Directory of Contemporary Worship Musicians - Way of Life Literature

against the social-political ills of the Roman Empire. ey didnot try to rid the Empire of poverty and sickness andinjustice. ey preached the gospel and lived holy lives andplanted churches and discipled believers and loved theirneighbors (but not in the way this is defined by Rick Warren).It is true that believers should have a godly influence in thisworld. We are light and salt, but that does not add up to thesocial-justice program spelled out by Warren. We agree withthe following statement by Jonathan Leeland from thePastors’ and eologians’ Forum on Church and Culture onthe 9Marks web site:“e church is not called to transform culture, at least not inthe sense that most people use that phrase today. If bytransform one means ‘convert,’ then fine. But that’s not how thephrase is being used. You cannot transform what is blindexcept by giving it sight. You cannot transform what is deafexcept by giving it hearing. You cannot transform what is stoneexcept by making it flesh. You cannot transform what is deadexcept by making it alive. How do you ‘transform’ somethingthat’s dead? If you happen to be supernatural, you can make italive (John 1:13). But you cannot transform it. ... In the sameway that Christians are called to live and love like GoodSamaritans, we should always be looking for ways to serve ournon-Christian neighbors--that they might be given sight,hearing, hearts of flesh, and life!” (Leeland, Pastors’ andeologians’ Forum on Church and Culture, http://www.9marks.org/partner/Article_Display_Page/0,,PTID314526|CHID598016|CIID2371850,00.html).God’s Word bears this out:“Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that,whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by yourgood works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day ofvisitation” (1 Peter 2:12).“As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men,especially unto them who are of the household offaith” (Galatians 6:10).302