statements. “Going against the grain,” “swimming against the tide,” “going against the flow.” What comes to your mind as to their meaning? A summary of their meanings are as follows; “different from what is normal or usual. It takes courage to go against the grain and stand up for what you believe in” (1) “to not followwhat everyone else is doing” (2) “to do things that do not agree with what most other people are doing.” (3) The opposite statement would be “going along with the crowd.” It may be popular with your friends, peers, and society at large, but it has the potential of being extremely dangerous. The majority is not always right. Jesus confirms this in His Sermon on the Mount concerning life in the Kingdom of God.
Speaking to His disciples, Jesus says, “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.” (Mt. 7:13) Jesus also said to His disciples on another occasion during the Last Supper, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me,” (Jn. 14:6) and Luke writes in Acts chapter 4, “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) If we as faithful Christians adhere to Jesus’ sayings and Luke’s words through the Holy Spirit, then we are going against the grain, the flow, and against the tide. We are going against the culture. We are the Christian Counter-Culture.
Our current culture, as with previous historical cultures, expounds many ways to enter God’s kingdom. It is careful not to be labeled non-inclusive, but advocating all roads lead to Heaven. Our Lord Jesus is the ultimate example of one who is counter-cultural. He doesn’t hold back, but explains concisely the truth, His truth. “But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.” (Mt. 7:14)
The world culture provides a wide gate for all to enter and be included among the many with different beliefs leading to so-called peace in this life and a heavenly destiny in the next. Christians today need to follow Jesus’ example and speak lovingly right to the point as He did and show the world He is the only way, and be The Christian Counter-Culture.
“He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.” Acts 1:3 ESV
Professional athletes understand the value of making most of their window of opportunity. The goal is to make it to the Major Leagues, NBA court, the NFL, or other major professional sports. There has been hard work training through exercise, proper diet, and developing the skills of the game for many years. When the call up comes and their name is added to the roster, the window is relatively short to prove they belong. Time is of the essence to display talents, demeanor, and the impact one could have to the game and their team. Those who make the most of their opportunity are usually successful proving they are an asset to the team.
Our Lord Jesus had a window of opportunity between His resurrection and His ascension to heaven. The window was forty days in which Jesus had to offer convincing proofs that He was indeed the Savior who has risen from the dead. Scripture does not record all of Jesus’s activities during these forty days, but it has revealed certain undeniable proofs. He walked along with Cleopas and his friend on the road to Emmaus. (Luke 24:13-32) Jesus shown Himself to His disciples and even ate with them. (Luke 24:36-43, John 21:1-14) And He was seen by over five people at once. (1 Cor. 15:6) His earthly mission was now complete having come into the world to sacrifice His life paying the ransom for our sin and rising from the dead. He worked to the end informing and encouraging those who will carry the message of the gospel and the Kingdom of God.
Every Christian has their own window of opportunity to live and present the gospel of Jesus. It is also a window which is only known by our creator as to its length of time. So with every Christian time is of the essence, for we do not know the day the window will close. As athletes striving to get the most of their opportunity to make it or stay with the team, Christians also need to be striving and making the most of the opportunity set before them for none of us know the end of our own ‘forty day window’.
“You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment. But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.’” Matthew 5:21-22 NLT
Our judicial system in the United States measures the punishment for a crime by determining what is appropriate according to the severity and circumstances of the crime. Obviously a murder conviction would bring on a much stiffer penalty than an assault charge or shoplifting. More recently in the 21st century the law now includes “hate crimes.” According to the United States Department of Justice a “hate crime” is “a crime plus the motivation for committing the crime based on bias equals a hate crime. In the simplest terms, a hate crime must include both “hate” and a “crime.” (1) The FBI’s definition is; “A hate crime is a traditional offense like murder, arson, or vandalism with an added element of bias………Hate itself is not a crime—and the FBI is mindful of protecting freedom of speech and other civil liberties.” (2)
Our Lord Jesus also had something to say about hate crimes 2,000 years ago. The scribes and the Pharisees in Jesus’s day had an external view of the law. The outward deeds that were seen and committed such as murder would never have be done by these religious leaders. They reasoned they had never broken the sixth commandment, “You shall not murder.” Jesus corrects their misguided thinking, “But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.” The real issue is the heart.
Anger, hate, and verbal abuse are the internal seeds of destruction that lead to murder. Jesus was pointing out the guilt of murder and inward sinful seeds resulting in abusive behavior are one and the same. Hate crimes are not only a product of our current society, but a product of a sinful heart since the fall of man in need of a Savior.
“For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.” Philippians 3:18-19 NIV
Our world is divided between countries. Countries are divided within themselves. Political parties divide the government landscape. Groups of people divide themselves by race, ethnicity and religion, country of origin and even by where they reside in the country, state, or providence they hail from.
What divides us is more than where we live, where we were born, or the color of our skin. It is more than what our political beliefs are, what our economic status is, or how we view history. Understanding what divides us is crucial for any hope of bringing us together. The irony is; that what divides us also unites us. It is the Cross of Jesus Christ.
The cross of Christ is more divisive than any other symbol, political movement, government rulings, or any opposing points of view. This has been true since the crucifixion of Christ two thousand years ago. Scripture says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (Jn. 3:16 NIV) “Whoever” means “whoever!” All have equal access to accept Christ, because all need to accept Christ and all are in the same boat of sin and sinking fast. No one is exempt.
Understanding the divide is pictured clearly on Calvary’s hill that horrible day of crucifixion. Jesus was crucified between two others, both guilty of crimes, both deserving punishment, and both in need of repenting of their sin and accepting Christ. One of them mocked Jesus and wanted release immediately saying to Him, “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” (Lk. 23:39) The other, understanding his just punishment and his need beyond this world, said “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” (Lk. 23:42)
Today we have those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and those who continuingly mock Him. They have refused to acknowledge their sin and their need to be rescued out of that sinking boat. What divides us is a spiritual divide. It is those who have the Spirit of God who realize this world is not all there is, and it is those who cannot see beyond this world for they are spiritually blinded. Paul writes to the early church in Corinth, “But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.” (1 Cor. 2:14 NLT) What the apostle wrote centuries ago is just as true today.
The cross of Jesus Christ which is the way of salvation for those who believe in Christ as their savior is the same cross that is foolishness to those who do not believe. This is what still divides us today, but can unite us in Christ if those unbelievers would forsake their foolishness and accept Jesus Christ the Lord.
The world needs to understand what divides us is a spiritual divide. It is a divide between those who believe in the God of the Bible and His plan of Salvation through Jesus Christ, God the Son, and those who do not. May we as Christians understand where the true division starts and where it ends, and may we work to lead those in need of Christ to salvation.
“Jesus replied, ‘Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.’” Matthew 19:8 NIV
Marriage vows have been a part of wedding ceremonies for centuries. Today many couples write their own vows to each other to show their commitment to their intending spouse and to the marriage. So sacred are these vows that they are usually presented in a church setting. The commitment to have and to hold, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, in however it is expressed is summed up by ‘as long as we both shall live.’ Sadly that expression is also being rewritten to ‘as long as our love shall last.’
Sadly today marriage is not seen as God ordained, a commitment for life, and the means of starting a family. It has come down to an arrangement when convenient and with pre-conditions. Where there is no lifetime commitment and when hard times come, the marriage is doomed to fail. The previously established exit plan is ready to be implemented. This is the way of the world system, but Christians are not of the world, so how are we to act?
During Jesus’s ministry on earth He was forever being tested by the religious rulers to entrap Him in going against the Law of Moses. One such occasion concerned whether a man can divorce his wife for any reason. There was division even among the rulers, those who held to a strict view of marriage and divorce and those who permitted divorce misinterpreting Moses’s instruction on divorce. Jesus always being aware of their deception, Charles R. Erdman writes, “Jesus avoids their snare and lays down a principle fundamental to the stability of human society. Not only does he agree with those who hold the stricter view of marriage, he insists that the bond was designed to be indissoluble. He refers to the law of marriage as divinely established at creation.”
As Christians we are to adhere to the teachings of Scripture in all areas of our lives, especially when it comes to marriage. You will not find the traditional marriage vows in the Bible, but they are seen all throughout the Word of God. God is the one who has established marriage, and it is before Him we say our vows to our intending spouse. Jesus also said, “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” (Mt. 19:6), as long as they both shall live.
“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” Matthew 5:13-16 NLT
Penn State University located in the heart of central Pennsylvania has students and alumni from all across the United States and around the world. What unites these individuals from where they were born to where they are now living is their ties to Penn State. All have shared the experience of attending the university or one of its many off site campuses. That experience has shaped itself into a community of commonality. There is a distinct connection between each of them and who they are in reference to Penn State University. They are Penn State. On a crisp autumn afternoon you can hear the chant of “We Are Penn State” during a Nittany Lions football game in Beaver Stadium and all across the country wherever Penn State fans gather to watch their team.
As current students and alumni of Penn State have a connection to each other, Christians also have a connection to each other through Jesus Christ. Those who have accepted Jesus as their Savoir are brothers and sisters in Christ, possess the Holy Spirit, and have the same Heavenly Father. Jesus in teaching His disciples states another common trait in all Christians, in fact He states it as a matter of fact. Jesus says, “You are the salt of the earth” and later said “You are the light of the world.” Jesus makes a rather distinctive point, “You are.” No misinterpreting, it is a fact. We are, as Christians together and individually, the salt of the earth and the light of the world.
We may at times not present ourselves as if we are “salt and light”, but that is exactly who we are. And with this matter of fact we have a great responsibility to live accordingly. Christians are to be salt, or a preservative, in the world. Society today is decaying and rotting away at its very core. It is essential that Christians be involved in all sectors of our world providing a much needed moral and righteous preservative through Jesus Christ. We are also to let our light shine before those around us. Our world has many clouded and dark areas in need of light. Christians are to reflect the light of Christ in our everyday activities.
We need to be careful not to let our salt become ineffective by adding impurities of the world into the mix, and we need to not allow the clouds of discouragement, compromise, and fear of persecution to cover our light when and where it is needed most. You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world.
Word for the Soul 