Dr Roland Chia is Chew Hock Hin Professor of Christian Doctrine at Trinity Theological College and Theological and Research Advisor at the Ethos Institute for Public Christianity.
The Church's Role IN BEING
I N T H E WO R L D
I
n his great Sermon on the Mount, Jesus
nourishing, and illuminating—in a word,
uses two metaphors to describe his
life-giving. Put differently, the Church's
Church: salt and light (Mt 5:13–16).
being in the world must be truly sacramental: it must be the means by
"You are the salt of the earth," he insists.
which the love, mercy and grace of God is
"[B]ut if salt has lost its taste, how shall its
made manifest and real.
saltiness be restored?" The Church can only be present in the "You are the light of the world," he adds.
way that radiates the divine grace and
"In the same way, let your light shine
love when it intentionally and sacrificially
before others, so that they may see your
serves the community. The Church is
good works and give glory to your Father
indeed called to such a service when she
who is in heaven."
is tasked to proclaim the gospel not just with her words, but also with her works.
These two metaphors suggest that God's people must be present in the world
In fulfilling this task, the Church is merely
in a certain way. They suggest that the
imitating her Lord (imitatio Christi), who
Church's presence in the world must bring
in the incarnation, "emptied himself, by
something that is absent—it must supply
taking the form of a servant" (Phil 2:7).
what the world lacks.
In her "incarnational" presence in the community, the Church seeks to follow
More specifically, "salt" and "light"
the example of Christ who "came not to
suggest that the Church's presence
be served but to serve, and to give his life
in the world should be enriching,
as a ransom for many" (Mt 20:28).
14 Methodist Message August 2023