Tough choice unless you have really thought this one through. Matthew 5:13--16 gives us some help here, "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. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 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."

This past Sunday Joey encouraged us to go out during the Mardi Gras season and throw a party and invite some unchurched folks. Matthew, we were told threw a big bash upon making his decision to follow Christ. The scriptures tell us that Jesus "reclined" with a bunch of sinners, tax collectors and the like at the party! On another occasion, we are told of Jesus' first miracle. Yep, it happened at a party-it was Jesus' coming out party as a miracle worker! He turned water into wine; can we say "wine" in church?

So what's the point? Is it o.k. to throw a Super Bowl party, attend a parade, go to a big wedding feast (the place where Jesus chose to begin his miracle working), be in the presence of those who might not believe as we believe? Well, if we want to be like Jesus, we had better spend some time rubbing salt where it is meant to be rubbed. If we will not hang out with those for whom Christ died how will we impact the world? If we are not close enough to "do life" with real people in the real world outside the safety of our cathedrals and "worship centers", how can we claim to be embracing the example and aim of the Christ we claim to follow? Yes we need worship, yes we need fellowship with believers, yes we need teaching, yes we need prayer, and yes we need time away from this crazy world. But, we must also, and we need to do this intentionally, make time to be with folks who have not yet seen and embraced the beauty of the gospel. Sociologists and researchers who study the church tell us that within 6 months of becoming Christians most believers lose all contact with unchurched people. How do we defend this in light of the life Christ lived? Story after story we see Christ talking with those the church leaders found to be unworthy of their time and effort. We find Him over and over again in place the "church lady" would never go! And time and time again, over and over, He brings life transformation in those situations.

The Church is the hope of the world. There is no other organization, club, team, agency, or institution that offers the possibility of a soul transformation. The Church, and that means the body of believers called by God to Himself, is to be the extension of Christ to the world. Christ is not against the world, he is not created by culture, he is not so far removed from the people of our culture that He cannot reach them, He is not equal to the other choices of our culture, He is the transformer of culture. This work of transformation takes place as His sons and daughters live and move, touch, relate and interact with those around them.

Let's remember, Church, that our light is to be seen, and our seasoning is to be applied. The Zatarans has to go in the water if the crawfish are going to have any spice! There are enormous questions in the hearts and minds of the people around us and our culture is wrestling with issues that only God can bring any adequate answers to. If the Church withdraws from the public arena how will our culture be transformed?

The church is the hope of the world. If you are a part of the church, you are charged with bringing that hope to those around you. Now get out there and throw a party! And have fun doing it.

Bruce Smith
Director of Development, Teaching Pastor
bruce@uptownchurch.net

uptown church • seventy-one hundred saint charles avenue • new orleans, lousiana 70118 • 504.865.7775