Biblical living. That’s right. Unfortunately, many Christians don’t know what that is or what it looks like. Therefore, it must be unpacked and explained. The relationship between Christ and culture, gospel and mission, and Christians with non-Christians has been addressed from scholars and pastors alike, and they are issues we must continue to address. I appreciate your interest in the discussion, and I hope to continue it in future posts.

Mark,

Thanks man for your encouragement and kind words. Together, we are disciples and learners of Christ. If we can use our blogs to stir one another up to love and good deeds, then I consider it a privilege to facilitate such important discussions. May God grant a deeper passion for the gospel and greater pursuit for his glory!

Second, thanks so much for your efforts to disciple fellow Christians through your blog. This particular post is going to make for some good material for my class this Sunday as we work through Matthew 5 and being salt and light of the world.

God Bless,
Mark

Thanks for the dialog. We are not in disagreement. I do think the mp3 and paper I posted in one of my other comments has some warnings worth heeding though.

One thing I just can’t help not to ask is – How about biblical living?

Thanks bro,
Mark

You said,

“I wonder if we really live in a Christianized culture anymore.”

I don’t think we do, and that is precisely why we can no longer assume it so but must have a critical appraisal of the world in which we live. I don’t mean to sound complicated in thinking through these things. You are right. We need to get out there and do it. My desire is simply to do it well. Paul said that all run in a race, but not all win the prize. He then exhorted that we should run in such a way so as to win. This call came immediately after his passionate declaration that he does all things for the sake of the gospel. So my only desire is to not just be in the race, but to think, train, discipline, and focus to such a degree that I may win.

Yes, I do build relationships in order to share the gospel, but the difference between friendship evangelism and the missional emphasis I mentioned above is that it is not exclusively in order to share the gospel. Jesus ministered in many ways to the world that did not always result in people denying themselves, taking up their cross, and following Him. My point is not to demean those who consider themselves evangelists or argue that they have no desire to befriend lost people. My concern is that our approach and interest be heartfelt, sincere, and authentic. I really don’t care whether you call it missional, evangelistic, Great Commission Christian, etc. My point is that we maintain the integrity of the gospel as well as the integrity of the relationship with our unbelieving friends by short-circuiting the long term commitment of loving them, serving them, and pointing them to Jesus.

I like your summary paragraph in conclusion. I think one of the reasons why it sounds different or complicated is because we have reduced the gospel so much over the years and have compartmentalized evangelism to departments in church, staff positions, weekly programs, and a few points. Missional living shatters all those long held paradigms and calls all Christians to embody the message of Christ and embrace the world God has sent them to. It is 24/7 and encompasses every aspect of life.

I think it is important to emphasize the fact that we *are* the salt of the world and light of the world. Your comment made me think about what Jesus told Peter and Andrew when He called them. He said, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matt 4:19). So much of evangelism today is focusing on ways to be better fishermen. However, what is Jesus’ emphasis here? It is that we should follow Him! When we follow Him, His promise is that He is going to make us into fishers of men. When our hearts, minds, and wills are daily being conformed to Christ’s, walking in the power of the Holy Spirit, abiding in Christ as the branch is to the vine, we will find that we are becoming fishers of men, not by technique or something new that we “do,” but because of what Christ is making us to be through the indwelling work of His Spirit. So yeah, I am reminded that we are to follow Him. That’s our responsibility. I trust in Jesus’ work to make me useful for the kingdom and effective in the gospel work.