You are the salt of the earth.
But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned?
It is no longer good for anything
but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
Salt was not used for its own sake. It was used as a flavor enhancer and preservative for other kinds of food. Just so, the Christian was meant to be a being for others. A Christian who did not become so was like salt that had lost its saltiness, something that should have been an impossibility. A Church that functioned this way would be like a growing quantity of stored salt that was never put to use. In such a world that might be many ingredients, but no food, and no feast. The point was not that Christians were supposed to become something they were not. It was that they were supposed to act in accord with the truth of their identity. They were salt in virtue of the fact that Jesus called them such, and therefore made them such, rather by their own cleverness or effort. But such a gift was also a calling. And the possibility of failing to live up to it was apparent, the danger about which Jesus warns us this morning.
You are the light of the world.
A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.
In the Old Testament era it was well known that Jerusalem was the city set on a hill, mount Zion, the mountain of the Davidic covenant. It would, perhaps, have been convenient for it to have been something which one could hide. Then it wouldn't have been so provocatively tempting to its enemies. But the kingdom of David was only going to fulfill its potential to bless all nations and reveal to them God's wisdom if the world was aware of it. This had consequences and almost constantly involved it in conflict and competition with the powers of earthly kingdoms. So too with the Church. She can only be what she is meant to be when she is not hiding in the shadows but boldly pursuing her mission to the ends of the earth. So too with her individual members. The Church can't possibly be what she is meant to be with only the ordained and the professionals doing the work. All of the citizens of this new kingdom, this heavenly Jerusalem, have a part to play. If only the leadership is visible, but all of the members hide in the shadows, it will be difficult to persuade anyone it is a place worth living. Moreover, the members are able to reach into places and situations that professionally religious cannot. The professionals and the clergy exist at the service of the faithful, to give them the means of attaining holiness, and in order to equip them for their missions in ordinary life.
Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket;
it is set on a lampstand,
where it gives light to all in the house.
We will shine as Christians as long as we don't intentionally cover ourselves and hide our light. Why would we want to avoid shining and, as it were, dim our potential? Perhaps because the light can sometimes appear garish to those whose eyes have not yet adjusted, and even unwelcome to those still dwelling in the darkness of sin. This is not to say that the light is equivalent with a critique of the darkness. It is not an intentionally intrusive act, not something that is merely about exposing corruption or evil. But in the presence of light evil always feel exposed. It's existence seems to say that there is a better way, a luminous way, that could be chosen but is being ignored and neglected. This provocation, the possibility of a different way, a higher and better one, tends to put evil of the defensive. It is no doubt at least partially because this is true that those who are meant to be light try to hide as though living through an air raid. Any crack in the blackout curtains might invite a bombing run close to home. But a lamp that isn't producing light isn't useful for anything. Its one virtue is to shine, not necessarily to the ends of the earth, but at least on the lampstand where it has been placed. If we will not shine for others, we will not even have light ourselves. To give light to all in the house we must not be afraid to shine.
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your wound shall quickly be healed;
your vindication shall go before you,
and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer,
you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am!
The way we obtain healing, vindication, and help from God, is by embracing his plan for our lives, the new purpose he gave us when he made us new creations in Christ. If we put God and his kingdom first our own needs will not be forgotten. If we allow his light to rise within us, to break forth like the dawn to those around us, our own gloom shall become like midday, and our own wound shall quickly be healed.
TobyMac Featuring Hollyn - Lights Shine Bright
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