SALT SHAKERS - Philosophy

The Christian faith is ultimately about changing human hearts via the redemptive work of Christ. But those changed hearts are to be expressed in the world in which we live. The complaint that some Christians are ‘too heavenly minded to be any earthly good’ is far too true. Christianity is not just about ‘pie in the sky in the sweet by and by’ but about righteousness, justice and compassion on earth as well.

The story of church history is the story of the transformation of society. Many of the great saints were eager to let their faith help transform human society. Missionaries brought the good news of Christ but they also brought health care, education and literacy programs, social reform and practical mercy ministries. Many of our great evangelical leaders of the recent past - William Booth, Charles Finney, William Wilberforce, Lord Shaftesbury, and D.L. Moody, for example - were deeply involved in prison reform, orphanage work, ministries to children, prostitutes, the elderly, adult education, hospital work, the abolition of slavery and so on.

The Christian faith encompasses all aspects of life - not just the private and spiritual spheres, but the social and temporal spheres as well. We are to be salt and light in the world, making a very real impact on our social and public institutions. As religious institutions have declined and society has become more secular, a war of ideas and values is being waged. If Christian values are not promoted, values and ideas hostile to the Christianity will fill the void.