2. Saltiness: The Quality of the Way of the Cross The Way of the Cross Series [3] Selected Scriptures September 29, 2013 Pastor Paul K. Kim

3. OUR VISION: CONVERGENCE OF INWARD AND OUTWARD TRANSFORMATION * The vision of CrossWay Church is to: “BE Christ’s transforming community that impacts ourselves, our neighbors, and our world for the glory of God and his kingdom.” * We believe that Christ’s transforming community embraces: SALTINESS: A qualitatively different life, community, & church. CONGRUENCE: God-centeredness in all ways (ends/means, rhetoric/practice, etc.) COUNTER-CULTURE: A Kingdom-minded/missional mindset.

4. SALTINESS: A CALL FOR RADICAL DIFFERENCE AS CHRIST-FOLLOWERS “You are the salt of the earth... You are the light of the world.” Matthew 5:13-16 Implication #1: Christians are radically different from the non- Christians/the world. Implication #2: We are not to become like non-Christians/the world, losing our radical differences. Implication #3: We are to influence and change the world with our radical differences as Christ-followers/Christ’s church.

5. Christianity started out in Palestine as a fellowship; it moved to Greece and became a philosophy; it moved to Italy and became an institution; it moved to Europe and became a culture; it came to America and became an enterprise. Sam Pascoe

6. HOW DO WE “RETAIN SALTINESS” AS CHRIST’S TRANSFORMING COMMUNITY? 1)We are to be radically different in OUR CHARACTER as Christ- followers/Christ’s church. “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.” Matthew 5:13 “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:16  Our difference is deeply rooted in who we are in Christ; in the prior passage, this “saltiness” is depicted in the beatitudes.

7. 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:1-10

8. HOW DO WE “RETAIN SALTINESS” AS CHRIST’S TRANSFORMING COMMUNITY? 1)We are to be radically different in OUR CHARACTER as Christ- followers/Christ’s church. “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.” Matthew 5:13 “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:16  Our difference is deeply rooted in who we are in Christ; in the prior passage, this “saltiness” is depicted in the beatitudes.  So, we are to live out the transformed character in Christ—in our relationships with God and with people.  As Christ’s church, we are to retain this saltiness of holy character which is radically different from the world.

9. HOW DO WE “RETAIN SALTINESS” AS CHRIST’S TRANSFORMING COMMUNITY? 2)We are to be radically different in OUR VALUES/WAYS as Christ-followers/Christ’s church. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die. Dietrich Bonhoeffer  On one hand, we are not to lose the “saltiness”—to be conformed to the culture’s values/ways (Leviticus 18-19).  On the other hand, we are to be continually transformed by Christ’s values/ways—in our lifestyle; the way we do church.

10. 16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:16-17

11. HOW DO WE “RETAIN SALTINESS” AS CHRIST’S TRANSFORMING COMMUNITY? 2)We are to be radically different in OUR VALUES/WAYS as Christ-followers/Christ’s church. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die. Dietrich Bonhoeffer  On one hand, we are not to lose the “saltiness”—to be conformed to the culture’s values/ways (Leviticus 18-19).  On the other hand, we are to be continually transformed by Christ’s values/ways—in our lifestyle; the way we do church.  We are to seek and choose the values and ways of Jesus in building a transforming Christ that impacts the world.

12. HOW DO WE “RETAIN SALTINESS” AS CHRIST’S TRANSFORMING COMMUNITY? 3)We are to be radically different in OUR PRIORITIES/GOALS as Christ-followers/Christ’s church. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness... Matthew 6:33 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16 For you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:20  Christian life is not about us—it is about Christ; local churches are not about us—it is about Christ’s desire and his vision.  This means that we are to seek a “qualitatively different” life, community, and church.  Our ultimate goal is to bring glory to God in all we are & do!!!

13. A Call for the Church to Be Radically Different The glory of the gospel is that when the Church is absolutely different from the world, she invariably attracts it. It is then that the world is made to listen to her message, though it may hate it at first. That is how revival comes. That must also be true of us as individuals. It should not be our ambition to be as much like everybody else as we can, though we happen to be Christian, but rather to be as different from everybody who is not a Christian as we can possibly be. Our ambition should be to be like Christ, the more like Him the better, and the more like Him we become, the more we shall be unlike everybody who is not a Christian. ―Martyn Lloyd-Jones

14. THREE PRACTICAL QUESTIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE 1.In what ways am I convinced of my need to “retain saltiness”—to seek a radically/qualitatively different life, community, and church? 2.In what ways can I pursue “saltiness” in my character and values/ways as a Christ’s follower? As CrossWay Church? 3.In what ways can I pursue “saltiness” in my priorities and goals as a Christ’s follower? As CrossWay Church?