The Simple Way: People Who Are Sent to Save (Matt. 5:13-16)

One of the movies Kendra and I used to watch with Jordan and Jacob was called An Extremely Goofy Movie.[1]  The story centers on Goofy struggling with the empty-nest-syndrome caused when his son Max leaves home for college.  Goofy misses Max so much that he enrolls in Max’s college just to get near him.  Max, however, wants nothing to do with his dad.  In class one day Goofy daydreams about happier times with Max.  The soundtrack to the dream is a song by the Partridge Family called “Come on Get Happy!” [2]: Traveling along there’s a song that we’re singing, “Come on get happy!” A whole lot of loving is what we’ll be bringing.  We’ll make you happy!  While the song plays, Max appears as a young boy in love again with his dad.  Together Max and Goofy float in the clouds.  Everything is right.  But then Goofy is dragged back into the painful reality. 

 

We might be tempted to imagine the ministry of Jesus as something like that dream.  Can you see it?  There’s Jesus in a white robe.  Laughing children are near his feet.  Adults surround him with clapping and singing.  Birds are chirping.  And in the background we hear the Partridge Family singing, “Come on Get Happy!”

 

But Matthew drags us back into the painful reality.  Listen to Matthew’s summary of Jesus’ ministry just prior to the Sermon on the Mount: News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them. (Matt. 4:24 TNIV).  Can you see this crowd?  It’s not laughing children or singing adults.  It’s children and adults coughing from various diseases.  It’s children and adults stooped over from severe pain.  It’s children and adults crazed with demons.  It is children and adults convulsing with seizures.  It is children and adults lifeless with paralysis.  Can you see them?  It’s not pretty.

 

 

Now listen to Jesus’ description of those who gather around him during the Sermon on the Mount: Blessed are the poor in spirit…Blessed are those who mourn…Blessed are the meek…Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness… (Matt. 5:3-6 TNIV).  Jesus is describing the kind of people listening to him.  Can you see them?  There are the poor in spirit.  It’s likely they are poor in spirit because they are poor in wallet.  There are several who mourn.  They have broken hearts.  There are several who are meek.  They have no pull or influence in society.  And there are several who hunger and thirst for righteousness.  They hunger and thirst to be “right” with God—implying that they are not “right.” 

 

And it is likely these crowds of the diseased, pain-filled, demon-possessed, seizure-afflicted, paralyzed, poor, mourning, meek, and fallen which lead Jesus to describe the world in these terms: You are the salt of the earth…You are the light of the world… (Matt. 5:13-14 TNIV).  Light was then and is now used to drive out darkness.  Salt was then and is now used to prevent or slow decay.  Through these positive statements Jesus is making a negative assessment.  The reason he speaks of salt and light is that he’s seen so much decay and darkness.  All he has to do is look at the people around him.  Jesus has his eyes wide open to the decay and darkness in the world.  This is the most fundamental call of the Sermon on the Mount.  Jesus calls us to see the world as he sees it.  He wants us to acknowledge that the world suffers from decay and darkness. 

 

Look around.  You can see it too, can’t you?  The meltdown of the economy is perhaps the most easily felt evidence of the brokenness in our world.  But the darkness and decay has a personal face, doesn’t it?  A member of Kendra’s family recently watched her young husband die of cancer—he was only thirty-something.

 

But there is an even greater decay and darkness that we don’t so easily see.  One of the most comprehensive surveys of the religious landscape in the United States was conducted this year.[1]  It found that young adults ages 18-29 are 3 times more likely than those 70 and older to be unaffiliated with any religion.  That means that many young people live outside any relationship with God.  Closer to home, 3 out of every 5 of those in Shelby County are not affiliated with any religion.  Large numbers are living in the spiritual crisis of not being right with God.  The world suffers from visible and invisible decay and darkness.

 

But the good news is that Jesus envisions us as salt and light: You are the salt of the earth..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. (Matt. 5:13-15 TNIV)  In this Sermon on the Mount Jesus wants to change how we view the world.  He wants us to see its decay and darkness.  But Jesus also wants to change how view ourselves.  He does not want us to see ourselves just as men, or women, or children, or teens, or married, or single, or students, or accountants, or pilots.  Above all, Jesus wants us to see ourselves as salt and light.  We are the salt and light needed by the world.  We are the salt and light that can dispel the decay and darkness.  These verses are the Great Commission of the Sermon on the Mount.  Through them Jesus is sending you into your school, your family, your neighborhood, and your workplace to be salt and light.

 

One great challenge however, is that, many want nothing to do with our salt and light.  Comedian Bill Maher is an example of the way in which some view the Christian faith as useless.  Maher is the driving force behind the movie “Religulous” which critiques the Christian faith for contributing to the decay and darkness of the world.[3]  In a recent interview on “Larry King Live,” Maher said that it is “dumb” to believe in the Christian faith.  He claimed that all religions are coo-coo.  And he suggested that Christianity has had as much negative impact on American culture as the KKK.[4] 

 

Maher is not alone in his rejection of Christianity.  A recent study shows that 16 to 29-year-olds are more critical toward Christianity than previous generations at the age.[5] For instance, just 16% of non-Christians in their late teens and twenties say they have a “good impression” of Christianity.  Only 3% of 16 to 29-year-old non-Christians express favorable views of evangelicals.  As a result, the proportion of those outside Christianity is growing with each generation.  For example, only 23% of those above 60 are outside Christianity.  But 40% of those 16-29 are outside Christianity.

 

Why are so many so critical of the Christian faith which Jesus says is the salt and light of world?  The same study I just cited found that when young people were asked to identify their impression of Christianity, one of their common responses was this: “Christianity in today’s society no longer looks like Jesus.”  People are rejecting our salt and light because Christianity no longer looks like Jesus. 

 

Jesus feared this very thing: 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 underfoot.  (Matt. 5:13 TNIV)  In Jesus’ day, there was a point at which salt could so deteriorate that it no longer was salt.  You could put it in a salt bag, but it wasn’t salt.  Similarly, Jesus feared that those who followed him might so deteriorate that they ceased to be salt.  You could put them in a church building.  But they ceased to be salt.  One of the fundamental challenges facing those of us who want to take up our role as salt and light is that Christianity no longer looks like Jesus.

 

Recently at the Summit held at Abilene Christian University author and speaker Brian McLaren gave a presentation entitled “Reaching Christians for Christ.” [6]   His thesis was that before Christians can reach non-Christians for Christ, a lot of Christians need to first be reached—because too many of us look too little like Jesus.  He asked two questions: 

·         “When you think of ‘Christian’ who do you think of?”

·         “When you think of ‘Christ-like’ who do you think of?”

 

In answering the first question, we could write a long list of people whom we label as Christian because they attend church, or read the Bible, or pray, or vote in a particular way.  But in answering the second question, our list suddenly grows much shorter.  Christianity has often ceased to look like Jesus.

 

Author Jerry Doherty cites a study of Americans who do not attend church.[7]  When asked “Why?” their answers could be summarized in this way: “people who attend church are no different than me.”  It is our lack of salty lives which causes people to reject our salt and light.

 

In a challenging book entitled The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience Ronald J. Sider finds that evangelical Christians are just as immoral as those who are not Christians.[8]  For example, evangelicals and born-again Christians divorce at a slightly higher rate than non Christians.  88% of evangelical youth have broken the pledge they made regarding sexual purity as part of “True Love Waits.”  For thirty years running evangelical Christians give less to their churches while their incomes have grown.  In a survey on how people respond to having a black neighbor, evangelical Christians were more racist than other groups.  One of the fundamental reasons people in our culture reject the salt and light is because Christians no longer look like salt and light

 

And that is why it is imperative for us to understand Jesus’ words at the end of our text: In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matt. 5:16 TNIV).  Jesus believes that his followers can live lives filled with such good deeds that the deeds themselves become salt and light.  We might think in the Sermon on the Mount, which Jesus begins by describing the world as dark and decaying, that Jesus would then go on to describe how we can tell good news of salt and light to that world; how we can proclaim Jesus to that world; how we can talk about Christianity to that world.  Instead, Jesus focuses solely on how we can be salt and light to that world; how we can demonstrate Jesus to that world; how we can live Christianity in front of the world.  Jesus believes that if Christians looked more like him, many caught up in the decay and darkness of the world would suddenly turn toward and glorify the God of the Christian faith.  Before Jesus ever says a word about telling the good news, he calls us to be the good news.

 

And the rest of the Sermon on the Mount is Jesus’ in-depth description of the kind of good deeds that would turn the hearts and heads of people back toward God.  In my book Rebuilding Relationships I argue that Jesus focuses on our three central in the Sermon on the Mount.  And he shows how to be good news in those three relationships.    

·         First, in Matt. 5:21-48 Jesus shows how to be good news in our relationships with others: Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar.  First go and be reconciled to that person…But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart…All you need to say I simply “Yes,” or “No”; anything beyond this comes from the evil one…If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also…love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.  Can you imagine how receptive non-Christians would be to our message if this is what they saw in our lives?  If we were simply known as those people who always tell others the truth, who never treat others as sex objects, and who even talk lovingly about their political and religious enemies, the world would want to listen to our message.

·         Second, in Matt. 6:1-18 Jesus shows how to be good news in our relationship with God:  Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ in front of others, to be seen by them.  If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven….But when you give to the needy do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing…But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen…But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting.  Can you imagine if this is what the world saw when they looked in on us—people with humble, authentic, sincere, and deep convictions with no hypocrisy, no pretensions, and no self-serving agendas when it came to our spirituality?  They’d be drawn to that kind of spirituality.

·         Third, in Matt. 6:19-34 Jesus shows how to be good news in our relationship with possessions: Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth…But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven…You cannot serve both God and Money…do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; what you will wear…But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness…do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Can you imagine how open people would be to our message if, in these uncertain economic times, they saw us living with peace, no anxiety, and generosity?  Jesus believes the first step to fulfilling our calling as salt and light is to be good news.  Before we can tell good news, we have to be good news.  We have to look a little more like Jesus.

 

Between 1991 and 2007 about 750 Muslims who had decided to follow Jesus filled out extensive questionnaires.[9]  The respondents, from 30 countries and 50 ethnic groups, represented every region of the Muslim world.  These former Muslims ranked the importance of different influences on their decision to follow Jesus.  What did they say was the most important influence?  What was the number one thing which led them to leave Islam and embrace Christianity?  They ranked the lifestyle of Christians as their most important influence.  They turned from the Quran to the Christ because there were some people in their lives who looked like Jesus.  They turned from the Muslim faith to the Messiah because there were some people living salty lives in their midst.  The attraction of Christians living out ways like the Sermon on the Mount was an even greater influence than seeing the Christian God answer prayers for healing, than watching the Christian God deliver some from demonic powers, than their own dissatisfaction with the Muslim faith.  Jesus believes that if we were simply known as people who lived and loved like Jesus—which is the whole point of the Sermon on the Mount—our very lifestyle would turn others to Jesus. 

 

It is in light of this text that that we launch this morning an initiative called Revolution.  In your hands you have a brochure which explains Revolution.  Here is a summary: Revolution is a challenge for each person to take up your calling to be salt and light in a dark and decaying world.  Revolution asks you to embrace 1 or more commitments which will enable you to become salt and light.  The intent is for you to revisit these commitments every quarter.  We want our Reach Groups to hold us accountable to these commitments.  Here are the four commitments we’ll ask you to consider:

·         Summit is the discipline of living as good news.  For some of us, that’s the starting point.  We need to focus on being good news before we can start telling good news.  In the Revolution brochure, you’ll find a card describing the Summit commitment.  Perhaps for the next three months, you’ll want to pursue that commitment.

·         Marketplace is the discipline of getting into contact with non-Christians.  One challenge is that many of us don’t even know any non-Christians to whom we can be salt and light.  Marketplace is a commitment to get into contact with non-Christians.  You’ll find a card describing that commitment in the brochure.  Perhaps for the next three months, you’ll want to pursue that commitment. 

·         Table is the discipline of forming loving friendships with non-Christians.  Some of us know non-Christians but we’ve not developed that relationship into a friendship.  For some of you, that’s where you need to start.  The Table commitment in the brochure allows you to focus on that.  Perhaps for the next three months, you’ll want to pursue that commitment. 

·         Finally, Story is the discipline of telling the good news of Jesus to non-Christians.  Some of you have close friendships with non-Christians but you’ve never verbalized the story of Jesus to them.  Story is your commitment to do just that.  Perhaps for the next three months, you’ll want to pursue that commitment.  

 

Later today pray about which of these commitments you want to focus on for the next quarter.  Share your decision with your Reach Group.  Share your progress in that commitment with your Reach Group.  In another quarter, we’ll highlight these four commitments again, and urge you to pick one or more again.  This morning, no matter what discipline you may focus on for this quarter, I hope all of us will consider the Summit.  The more we live as good news, the more they will want to hear our good news.

 

For the Link

Notes:

1.      The world suffers from ___________ and _______________.

2.      Followers of Jesus are _________ and ___________.

3.      Salt and light are rejected because Christianity no longer ________ like Jesus.

4.      Before Jesus ever says a word about _________ the good news, he calls us to _______ the good news.

5.      Jesus calls us to _____________ the good news in our relationships with

a.      __________________,

b.      __________________, and

c.       __________________.

·         Questions/comments about this lesson?  Email chris@chrisaltrock.com.

·         (www.highlandcc.org provides sermon audio and manuscripts; www.chrisaltrock.com provides sermon manuscripts and other spiritual resources)

·         (Chris relies on a group of people just like you who share their ideas and experiences regarding upcoming sermon series and who share contemporary stories, videos, and songs related to these series.  To join this electronic community that helps shape future series, email Chris at chris@chrisaltrock.com.