"When the righteous are in authority the people rejoice; but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn." - Proverbs 29:2

Since its inception in 2011, the Cultural Engagement Committee (CEC) (What's that?) has been focusing its efforts in education and community event involvement. In 2015, the group also began leading our congregation in the area of public policy education and advocacy through a ministry called Salt & Light.

As Christians, Jesus expects us to be salt and light in the world. We are that salt and light as we speak and act in the community and culture in which we live in accord with his truth and grace. The church in many other times and places did not have any voice in decisions that the government over them made. By God’s grace, we do. Salt and Light seeks to help us understand the things that are being debated in legislatures around the country and also speak into those situations from a biblical worldview.

It is certainly true that the kingdom of God does not come about through elections or legislation. Yet it is equally true that, even as God’s people living in a land as strangers and exiles, God would have us do whatever we can for the welfare of this land. As God instructed his people through Jeremiah while they were in exile in Babylon:

"But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare." - Jeremiah 29:7

As God’s moral truth is embraced, people are blessed. The Salt and Light ministry helps us to work for the welfare of all, and to reveal the wisdom of God through the blessings of his truths being followed throughout our society.

So, we dedicate the 2nd Sunday AND 2nd Monday of every month toward this effort in the following ways:

• Two or three current issues are highlighted in the Sunday bulletin with a brief summary, related Scripture, suggested prayer, and suggested action to take.
• The congregation is encouraged to stop at the Salt & Light table set up in the narthex that Sunday to find out more, and perhaps take some kind of action. This might be filling out a postcard to send to an elected official, the signing of a petition, or even registering to vote.
• We have an online meeting the following evening (Monday) from 7:00 - 8:00 PM to share more information about the issues that were highlighted in the bulletin and to pray together about them.

As we watch the crumbling of our culture we often ask ourselves, “What can I do?” While there are many answers to that question, one of the best places for you to begin is by getting involved in Salt & Light.

If you have questions or want to get involved, contact Keith Lubbers - klubbers@crcsj.org.

May God be pleased with our efforts in his name, and may many be blessed as we work to spread the blessings of the truth of God into the society we share.

-- Pastor John