Good Intentions; Wrong Approach - Part III

Okay - allow me one more post on this whole matter of being salt and light in the world, and then I promise to move on. On second thought, promise might be too strong - I'll try to move on. How's that?

Beyond the issue of being versus simply doing, there is an essential quality and reality about salt and light that we have, by and large, neglected. We have too easily overlooked the fact that salt and light must be present to make a difference. A light in one room does not impact the room down the hall with its door closed. Salt in a container does not impact food on the table. To make any difference in the environment, to have any hope of bringing transformation, salt and light must be present and engaged. Nothing is changed or achieved through isolation.

It seems to me that our dependence on the world's means and systems of operation has not led us to a greater or more transformational presence in the world; in fact, it may have enhanced our isolation. Our political activism, our boycotts and protests, have given us the sense that we are involved. While this is true in one sense, there is a profound difference between being involved in the systems of this world and being present as salt and light. What Jesus said in Matthew 5:16 was that the world should "see our good deeds and praise our Father in heaven." He didn't say they need to see our involvement, our activism, our protest, or our arguments - they need to see our good deeds, the acts of love, mercy, and compassion that flow from the grace of God and draw attention to Him. To be salt and light is to be a present, living reflection of Christ's love and grace to such a degree that people are attracted to the kingdom of God.

I suspect we have allowed involvement to supplant true presence. I can sign a petition without ever connecting to my neighbor. I can vote a certain way without ever serving those around me. I can forward emails about a cause, but never demonstrate love to someone that is hurting. I can easily boycott a company, but never draw someone to Christ. We convince ourselves that we are acting as salt and light, even while we fail to live out a loving and grace-filled presence among those in need. We are simply taking shots from a distance.

Am I saying that such involvement is wrong? No, I'm saying that it's insufficient and cannot fulfill our purpose. We are called to be a positive, grace-filled presence in the world that draws attention to our loving, grace-filled Savior. To be salt and light requires us to move beyond the comfort and safety of our circles, to step into our world as a reflection of Jesus, to invest in others with a spirit of love and sacrifice. The fact is, politics and protest are easy - ministry is hard work. Arguments and boycotts are simple - truly being present with those in need can get messy. Petitions and email campaigns are no sweat - laying down our lives in service is costly. We have too often opted for the easier path, exchanging true presence in our world for involvement in worldly systems that are inadequate for our mission.

Perhaps there is a deeper issue here that we do not want to face. Why do we often substitute a reliance on the world's methods and systems for the loving, serving, and engaging presence we are called to be? Here's a thought - maybe we want the government, courts, corporations, and schools to enforce our values for us so we don't have face being light in the darkness. If the systems of the world support our ideas, then the "rules" will keep everyone in line so we don't have to go out and engage our neighbors. If the government and courts uphold what we believe is right, then we can maintain the illusion that we are a part of a Christian nation, allowing us to live comfortably in our isolated circles. Maybe our real concern in so many of these efforts is not the building of the kingdom, but our own level of comfort in society. To be present as salt and light in a world that is dark and broken can be uncomfortable; it's a lot easier if the government enforces the rules for us.

The problem is, our mission is not to win arguments and force changes in behavior. We are called to bring others into a transforming relationship with Jesus, and the means and methods of this world will never be able to do that. Jesus never once indicated that the kingdoms and governments of this world were the pathway to building His kingdom. Those in the early church had no expectation of the government or courts supporting them or upholding their values, and yet they changed the world. If we are to change our world, you and I have to move beyond taking shots from a distance, stop relying on the systems of this world, and quit isolating ourselves in comfortable circles. The Jesus we claim to follow is the one who came into this world and lived among us in love, mercy, and sacrifice. To be salt and light is to do the same.