Andrew Thorburn’s recent ejection from the CEO’s role at Essendon has heightened the concerns many of us already have about the direction of our society.
We seem to be headed to a place where, not only will life be harder for Christians, but many destructive evils are being allowed to spread unchecked—all kinds of sexual immorality, substance addiction, and greed. At the same time, many freedoms we have taken for granted, like freedom of speech and freedom of association, are being curtailed.
The Lord Jesus has told us the way that he wants all of us to influence our society.
What should we do about it? What can we do to influence society for the better? Should we become more politically active, even organise a new party? Should we develop a war chest to fund legal challenges to bad legislation? Should we perhaps form organisations to support those who will be harmed by unrestrained sin? Should we pursue greater influence by contending for truth on the internet?
Now all those things may be appropriate for people who have the right gifts and opportunities. But the Lord Jesus has told us the way that he wants all of us to influence our society:
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13-16)
Salt stops things from going off; it stops the rot. It keeps things wholesome and tasty. That is what believers are to be in the world—those who stop the rot.
Light dispels darkness. It signifies safety and security—making it possible for people to make their way in the world without harm. It helps them find their way home.
But light is only useful when it shines where it can be seen. And salt only has its effect when it is genuinely salt. In the world of the New Testament, salt came from the Dead Sea and often contained a mixture of other minerals, particularly gypsum. Sometimes, the more soluble salt could leach out, leaving a substance that looked the same but had no taste. When it lost its taste, it went from being a valuable preservative to being useless and was thrown out and used as a road base.
We are only salt of the earth if we continue to be genuine followers of Jesus, which in this case, means living lives characterised by what Jesus has just described in the Beatitudes (vv 3-12) and in the rest of the sermon that follows. What does that look like?
Being Light and Salt
It means being “poor in spirit” (v3)—that is, knowing that we have nothing to offer God. It means depending on God and his mercy. The poor in spirit know they can’t rescue themselves with their own resources or establish their own kingdom. This humble dependence is the starting point for all that follows.
Such people know how to mourn (v4). They grieve over sin (their own and the world’s); they don’t make light of the harm and hurt it brings
Salty people are meek (v5). They put the interests of others before their own—even to the extent of suffering loss—because they know they can entrust themselves to their faithful Creator. They aren’t continually demanding their rights, nor do they deprive others of their rights to get their own way.
Rather, they are determined to live God’s way, hungering and thirsting for righteousness (v6). They are sustained by living according to Jesus’ word, and they feel starved and parched when that conformity to his teaching is not present in their lives.
Jesus’ disciples are merciful too (v7). They aren’t looking to shame and embarrass others; to exact the full penalty, or punish unintended mistakes. They don’t rake over the past, looking for reasons to condemn people.
They are pure in heart, that is single-minded in their desire to please God in all things, not making their decisions based on how it will advance their career or increase their popularity.
They are peacemakers both because they share the gospel that preaches peace with God for all who will repent and believe (Eph. 2:17), but also because they seek reconciliation through repentance and forgiveness in their personal relationships. They will never set one group against another for personal advantage.
Salt Light and Suffering
Above all, Jesus’ disciples are willing to suffer for righteousness. Indeed they reckon themselves blessed by God when they do. They are willing to suffer for doing what God says because they know a relationship with the living God is life. They are also willing to suffer as followers of Jesus—the one God has exalted over all.
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:11-12)
We cannot be the salt of the earth without this willingness to suffer for Jesus. We should resolve that in our minds now.
We cannot be the salt of the earth without this willingness to suffer for Jesus. We should resolve that in our minds now.
And we cannot be the light of the world if we are not willing to be open about following Jesus. That is what Jesus is telling us when he says a city situated on a hill cannot be hidden (v14) or that no hides a lighted lamp under a basket (v15). We have been saved to be seen; to give light by being Jesus’ disciples—the blessed of Matthew 5:2-12.
Our Lord’s will is that we should “let [our] light shine before others” (v16) by …
- showing mercy;
- making peace;
- being people of integrity who are determined to do what’s right;
- meekly allowing the interests of others to flourish;
- taking the grief and hurt caused by sin seriously;
- humbly relying on God and not attempting to create our own kingdom;
- being willing to suffer for Jesus.
This is how Jesus wants us to point people to himself—the only one who can save them from death and hell. This is the part Jesus wants us to play in stopping the rot and dispelling the darkness. Trust him, and be who he calls you to be.
