Matthew 5:13-16 never fails to inspire. So many people today—and not just young people, and not just unbelievers—struggle with identity. That nagging question! Who am I? Why does my life matter? What is my purpose? What am I good for? What loss would there be to the world, if I stopped being whoever and whatever I’m to be? Jesus gives us such a resolute answer, “You are the salt of the earth.” And if salt loses its taste, if salt loses its preservative potency, then it loses all sense of value. It might as well be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
And it’s not just individuals--it’s also churches who lose a sense of identity. There is nothing that discourages me more than when the church simply mirrors, and conforms to our culture. So many churches are on their heels, just trying to survive. But what does Jesus declare? “You are the light of the world.” Church, we are to be light-projectors, even cosmic luminaries! If I might borrow from Paul in Philippians 2:14-16, “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world, by holding firm to the word of life…" (CSB).
We’re to be like a city on a hill that cannot be hidden. There is nothing passive, apologetic or tepid about us. “No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket.” Well actually, one night (long ago, when he was still a babe on staff) Brad called me late at night. “Jon, I think I left my Yankee candle lit under my desk.” But other than Brad, you don’t light a lamp and hide it. No, you put it on a proper lampstand and it gives light to the whole house, even the whole city!
I know you have heard these verses before. Be Salt. Be Light. Jesus is very consistent. What is his concern? It’s Matthew 5:16, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good words and give glory to your Father in heaven.” When our world obsesses about identity (and sadly many believers and churches) what is so often our central concern? It’s being seen! It’s gaining recognition, and even more importantly, affirmation, likes, loves, thumbs up approval, hits, views, shares, people subscribing, tuning into our channel. But for the true believer being salt and light has nothing to do with being seen by men—it has everything to do with people seeing God; glorifying and worshipping him! Do you realize how much pressure that takes off you? So long as people see God, that’s enough. But getting people to see us? Isn’t that exhausting? And we don’t even get fifteen seconds of fame… the best we can get a split-second attention as someone’s doom scroll. But they forget about us as quick as they see us. But should they see God they’ll never forget, and if they believe on Jesus they can receive the forgiveness of sin and gift of Holy Spirit, and gift of eternal life!
One of my favorite books on Evangelism—any maybe it’s just the brilliant title—Rebecca Pipperts, “Out of the Saltshaker & Into the World.” First published in 1979. As Christians, we try to evangelize people in the most awkward, unnatural ways. And we put so much pressure on people. For instance, instead of having conversations with people, we wear tee shirts with obscure messages. We print up tracks and shove them in people’s faces. We bombard people with emails, texts, signage, redundant invitations to our church programs. We spout our talking points, we corner some poor soul with our churchy sales pitch. If you think you are uncomfortable with evangelism, think how uncomfortable we can make other people! They wonder, what is it with these people?
Rebecca has great coaching. We’d be so much better off if we stopped treating people as agenda-driven projects. Saltiness is about demonstrating genuine curiosity about others, cultivating authentic relationships, having open conversations about what matters to others. Saltiness is about being vulnerable, having a sense of humor and warmth, admitting what you don’t know, building trust, being more relational and less dogmatic. She points to Jesus’ conversation with the woman at the well. He listens. He asks questions. He establishes common ground. He doesn’t just give prepackaged responses. I echo all of her thoughts. But her biggest zinger again, is the title. The church’s call isn’t to congregate into a salt-shaker—it’s to be shaken out, to sprinkle the world. Some people will come to a church to seek God. But God doesn’t want us to be a passive receptacle of seekers. He wants us out there where people most need to see God!
Now I must confess, as much as I love Rebecca Pipperts efforts (and advice), most everything we need to know about being Salt and Light is guess where? It’s in two places: Its right there in the beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-11). And in the rest of Jesus’ sermon (Matthew 5-7)! I would propose to you that more potent than anything Rebecca Pippert prescribes—is what Jesus prescribes. Do you really want people to see God? Do you really want to get serious about being God’s cosmic luminary?
Last week we talked about our culture’s spiraling unhappiness. This week, you will see a section in study guide talking about culture’s spiraling hostility. They go hand-in-hand. We’re so unhappy because we’ve made our personal pursuit of happiness an end in itself. We’ve made happiness itself an idol, for which we’ll do most anything, and cross every line, to grasp hold of. But it is inside our pursuit of God Himself in which true blessedness is found. We were created by God, and for God. And if you subtract God; all you’re left with is yourself, and your own efforts. And you’re left with hostility. Because the more happiness proves allusive, the far more frustrated… angry… hostile… self-centered, nasty, intolerable… the more evil… you become.
What I really want to do, is share some unconventional ways you can first… pursue true happiness (in God), second… rescue yourself and others from spiraling hostility, and third… and quite importantly… help people see God!
Jesus says, “Blessed are the Poor in Spirit” (v.3). Modern people are covetous. We’re jealous, envious, always sizing ourselves up to our others. People are driven by riches, power, recognition, even spirituality has become a way to be seen by men. What if you stop trying so hard to be self-sufficient and became more God-sufficient—waiting on him, trusting him, finding contentment in less, not more?
Jesus says, “Blessed are those who mourn” (v. 4). We’re so busy, going hundred miles an hour. Even on Sundays, we race in and out, our schedules full. What about making other people our agenda? Slowing down. Seeing people in their sorrow, sitting with them even when we don’t have answers or solutions, praying, waiting for God to bring consolation? Being truly present, faithful; not transactional?
Jesus says, “Blessed are the Humble” (v. 5). Our attitude ought to be the same as that of Jesus Christ. Philippians 2:1-4, “If, then, there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others.”
Jesus says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness” (v. 6). I was reading Blaise Pascal. Renowned in so many ways. He observed how we enter into a silent pact with people around us. We won’t point out another’s mediocrity so long as they don’t point out ours. We won’t push others for excellence so long as they don’t push us. You don’t be too zealous for God, and I won’t either. We resign selves to the status quo.
Jesus says, “Blessed are the merciful” (v. 7). The Hebrew word for mercy is “Hesed.” "Hesed" was the Old Testament’s preferred way of describing God. “Hesed” literally means God’s loving-kindness, his covenantal faithfulness, his kind of compassion. People are so quick to discard their marriage, own children, relationships, their church. What if you were to stay rooted, and learned to practice mercy, to forgive and be forgiven, work things out. In the Old Testament God is faithful even when Israel is unfaithful. He doesn’t betray self!
Jesus says, “Blessed are the Pure in Heart (v. 8).” We often think of purity in a narrow way, but this has more to with maintaining an undivided heart. People have so many hidden agendas, ulterior motives, shadow missions. After you get to know someone, their true self shows. Later Jesus invites us to “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.” What’s your agenda? The very best, the greatest good for others.
Jesus says, “Blessed are the Peacemakers (v.9).” Instead of being nonchalant when conflicts arise, we engage, we bring people together, we seek true peace!
And the beatitude of beatitudes. Jesus says (v.10-12), “10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. 11 “You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. 12 Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
You want to help people see God? Step out of your own death spiral into hostility. This week sit down, read these beatitudes, and pick the one in which you most need to grow. The one that would be most transformative, that would most help those who know you best, truly see the face of God. Tell someone which beatitude you’ve chosen. Ask them to pray for you, and ask them to ask you about how you’re doing a week from now. Individually… be salt. Corporately… how can we be light?