Makiki Christian Church — Vision Portrait

Vision Portrait

The Light of the World

We are the body of Christ, called together by God to be a visible and tangible expression of God’s blessed life here and now, not just in the “life hereafter.” We demonstrate God’s promise of things to come by being a family of faith that follows Jesus, the light of the world, who promises us the light of life (John 8:12).

Jesus calls us to be the light of the world and bids us let our light shine before all people, that they may see our good deeds and praise our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:14). We do this not with our own power, but with the power of the Holy Spirit, poured out upon the church. As we offer ourselves as the “living sacrifice” of the church (Romans 12:1), the Spirit empowers us to be light, proclaiming the good news of Jesus in word and deed.

As a prayerful, worshiping community committed to the one true God (Deuteronomy 6:5), we serve as a lighthouse in a world awash with many false gods. Where the idols of money, security, power and prestige are popular in our culture, our worship of God is a sign calling attention to God’s kingdom life announced by Jesus Christ. God is the center of our life, enabling us to balance work with rest, service with play, and study with celebration. As we submit our lives to God’s graceful rhythm, we are cultivated as God’s transformed people, sent into the world to continue Jesus’ ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:17-21).

As a giving and forgiving people, we offer the warm light of God’s love to old-timers and newcomers alike. In a world that is often motivated by greed, self-centeredness and anger, we offer ourselves and our life together as an open field in which God may grow the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control (Galatians 5:22-23)—which is our foretaste of the life of heaven. We acknowledge that the Spirit’s goal is not merely to grow loving individuals, but a supportive community, bound by love, guided by peace and overflowing with thanksgiving.

As a community of light, guided by the Word of God and by the Spirit, we are aware of both the visible and invisible realities of life. We therefore identify priorities that are often at odds with worldly values. Instead of being driven to compulsive efforts to save ourselves, we acknowledge that it is Christ who saves us. Rather than seeking worldly success at any price, we covenant together as followers of Jesus, called to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8). So doing, God is able to use us gracefully as an instrument to accomplish divine purposes in the world. Like lasers that can slice steel or heal hearts, we are given light for the sake of the world, not just for ourselves.

We confess that we are far from what God wants us to be as a Christian church. Although we have been blessed with a powerful history of faithfulness and ministry, the times have changed swiftly, while we have not. Too often, our lives more closely reflect the ways of the world rather than the Way of Jesus. Instead of participating as members of God’s family, we withdraw in our individualism. Rather than make room for God’s presence, we stuff our lives with commodities and commitments. Instead of being stewards of God’s light for the sake of the world, we have hoarded the treasures of the kingdom for ourselves.

But our confidence, as always, remains in God and in God’s sovereign faithfulness. We do not despair nor wallow in our failures; we look expectantly for God’s saving grace to be made known in our midst—within us, among us and through us—for the sake of the world.

The good news of Jesus Christ continues to offer us light for our path. God’s invitation remains open for us to live as God’s favored people of light:

to live and learn together in a life that is attentive to the Holy Scriptures and to the Holy Spirit.
to love and forgive as humble, graceful people, aware of our own failures, and grateful for God’s forgiveness through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
to seek justice and mercy for those who have been wounded by the ways of the world.
to offer encouragement and hope in spite of overwhelming reasons for discouragement and despair, because we fix our eyes upon Jesus, the Light of the world.
to demonstrate in our life together the ways of God’s kingdom. Instead of self-promotion, we do not think too highly of ourselves; instead of competition and fighting for one’s rights, we will grow in harmony; instead of behaving primarily as individuals, we form one body; instead of seeking self-glory, we build up one another in love (Romans 12:3-10)