Matthew 5:13-20
Give Glory to God!
Faith is a personal thing. We know this very well as faith has had an impact in all our lives, or else you wouldn’t be here right now. It’s personal in the sense that it means a lot to us as individuals. It impacts me directly. It’s personal, that’s true, but it’s not private. There’s a difference between these two. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard people scream, “My faith is between me and God.” This is often said as a defense against any attempts at correction or calls for repentance from the Church to those who have gone astray. For so they would say, “You can’t speak about my faith, because it’s mine only and only God knows what’s in my heart.” Faith isn’t private though. It can’t be private if it's to be true faith. This is no different than the debate the church has had many times over concerning faith and works. You can’t have faith without works, nor can you have good works without faith. They go hand in hand. It’s not the works that save you, but the works are an inevitable outcome of having faith. Faith can’t help but make itself known to the world. It can’t help but be displayed for all to see. It’s public, in this sense. This has been the backbone of Christian witness throughout all generations. This is how the word of the Gospel has been spread to all parts of the world. We live out our faith in our everyday lives and the world will eventually take notice. They’ll see and hear the difference which faith makes and by this, we’ll have the opportunity to witness about Christ.
In our Gospel reading today, Jesus calls us both salt and light. Jesus is teaching us about what it means to be a Christian and live out our faith in this world. Thus, may we learn today the ultimate purpose of witnessing, even as we learn:
BY OUR WORDS AND DEEDS, JESUS IS REVEALED TO THE WORLD!
I.
It’s no secret that most Christians are uncomfortable with sharing their faith, witnessing to friends and even family. We wonder what others will think about us if we’re seen as one of “those” Christians who always have to “shove their beliefs on others.” I hear this all the time now in our society, one that has become increasingly hostile to Christians and to our witness. For thus comes the temptation for us to sink back, try to fit in with the crowd, or fly below the radar. We don’t like drawing attention to ourselves, especially if that means others will judge us for it. Instead, we tell ourselves things like, “Someone else will do it better than I ever can.” “What’s the point; they won’t listen to me anyway?” “I don’t know the bible all that well; what if they ask me a tough question I can’t answer?” It’s far easier for us to think our contribution insignificant or downplay our role in bringing others to faith. But think about what Jesus says here, “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored?” Matthew 5:13a. Is there such a thing as “unsalty salt”?
Remember then that we witness with more than words. It’s not just talking about Jesus and faith, it’s also how you live out your faith. This is what Jesus was teaching concerning the law, as he said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them,” Matthew 5:17. Jesus didn’t come to get rid of the law so that you can do whatever you please. He doesn’t cover over your failures just so you can stop caring about your actions. For witnessing can be something as simple as how you treat the grocery store clerk who made a mistake. How you react to slow service at a restaurant. How you parent your children, or children, how you treat your parents. How much you curse or swear when something doesn’t go your way. Such is our need for the law. It reminds us how often we fall short of the holy standard God had laid out for us. The law is good and just. But we aren’t. For we sin much and fail to witness to the goodness and justice of God. For when we become unsalty through our sin, how shall we be restored?
II.
For you see, God doesn’t throw us out like salt. He doesn’t discard us like a burnt-out lightbulb. He calls us again by his mercy that we may be both salt and light to the world. For every time that we’ve gone astray, God has granted us forgiveness. When our thoughts, words, and deeds don’t match up with God’s law, he reminds us of his holy standard. By the law comes knowledge of our sin, but through the law also comes the perfecting of our salvation. Just as Jesus said, “For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished,” Matthew 5:18. Truly, I say to you, all has been accomplished. What the law demanded, we couldn’t fulfill… but Jesus could and has! Jesus has made perfect the law, that is, he has completed its holy demands for us. He has “resalted” that which became “unsalty”. He shines his light that he may enlighten us. How shall we be restored? We’re restored through none other than Jesus’ death on the cross. We’re restored by the righteousness and perfection of Jesus which are made ours through baptism. We’re restored to be both salt and light through the gifts of God in Word and Sacrament!
Faith and works. Works and faith. You can’t have one without the other. This is why I said our faith is public. Our faith has no choice but to shine a light for all to see. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden… 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 5:14, 16. Witnessing isn’t just something you do. It’s who you are! Jesus makes you both salt and light by calling you to faith. You don’t have to work to be salt and light, you already are, by the grace of God! So, show it. Do it. Be who God has already made you to be. I think this is where we mess up witnessing. We believe it’s something more than this, bringing glory to God through our words and deed. It’s living a life that reveals to the world the impact Jesus and faith has had on us.
See how personal faith is to us, how great an impact it has had on our lives as we shine a light for all to see. Jesus has made public our salvation by dying for us on the cross that we may so witness to his words and deeds and bring glory to our Father in heaven. In Jesus’ name! Amen!