For the effect of an upside down
Kingdom value to be itself turned upside down really is a difficult concept to
hold onto! But this is what Jesus seems to be saying in his words about being
salt and light (Matt 5:13-16). In the previous paragraph Jesus
says that being his follower will draw persecution; in this one he says that it
will get people glorifying God. Confused? I am – no wonder I keep getting
migraines!
To be a follower of Jesus means that
we will live counter-culture lives – and doing so will draw persecution. But to
be a follower of Jesus also means we will be active in good works in and for
the world – even as it persecutes – and that will draw some, at least, to
glorify God. It is a paradox that makes our heads spin.
The key, of course, is that while
the world is so inconsistent in its reaction to us, that we remain consistent
in following Jesus. For when salt looses its saltiness it’s no good; and when a
lamp is kept hidden it fails to provide light for those in the dark. Salt is
meant to be salty; light is meant to shine. And it is this consistency that
Jesus is getting at here, I believe. For salt is always salty and a light
always shines. Their actions (if you can call being salty and shiny actions!)
are consistent with what they are. In referring to his followers as salt and
light, therefore, Jesus merely calls on us to be what we claim to be.
Consistently. Day in, day out.
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