Christians who want to be salt and light in this culture must ensure that their lifestyle, associational, and other choices do not contradict their claim if they do not want to be hypocritical or otherwise marginalized and dismissed by Christians and non-Christians alike. Too often we rationalize our associations from minds that have been more influenced by the culture than Scripture. Being in the world but not of the world is that biblical virtue that is so often ignored or misapplied. After all, it was the Lord Himself who told us to count the cost before taking up with Him (Lk. 14:25f). Thankfully, more Christians are recognizing the need for consistency in their lives despite the cost.

R.C. Sproul tells of the story of his letter to the best selling author of Lords of Discipline commending him on his style. The trend setting novelist replied from his flat in Rome informing Sproul that he had been the first Christian to compliment him on Lords of Discipline. Raised in a fundamentalist home, this author told Sproul that the familiar circle from which he was raised now denounces him and proudly brands his literature satanic. The only time it seems that evangelicals get involved in main stream society is to register some complaint, some degree of hostility. And when our bright, energetic, talented thinkers, artists and workers go out into the world to fulfill their calling as a calling, they are often gunned down by the brethren for selling out to the world.

Well it is certainly true that we enjoy a great deal of freedom in this country. We are free from any foreign rule. We are free to move about the country at will. We enjoy freedom of the press. One of the greatest freedoms we enjoy is freedom to worship. This Lord’s Day we can gather in our churches without the fear of persecution or arrest. Freedom however, is not free. There is a price that must be paid in order to preserve our freedom.  Throughout the life of our young nation, men and women have been willing to lay down their very lives to maintain the freedom that we enjoy. No price has been deemed to high to pay that our nation might remain free.

Some people know what America is all about and some do not. In one sense it should not be surprising. On the other hand, I am truly amazed at those who do not, especially since certain principles were drilled into us as we learned American history in school. We learned that America was the land of the free and that people had a right to believe and say what they wanted. Now there is only confusion.

“And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do;” (I Chronicles 12:32)  These words were spoken shortly after the death of Saul and during the early days of David’s reign. During these days many of the children of Israel remained undecided as to what should be done.  “Which King should be followed?” was the question of the day.  Should the people continued to follow the family of Saul or should they acknowledge David and receive him as their King?  Some took a wait and see approach (these were the early pan-millenialists… thinking it will all just pan-out in the end), while others boldly sided with David.  Of this latter group was the “children of Issachar” and the Holy Ghost has given them a special word of affirmation - that they were “men of understanding”.

Christ is the One who changes hearts and in so doing changes the world. We Christians have a living and active God who has a plan and a purpose and we must see Him as sovereign over the affairs of men and ruler of all nations and when we do we will derive great confidence in the gospel message and find a glorious motivation to engage this culture, and indeed all cultures, for Christ.