Salt and light (and good works) (Part 5) - Rev Allister Lane
READINGS: ISAIAH 58:1-8 AND MATTHEW 5: 13-16
Sermon on 1 August 2021
Last Sunday I shared this quote from David Gushee (who visited St John’s a few years ago):
Jesus taught that participation in God’s reign requires the disciplined practices of a Christ-following countercultural community that obeys God in its inner communal life and by publicly engaging in works of love, justice, and protection of the dignity and sacred worth of human life. Kingdom Ethics, p195
And I want to delve more into what Gushee says about this Gospel passage we’ve heard today. The passage is often titled ‘Salt and Light’ and I want to propose a third element.
Salt = live differently from the world.
Loyalty to God produces a life that has a much stronger ‘taste’ compared to the morally bland life. A life lived close to God adds ‘spice’ to the world.
Perhaps (like me) you know people who bring this joyful saltiness to life. They are people you want to be around. There are many people I know like this, and (actually) David Gushee and his wife Jeannie are people like this for me. I wonder who you think of as bringing spiciness to life…?
But, although living distinctly ‘salty’ life, the followers of God are not to withdraw from the world. Some churches make this mistake; withdrawing into a holy huddle. Cultivating their moral purity and ‘rightness’ away from the world. Is that way of living what Jesus teaches?
Light = live to be seen and bless the world.
Two metaphors: 1) city on a hill, 2) lamp in a house. Neither is to be hidden, but brilliant in penetrating the darkness. Like the neon light of a hotel inviting the weary traveller to come in and rest.
We are not to live with a separatist or withdrawal strategy, but in a way that is immersed, and a visible presence that is a blessing.
Although we have to be careful to say that being Church is not about a building, this building is something of a light on a hill in this city. With the big tall steeple, it stands out in the surrounding culture identifying who we are (WHOSE we are). It’s up to us to live up to expectations.
The Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand has always been characterised by the way it seeks to influence society; living to ‘spice it up’ with the love of God. This desire to transform society for good is a particular identifier for St John’s: church schools, Presbyterian Support, Victoria House student accommodation, Dixon Street Flats Café …and many other partnerships.
Jesus’ words teach us an engaged and confident vision – rather than a detached, fearful separatism. By talking about salt and light, Jesus teaches us about being followers with a distinct ‘salty’ life and engaged with the real world.
But there is a third element in his teaching which usually gets overlooked in this passage. Gushee suggests this passage of Jesus’ teaching should be called ‘salt and light and good works’. The reasons he gives for this third element are these.
1) The only command comes at the end of this passage – it is to shine your light so that others may see your good works. Although it is almost always translated as we heard it today:
let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
This isn’t a good translation. The imperative verb in the original Greek text is not passive (‘let your light shine’) but active (‘shine your light’). ‘Shine your light’ by actively doing God’s good works.
2) Furthermore, by concluding this teaching with an emphasis on good works, Jesus matches the whole teaching that follows (what is called the Sermon on the Mount), which Jesus concludes in chapter 7:
Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. (Matt 7:24)
Jesus is teaching the importance of hearing and doing.
As salt, we are distinguished from the world; we are an alternative community.
As light we bless the world; we are a caring community, beckoning outsiders, bringing light to the dark places.
Our good works (Jesus says) cause onlookers to “give glory to your Father in heaven”.
So, as well as the direct blessing the impact of our good works have, there is an evangelistic dynamic for the watching world. This is about the purpose of the church. What is often called the mission of the Church.
Now, when we talk about the mission of the Church, let’s be clear what we mean. The theology of the Church’s mission is that it starts with God. It’s been said:
It is not so much the case that God has a mission for his church in the world, as that God has a church for his mission in the world. J.H. Wright
In other words, we (the Church) are joining in what is already God’s mission. Remember the quote at the start from Gushee?
…publicly engaging in works of love, justice, and protection of the dignity and sacred worth of human life.
We are to serve God and others – just as Jesus did.
As God the Father has sent me, I am sending you (John 20:21)
A quick caution here: We are not Christ (not event ‘little Christs’, as Martin Luther said). So, we undertake mission with an appropriate humility.
What do I mean…? We are in no position to judge sinners – we are sinners ourselves. We are a repentant community, and must act as such.
The sins of the wider Church are sometimes very evident – abuse-in-care, here in NZ and in Canada – and it is appropriate we recognise we are not superior. We are therefore repentant because we know our only hope is in the mercy of the One who brings a new humanity.
Perhaps the story/film Fellowship of the Ring is an analogy for the Church’s mission?
A mixed group (Hobbits, Elves, Dwarfs)
with common purpose (on a journey for good, making the world better for everyone)
An important difference (from the journey into Mordor) is that we do not need to go into the world anxiously and defensively; we can go confidently and joyfully because God is in the world already.
We go – not take God, but to meet God.
Long before we ever thought it was good to go into the world and serve, God entered into it, to stand in solidarity with us all.
Thanks be to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit!
Amen.