This is the Daily Article podcast, published by the Denison Forum for Culture-Changing Christians.

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thedailyarticle.com. Now here's today's news, discerned differently.

U.S. Capitol Police confirmed late last night the death of one of their officers

from injuries suffered when a mob stormed the Capitol two days ago. As the attack on the U.S.

Capitol continues to dominate the news, I'd like to do something I've never done in the 20 years

I've been writing the daily article. I'd like to preach a sermon. Actually, I'd like to do something I've never done in the 20 years I've been writing the daily article.

I'd like to preach a sermon. Actually, I'd like to write the sermon for you that I would preach this Sunday.

I am doing so after spending all day Thursday in radio interviews with stations around the country.

The questions I was asked are questions everyone seems to be asking today. I hope my

sermon will help answer them and offer you a path to empowering purpose. My text is the familiar

statement of Jesus in the sermon on the Mount. As he said in Matthew 513, you are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its taste,

how shall its saltiness be restored? Let's see how this powerful metaphor applies to us and to our nation.

One question was especially poignant. In light of the capital riots, what would you say to those who are wondering why they should get involved in our broken culture? My response was twofold, because God says to, and because seeking to change the culture changes us for the best. Jesus said to us, you are the salt of the earth.

However, salt is no help if it stays in the salt shaker. Christianity is an incarnational faith.

Just as Jesus incarnated himself in his earthly body, so he incarnates himself in us. Now we are commissioned to go and make

disciples of all nations, beginning in our Jerusalem and continuing to the end of the earth. Retreating from

the challenges of our day is therefore not a biblical option for Christians. Such engagement is also vital to the

abundant life Jesus intends for us. The Holy Spirit empowers us to the degree that we are willing

to fulfill God's purpose as His witnesses. To experience our best, most blessed life, we must be fully obedient to our Lord's

missional call to our culture.

And a second question I was asked repeatedly was, why did this happen?

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