Matthew 5:13-16

Howdy doody buckeroos…we are not going long this morning I promise. So let’s just pretend that I gave you this outstanding introduction and how about we just get into the message huh? Alright…if you have your bibles, turn with me to Matthew 5:13. Actually, before we even get to our passage I need you to look with me at the context. One of the things I always tell my youth back at Arlington Chinese Church is you gotta look at the context. So here we go…if you look at chapter 4 we get a glimpse of who Jesus is talking to and what he’s doing. In verse 18 we’re introduced to his disciples and in 23, Matthew (the author) lets us in on what’s going on. So what’s going on here? Well he’s teaching, preaching, healing every disease and sickness, sending demons out of people and bam! A huge crowd starts following him. And why wouldn’t they right? I know you would be following him too…but he sees that it’s getting kinda overwhelming and in chapter 5 he withdraws and pulls in his inner circle and starts teaching them. So this is the context here…he’s teaching who again? That’s right…the disciples. This is important for you and I because Jesus will peer into eternity and give you and I that same calling…he goes, “hey so-and-so, yeah you…would you like to follow me?”

Alrighty then chapter 5 verse 13. 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 fro anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. We gotta stop here and explain some stuff. I don’t know if you’ve grown up in the church or not…maybe you’ve heard this before and are already tuning me out. But don’t do it just yet…we can’t go too quickly here because Jesus has some pretty important things to say to us. You are the salt of the earth. What in the world does that mean? Historically if you’ve heard this preached…the pastor would explain it like this, “You’re like salt…you’re a flavor additive. So you’re supposed to make people yummy tasting.” Or “You’re salt…salt is a preservative. So you’re supposed to preserve people from evil things”. Are these illustrations correct? Well…yes and no. If you look up the definition of “salt” it’s talking about a seasoning for food or a preservative. But I think there’s more to it than just those attributes. Why? Because look what Jesus does…he asks this rhetorical question But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? I say rhetorical because if you think about it…how can salt be non-salty? Jesus is going salt should function always as salt. So let’s kinda redefine salt. Salt is functioning the way you’re made…it is the spiritual act of being transformed. Here’s an example…you and I are just wandering around in our lives when one day…either at church or at some camp thing or a friend tells us about this Jesus guy. And maybe it wasn’t your first time hearing it…maybe it was like #92582 but at that moment something in you changes. You realize you’re a sinner and that you have no hope on your own and you truly, honestly devote your life to following Jesus. Now the guy who use to not care what the church had to say or strived for social perfection now has a totally new mindset. He actually believes that when he prays he doesn’t pray to where he’s noticed by men…or he begins to see marriage as a picture of Christ and the church. He’s transformed…not just in his mind, but in his heart. But ok…that sounds good and all but if that’s the call from Jesus that we should all be transformed then something is wrong because I have eyes. I mean…I see people that say they’re Christians but they don’t act anything like what they belief, ha! Or even worse. You know what? I absolutely agree with you…and I have a few theories on why that is. 1) I think transformation doesn’t fully develop because of compartmentalization. This is what we do…and tell me this isn’t the truth. We come to church on Sundays…we wake up, put on “our Sunday best” drag ourselves into the pew and we sing. Maybe we sing…depends on if we like the music or not. Then we listen to the preacher…he’s good…nah, he’s bad. And then afterwards we talk about “what’d you think? Ahhh…he’s ugly” ok…and then we leave. And we go “check” I was spiritual. And we just live however during the week…and wait again till Sunday. We’re these “part-time” Christians if you will. There’s no real hunger or thirst to really draw closer to God…no desire to understand truth. Just give me enough Jesus on Sunday to last me till the next one. 2) We’re a culture built around speed. 30-minute meals, hot-pockets, drive throughs…and don’t get me wrong I love hot pockets but this is how we treat our spiritual lives too. We hear something about small groups and how we should be honest with each other…and so we’re pumped and we try it. But 3 weeks later nothing has happen, so what do we do? We give up! “This doesn’t work for me!” Or how about this? Ok…I want to know God’s word more so we start reading our Bible. Genesis 1:1…and then 2 weeks later “booorrringg” Discipleship doesn’t happen overnight guys…it is a crawl! And you wanna hear something worse? Some times you don’t even see it! And I want you to see what Jesus says happens when you give up too early Or you wanna see what Jesus says when we say one thing but don’t live it out? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. Yeah…it’s so true. Biggest argument against most Christians is that they live these double lives. Because people aren’t stupid either. No wonder we get made fun of huh?

But Jesus doesn’t stop there…because I’m asking “then what are we as disciples suppose to be?” verse 14, 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. So if being “salt” is transformation…”light” is imitation that leads to exaltations. One more time…if being “salt” is us being transformed by the power of God…then “light” is the effects of salt which leads to God being glorified. Earlier this summer I went with my youth from ACC to this thing called “World Changers”. It’s a missions based program and what they do is they go to different cities and their job is to build and restore homes in the name of Jesus Christ. So a whole bunch of us from all different cities came together in New Orleans and for a week, we hammered, we put up sheetrock, we sweat and stank up the place…and labored in the hot New Orleans sun. These middle schoolers and high schoolers took a week out of their vacation, raised their own money and sacrificed their time, comfort, and energy to come work on these random houses. Some time during the middle of the week one of the home owners saw our crew working on a house and came up to one of the youth and go, “Why are you doing this? What are you here for?” and the youth just simply looked them in the eye and go “we’re here doing this not because we want to make you Christian…but because we are Christian”. Do you see the difference? We don’t transform in hopes of becoming godly people…we’re godly people that has been transformed! That’s why the gospel isn’t that we have to do this or that in hopes of God accepting us…he just says “come!” and let me transform you. And once he gets a hold of you…you become the light of the WORLD. And everyone sees that you’re not a faker…that you’re genuine…and they praise the God who made you that way.