Lurecrest Stories

Being Salt & Light...

John Howard Yoder makes the striking observation that after the Constantinian shift the meaning of the word “Christian” changes. Prior to Constantine it took exceptional conviction to BE a Christian. After Constantine it takes exceptional courage NOT TO BE counted as a Christian. This change in status of what it meant to be Christian, according to Yoder, called forth a new theological development; “namely the doctrine of the invisibility of the church.” Constantine's messing with Christianity got so goofy that, “... to be a Christian is to be transmuted to inwardness”. It was all about what was “in their heart” and to examine the outward behavior would be to judge. Jesus taught us to “judge by the fruit.” If there is some eternal life thing going on in my heart, you’ll see the fruit, case closed!

Bottom line:
“...the followers of Jesus are no longer faced with a decision. The only decision possible for us has already been made. Now we have to be what we are, or we are not following Jesus. We “followers” are the visible community of faith; our discipleship is a visible act which separates Us from the world...or it is not discipleship. And Discipleship is as visible as light in the night, as a mountain in the flatland. To flee into invisibility is to deny the call. Any community of Jesus which wants to be invisible is no longer a community that follows him” (Bonhoeffer 2001, 113)

Fruit is produced without effort via connection with the vine. Do we serve,.. do we follow just to be seen (My flesh certainly does!)? Are we called to be different just to be different? (Again, my flesh likes the attention of being different) NO! In Matthew 6, Jesus teaches that our “righteousness” is invisible even to us. This fruit which is visibility & difference is the result of us being pulled into the way of life made possible by Jesus. To be “in Christ” produces “unconscious holiness.”

There is something that is visible and different about those who are pulled into the way of the world, wouldn’t you agree? It isn't hard to see arrogance,... boasting,... my options,... my rights,... it’s not fair; all of these rooted in being focused on self.

To show you just how delicate this language is, one definition of worldly that I particularly like is “outward show.” Worldliness is all about being seen! Jesus warned the disciples about the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and the Sadducees saying that “everything they do is for the outward appearance.” The TV option has simply been too much of a test for many preachers.

Now, give me my “Gospel Glasses” and we’ll wrap this one up:

My friends, it's not about who we are! To be brought from death to life... to be washed whiter than snow... to have our sins forgiven IS to be made different, to be visible “salt & light” for others. If we have all our “needs” met, we can then BE for others. The time we would spend focusing on our mess and trying to become acceptable to God can now be used living in loving response because we ARE accepted by God. The people around us will notice when we quit using them and begin serving them!

Be salt & light for our Great Champion!!

Jerry