Christ’s Imperative to the Church

Greater Exodus Baptist Church, in obedience to the exhortations of Jesus Christ, and under the leadership of its Pastor, Herbert H. Lusk, II, understands that it has an important responsibility to the community and the world around it to be SALT and LIGHT in all that it does. For, as the Lord has instructed;

“You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its saltiness . . . it is good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled upon by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on a stand so that it gives light to the entire house. In the same way, let your light so shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:13-16

We live in a dark age when selfishness, hatred, lawlessness and poverty abound. There are those who would like nothing better than for the Church to “stay in its place” and not rock the boat or “get in the way” of the progression of certain trends in this country, or interfere with lifestyle choices unpleasing to God, and certainly to keep silent on the political front so that those who govern us would not have to contend with a vocal contingency strong enough to hinder certain legislation or to sway decisions involving national polity.

However, our first allegiance as Christians is to the Lord who created us, and He has left those who belong to Him in this world as agents of preservation, as salt cures and keeps meat in the springhouse from spoilage; and as light, to show the right path and to prevent people from stumbling around in the dark. The Holy Spirit was given to us not only for our own sakes, but as an indwelling guide to wisdom and righteousness, and was meant to be shared abroad until such time as the Lord returns. If the Lord’s people are to have an appreciable impact on the direction of our nation and its relationships with other nations, and if we would positively affect the welfare of our own communities and neighborhoods, we must make ourselves visible, audible and like salt, which makes people thirsty for what we’ve got. We must exemplify the very heart and nature of Christ in how we live to such a degree that people see Jesus when they look at us.

Greater Exodus Baptist Church and its community outreach organizations, People for People and Stand for Africa seek to have this kind of impact in all their activities, initiatives, services and programs. It is a lighthouse – a beacon to which people look for direction, assistance, comfort and Truth. We strive to maintain our steady gaze upon Jesus Christ and his Word which never changes from age to age so that we remain strong in battle against the forces of evil at work today. Let us live our lives in such a way that we are noticeably different from those who do not yet know our God; in such a way that we become agents of preservation in this world, and in such a way that we shine so brightly that we radiate His irresistible love to those wandering in darkness.

Greater Exodus Baptist Church is a church with a mission! We welcome everyone who would see Jesus. Come any time! We will keep the Light on for you!