1 - Introduction - Living like a real Christian 1 - Introduction - Living like a real Christian | Page 12

Sunday
Reading: Matthew 28 v 16 – 20
The fifth reason that the beatitudes are so important is that a “beatitudinal’
lifestyle is the church’s greatest evangelistic tool. The greatest “growth
engine” of the Kingdom of God does not happen when we preach better sermons
or have better music and better run programs, but the greatest evangelistic tool
of the church today is when Christians begin to live like Christians. In verse 14 of
Matthew 5 Jesus speaks about salt and light. His choice of analogies was very
intentional and they illustrate for us the cleansing and purifying presence in the
world that Christians should be. All through history we have seen the power of
salty and bright Christians. Just think for a moment back into the Old Testament
the stories of Joseph, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego; so many of these
great saints (even though they’re Old Testament characters) lived out “salty”
and “bright” lives. Many people are intrigued by these heroes as they lived out
their lives according to another set of principles; a set of principles that often
went in the face of the prevailing wisdom of the day. Their lifestyle, albeit
controversial, was certainly appealing. Kings and princes, soldiers and
politicians, all were intrigued at the lifestyle of these believers. I love the parallel
that Christians are “salty” because salt is something that creates a thirst and
when people in the world around us see