You are the salt of the earth….

Leading directly out of the Beatitudes, Jesus lays down the challenge to us that we are to be salt and the light to the world. The verse is well known, but it is often difficult to know how it is to be apply. Some have taken it to the level that kingdoms and nations were to be conquered and the sign of the Cross flown over the subjugated lands. This approach has always been effective and received well – not. It was never Jesus intention that his followers advance His Kingdom through military conquest – or by political dominance. One of the primary reasons against this approach, among a host of others, is that it quickly gets confusing ‘whose kingdom’ is actually being advanced. We are meant to influence, to flavor, to affect our culture by ‘how’ WE live, not by legalizing and controlling how others should live. The Kingdom is an internal relationship, not an external state. It does not mean however that we are not to be actively engaged and witnessing for His Kingdom advancement and political influence in man’s kingdom – but our ‘weapons’ are not those of sword and power – but of love, humility and servant hood. We are not to beat people to death with our faith, but to servant hood them unto life. Now there’s a challenge.

Interestingly, Jesus never condemns or condones the Roman occupation, but He certainly has a lot to say on how we are to live in spite of earthly powers. He doesn’t elevate those who are resisting the occupation, nor, degrade those who are working with it – He simply says that regardless of position, condition or state, we are to be people salt and light in the city were we find ourselves – and whatever we are engaged in, we are never to compromise our saltiness. We are foremost to be and live like citizens of His Kingdom united under the banner of His love. I think of Paul’s controversial statements in 1 Cor 9:22-23 “…I become all things to all people that I may win some to Christ. I do this for the SAKE of the Gospel that I may share in its blessing”. In own lives, what is our highest priority?

Anyway, I was just thinking

Neil