Week 31 - Salt And Light In The City

“You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.” (Matthew 5:13-16)

Can the Christian community help to shape values in our society? We believe we have God’s blueprint for society. Therefore, we should be able to confront controversial issues facing the community such as allowing casinos to operate and legalising euthanasia (mercy killing).

We should also be able to influence the values of other people through a distinctively Christian approach to things and the people we meet as we go about our daily lives.

This is the essence of being “salt and light” in the world — by living distinctively Christian lifestyles, we seek to influence those around us. Someone described this kind of living as “adopting a contagious Christian lifestyle.”

We need to put aside our “isolated” way of living out the Christian life. In Sunday school, there is a familiar chorus, “like a little candle burning in the night… you in your small corner, and I in mine.” This may be true for us when we were little children, but now that we are older, we need to be reminded that Jesus challenges us to be salt and light — to influence the society, and to be seen to be doing so. Not just a little candle in a small corner; but a light to the city.

Take some time this week to reflect on this passage:

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:13-16 )

“You are the salt of the earth”

Salt has a number of effects. As a seasoning agent, it improves the taste of the food that it comes into contact with. Potato chips without salt would not taste good. So as we come into contact with society, our Christian values should improve the well-being of the people in our society.

Salt makes people thirsty — and as Christians we seek to create a thirst in people’s lives that can only be quenched by Jesus, who said: “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink” (John 7:37 ).

Salt is used as a preservative. Salt gives food an improved length of life. Ultimately, those who do know Jesus through His “salt” (disciples of Christ), and acknowledge Him as Lord and Saviour will have eternal life.

Don’t Lose Your Saltiness

Jesus’ teaching is challenging. There is little room for those who are Christians, but have lost their saltiness or Christian influence. Without the testimony of lives lived out with integrity and Christian principles, the testimony of our lips is useless. “What you are speaks so loud that the world can’t hear what you say,” is how a Christian song puts it.

However, we must be clear that this does not require us to be perfect. Knowing our sinfulness and knowing our need to confess, and being cleansed of it is important. Then, as verse 16 says, “Let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

"You are like light for the world”

Light shines in darkness and exposes what is there. Jesus is calling His disciples to expose evil within our society, however uncomfortable this may be. The light that we bring is not our own light — it is not who we are, but rather the light of God shining through our lives as the Holy Spirit works through each one of us. This does not mean that we have to quote the Bible in everything we say or make reference to God in every conversation, but when the opportunity arises, we can share with another person the light that God has given us.

Don’t Hide Your Light

We “hide our light” when we remain silent in the face of discussions which are contrary to that which we believe. We “hide our light” when we conform to behaviours that are not in line with Jesus’ teaching. We “hide our light” when we do not care about the needs of others, and “walk by on the other side.” If we let the light of the Holy Spirit in us shine through, we will reflect the splendour of God, and there can be no greater joy than being able to give glory to the Father as we go through our daily lives as servants of God.

For Your Reflection

Spend some time this week reflecting on Matthew 5:13-16. Spend some time in prayer asking God to show you opportunities where you can be “salt and light” as you live out your life at home, in your workplace, in your school and in the community.

The challenge is to authentically love and relate to our neighbours while being uncompromisingly distinctive as Christians. To be Christ’s disciple is to be the salt and the light in the world. Dr Gordon Smith, author of Beginning Well, calls them “city saints.”