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    How important are Pedro Martinez and Nomar Garciaparra to the Boston Red Sox? How important are Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker to the Boston Celtics? How important are Tiger Woods and Annika Sorenstam to Professional Golf? How important is Andrew Lloyd-Webber to musical theater? How important is George W. Bush to the United States? One could maintain in all of these cases that each is replaceable. However, one could maintain that it would make a major setback possible in each of the arenas of these people’s activities.

     How important is Jesus to the church that is called by his name? How important is it for us to understand that Jesus is the "exact representation of God on earth," the "radiance of God’s glory?" How important is it to know that Jesus is God’s salvation for the world? How important is it for us to note that Jesus is Lord over all because of his perfect obedience? Many maintain that the importance of these things is irrelevant. It is important to remember his life with people, not the misguided notion that he was God in human flesh. However, the church of Jesus Christ owes its distinctiveness based on the claims asked in the questions asked. Without these distinctives, the church of Jesus Christ has no reason to be.

     How important is the church of Jesus Christ in and to the world? How important are the Apostles to the building of the church? How important are the members of the church throughout the ages? The reality is that each is vitally important, though the world does not recognize this truth.

     There is one last question that must be asked. The question is one that goes to the heart of the functioning of the Body of Christ. More than that, it grants insight to the thinking that shapes the Church in the 21^st century. Ask yourself this question: "How important am I to the ministry of God in the world?"

     Most people would suggest that they are like those notable figures mentioned – they are expendable, or at least replaceable. We would not be so presumptuous to suggest that we are as important as Jesus. We would probably not think it appropriate to say that we are as important as the Apostles. However, the truth is that we are called to be as the Apostles were – the "salt of the earth" and the "light of the world." We are entrusted with the word of God and the ministry of reconciliation. We are given life by the grace of God (both in our physical birth and our spiritual birth). When we are called into the kingdom of God we are immediately made an indispensable part of the whole. As we look at the text in Matthew, it is my desire that we begin to see how we are to fulfill the role that God has for us in his kingdom.

     The beatitudes have given us insight to our hearts, or at least what should be evident there in the life of the Christian. They begin and end with the promise of the kingdom of heaven for those that are the children of God. There are promises of comfort, inheritance, filling, mercy, seeing God, and being seen as his children. There is also an encouragement to persevere with joy and gladness in the face of adversity. As the beatitudes build, so this text builds on the beatitudes.

     Many have tried to determine whether the salt is a metaphor as a preservative, a flavoring, a purifying agent, an instrument of destruction, et al. Each has its merits for consideration. Yet, is it important to determine that one is to be viewed to the exclusion of the others? Or, would it be best to be inclusive of all recognizing that salt is a necessary and essential part of the fabric of life on earth? I believe that the latter provides the best view.

     Is the church the salt of the earth, or the individual members of the church? Some maintain that the church must be a vital force in the world for the betterment of humanity. Others act on the principle that individuals are to be the salt that affects the culture in which we live.

     If we rely on the church to be the force for a better humanity then we will find ourselves in a morass of politics. Unfortunately, we have seen the church become increasingly involved in politics and less involved with bringing the message of the reconciling love of God in Jesus. Instead of being God’s instrument for healing, the church has become a place hurt; instead of being a place for peace, the church has fostered war.

     Let me suggest that the church must be the place where people can come to find peace, healing, and nurture. The church must be the place that people come to learn what it means to be the salt of the earth and then be the salt of the earth. The Apostles did not call for the church to involve itself in social reform; rather, the Apostles called for the people that heard the gospel message to be transformed. It is the changing of the individuals within the community of faith that will begin to affect the culture.

     For example, take two glasses of water. In one put a teaspoon of salt and in the other put nothing. If one were to taste test it is likely that the person would note that is one salty and the last has no flavor (unless it’s Billerica water). In the same way, we are the additive that makes things change in the world. It doesn’t take a lot to make a difference, but a noticeable difference is made. The church is to be the difference maker in the world.

     What happens if salt loses its saltiness? This is virtually impossible because of the nature of salt. There is some thought that this refers to water from the Dead Sea. When the water would evaporate there were crystals left behind. Some of the material would be salt, but some would be gypsum. The gypsum looks like salt, but is not salty. Thus when separated, if the wrong material was taken, it was viewed as losing its saltiness.

     More important than this is the point that Jesus is making. It is here that another view of the word translated "to lose saltiness" can be understood. The word can be seen as a Hebrew idiom for "to become foolish." If one is the salt of the earth (that is, becomes wise regarding the things of God) and loses its saltiness (becomes foolish), how can one be restored to being salt (being wise).

     The writer of Hebrews deals with this in his letter. In Hebrews 2:1ff – "We must pay more careful attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away… how can we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? Again in Hebrews 6:4ff – "It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace." In much the same way, Jesus said that the one that loses its saltiness is fit for nothing but to be thrown out.

     "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

     Light is a metaphor for knowledge and truth in the gospels. Light is used in connection with God the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. More, it is used in reference to the Apostles and to all believers. We see it also used in connection with God’s Law and our salvation. No matter how it used, it brings forward the idea of knowledge and wisdom as a means by which we come to faith in God though Jesus.

     The opposite of this is darkness, a metaphor for ignorance and lies. Darkness is used in connection with evil, death, Satan, and those that would remain outside the counsel of God’s revealed will in Jesus. It denies the importance of God’s Law and the need for our salvation.

     In this context, those hearing the words of Jesus are being told that they are the children of light. Light, by its very nature, dispels darkness. Light because of its ability to pierce the darkness reveals and guides. Years ago I had, for lack of a better term, a vision of sorts while I was praying. I was in absolute darkness trying to find my way. It seemed that every way I turned I bumped into, or tripped over something. As I stumbled about I saw a diffused light in the distance and began to move toward it. I was drawn towards it with increasing excitement because as I moved closer it became brighter. As my eyes adjusted to it I was able to see the obstacles with increasing clarity. My ability to see never kept me from periodically stumbling or experiencing the pain of a stubbed toe, but it empowered me to move forward as a moth drawn to a flame. In the end, I came to a staircase that moved upward to an open door that was filled with a glorious radiance. I began my assent and the vision ended.

     We live in a world of darkness. We believe ourselves to be philosophically enlightened and technologically educated. We have greater knowledge regarding many things about the world and the human system than those that I have preceded us. Yet, despite all of this we are still ignorant because we are trying to find our own way in the dark. Jesus is the light of the world. He is the Lamb of God that takes away all sin. He is the way, the truth, and the life. He is God in human form.

     The Apostle John stated that Jesus is the Word made flesh. This was a word to the philosophical and educated elite of his day. Jesus is the way of enlightenment, knowledge, and truth. Unfortunately, the world chose another way, the way of darkness, because the truth revealed too much regarding the human condition. Whether it’s the first century or the twenty-first century, people have never wanted to know the truth that humanity is stumbling around lost in the dark. However, in his infinite love and mercy we have a savior that was willing to pay the price for leading us, for drawing us to the light.

     In John 1 I would like to read selected verses:

"In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it… John came as a witness… The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him… Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God…

     The writer of Hebrews wrote these words:

"The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word…

     We can go through the New Testament and note more and more regarding the nature of God revealed in Jesus. Yet, when we look at the text in the Sermon on the Mount the focus is not directly on Jesus; rather, it is on those that follow Jesus – and that is who we are.

     Therefore, "You are the light of the world." Those that follow Jesus have been entrusted and empowered with the word of God. The church of Jesus Christ is commissioned with the awesome task of dispelling the darkness in Jesus’ name. The church cannot be hidden because of the very nature of its existence. Look at the words of the text.

     "A city on a hill cannot be hidden." The skyline of Boston can be witnessed from miles away. The skyline of New York City can be viewed from a greater distance. We can speak of other cities in a similar fashion and those that have seen these views before is able to distinguish between them. All are impressive in their own right, but it does no good if you need to be in one city and go to another.

     In the same way, there are many religious establishments throughout the world. In many ways they are impressive. Yet, if you were to place them side by side and examine each one closely you will find that there is only one that stands above them all. When those that are called by God’s name in Christ Jesus stand in live according to all that he taught, there is no religion that can compare to the revelation that is in Jesus.

     If we have been entrusted with so great a salvation, then it is impossible for the church to be hidden from view (no matter how hard we sometimes try). To use another metaphor: the church is in a fishbowl. As a pastor I can tell you that I know what that is like. Often it is uncomfortable because I know that there are people that watch to see if I will live up to their expectations of how a Christian (and pastor) should live. For many, there is a sense of hope that the pastor will be all that is supposed to be; yet, there is a perverse pleasure when it is found that the pastor has failed. When the pastor has failed, it is reasoned that the church is false and filled with hypocrisy – never has this been more evident than in the last couple years.

     "Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house." When a light is turned on in a room we do so to help us to see our way through the room, to read a book, or be visible to those in our company. We have lampshades to cut the glare of the more intense lighting of today, but in that day there was no need to do that. In the same way, we are to let the light of God in Jesus through the Holy Spirit shine brightly in our lives. We want the light to shine so all can see that in our Lord and Savior we are like him.

     Just as Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory, we are to be like him in every way. This is what Jesus means in the last sentence: "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Remember, everything that Jesus did was done in obedience to his Father in heaven. The works witnessed by the Apostles and those around in that time testified that the Father was in the Son and the Son in the Father.

     We are called to radiate the glory of our Father in heaven just as Jesus did. One difference is that the obedience of Jesus made it possible for him to become our Lord and Savior. We cannot live a life that will make us acceptable to God apart from faith in Jesus. Without faith Jesus does not dwell in our hearts. Without Jesus living in us we cannot radiate the glory of God.

     We cannot rely on good deeds to save us. We cannot muster up enough light on our own through good deed doing to make us right with God. However, having received the light of God in Jesus it is incumbent on us to live a life that radiates the glory of God in the good deeds that we do. Amen.

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