You have read so many times the idea that we are to be “salt and light” that it is almost a cliché. Usually, the words are used by preachers to invoke guilt on dull-headed parishioners who are not living out their faith. After all, this exhortation comes at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, and if there is ever a place to inflict guilt it is here. In reading over it again and spending some time here I think we have been guilty of moralizing in our reading of this text. What Jesus compares and contrast is not how a Christian is suppose to live in contrast with the world, but he is comparing and contrasting Christianity and religion. The point all the way through the sermon is looking at religious righteousness and true obedience to God. The point of looking at these differences of the heart is to exhort believers to do good deeds, but not like the Pharisees. In other words, a surface-level devotion to God is repugnant to Him.

Jesus not only makes the point that there is a distinction we have as believers between the Christian and the world; there is a distinction between Christianity and religion. I wonder at this. I wonder for this reason: Jesus is everywhere open and involved with sinners. The common people He meets He is open to and handles with patience and forbearance. Yet when he comes to the Pharisees, He is short and sharp. The irony is that nobody worked at obedience like the Pharisees. They kept detailed list of the things they should do for God, both positive and negative. In fact, the people who killed Jesus was not the common folk, they were religious leaders! Professional religionist! They were experts at keeping score and were livid when Jesus, “….notoriously sought out fellowship with tax collectors and sinners, and He commissioned his disciples to preach the gospel to all nations.” (Richard Hayes, The Moral Vision of the New Testament points out the word ‘sinners’ means ‘Gentiles’ off-limits to the religious community!)

Seen in this light, Jesus says of Christians: “You are the light of the world and you are salt of the earth.” This is not an exhortation to witness in the world, but a description of how true Christianity portrays itself in the culture, in contrast to how professional religionists relate to the world. In short Christians as salt and light are attracted to the world and the world welcomes the good deeds of charity and mercy. Real Christianity is not surprised by the world of sin, in fact that is what makes them jump in and serve. They see things falling apart and move in to help. The whole purpose of salt is to preserve. Christians are very realistic about the world; they know it is falling apart,
and they, by their very nature, must be in the midst of it. They see that the world is fallen; however it is the raw material out of which God can create a work of grace!

On the other hand, religionists pull back from the world. In Jesus’ words, “They light a lamp and put it under a bowl.” They throw invectives at the world, talk about how things are falling apart, and it is so much worse now than it has ever been. Then they huddle together apart form the world. They don’t jump in; they are not attractive to the world either. Have you ever noticed how you feel when you are around religionist? You feel condemned, judged, and unworthy; as if you are not good enough. Of course, who would be? But the point is religion will never win the world for Jesus because by its very nature it is censorious and really does not want to be soiled by sinners. Believe me, sinners know it too. They intuitively know it! They intuitively know when we help them with a condescending attitude of moral superiority, they know they are not being loved but judged.

Unlike religion, Christianity helps people with deeds of love and mercy because we know there is nothing to feel superior about – nothing at all! We have seen so much of our own sin and stand in such amazement that God would be our Father that we see the world not so much in need of our judgement, but of God’s grace. We are like beggars who have found bread, telling other beggars where to find it. We cannot escape involvement is the world. Our involvement is not selective any more than the mercy shown by the Samaritan. It is the very nature of light to shine and salt to preserve.

In closing we might say it like this: “Take a look at a rose. Is it possible for the rose to say, ‘I’ll offer my fragrance to good people and withhold it from bad people?’ Or can you imagine a lamp that withholds its rays from a wicked person who seeks to walk in its light? It could do that only by ceasing to be a lamp.” (Anthony DeMello, The Way to Love) With this we stop throwing moral judgements at the world and start taking it seriously like Jesus did. Our world is radically messed up and in need of redemption. Our moralisms do not help