Jesus Christ taught that we are to be salt and light in God's world … active as His disciples, urgent as His ambassadors.

In Mt. 5:16, Jesus said, "… Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

We are created to bring glory to God (Is. 43:7) and to help bring the light of Christ to a world drenched in moral darkness. Through the good deeds we do, light can repel sin and God Himself can be glorified.

Indeed, Paul tells us in Titus 2:14 that Jesus Christ gave Himself for us "to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good."

We are surrounded by evil-indeed it infects us—and part of our calling as disciples is not only to put on the new nature, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness (Eph. 4:24) but also to expose the fruitless deeds of darkness (Eph. 5:11).

What can we do? From time to time, Discipleship Journal will publish articles on the Disciple in Society, in which we will bring the light of Christ to bear on an area of moral darkness. The accompanying article presents a biblical view of abortion and a challenge to personal response.