Build to Spread

In late October, if you find yourself in the middle of Kentucky, stop by Shaker Village. Our Senior adult group enjoyed the historic tours, the restaurant, in-tact stone wall stretching for miles, and the beautiful landscape of rolling hills covered with bright leaves changing into their fall color palette. The peaceful wind was refreshing, and the conversations were uplifting. Though the Shakers built a beautiful community, the secrets of the commune were disturbing.

Their belief in the eminent return of Christ caused them to make several mistakes. They practiced communal living and demanded adherents forsake all worldly goods. Everything was shared. That would not be a problem, but they also decided to no longer have children. New converts were the only source of growth. Pacifists politically, they became passive in faith and eventually died out, literally.

Shakers gave up on the world God created because of eschatological fanaticism. They huddled together while the world fell apart. Their inward preoccupation led them further down the path of extinction.

Jesus instructed His disciples to be the salt of the earth. We are to be agents of preservation and accents of flavor. Salt is applied to the entirety of food being preserved. Any place without salt will spoil much sooner. The gospel is to influence every area of life. 1 Corinthians 10:31 reminds us that in whatever we do, everything should be done for the glory of God. There is no portion of the cosmos where God does not reign.

In culture, education, government, and in the marketplace, Christians should have a presence and an impact. The weight of the world is not placed upon us, but the call to go to the world comes to each one of us. When Paul cast the demon out of the slave girl in Acts 16, he interrupted a corrupt marketplace which profited on her abuse and found himself at odds with governmental officials which led to his imprisonment.

Life is not compartmentalized, and neither is our faith. The world is falling apart, and it does not need freedom from religion, but the freedom that comes from faith in Christ! Just because Christian influence is not wanted, does not mean it is not needed. Be of good courage. Be salt. Be light.