Being salt and light is not an option

Many years ago, a well-known Anglican wrote a book about mission in rural areas in which his main point was based upon the words of Jesus to his disciples about being salt and light.  While there was much in the book that I was pleased to read, I was unhappy that he presented the two similes as possible alternatives.  Jesus did not say, “You can be light or salt”.  He said, “You are the salt of the earth.  You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5: 13-16).

The point that he was making was that rural contexts are such that the subtler influence of salt is probably preferable to the challenge of light.  Salt is absorbed into the context which it then changes.  It is what is sometimes referred to in a missional sense as ‘presence evangelism’.  On the other hand, light is a contrast to darkness and can sometimes be uncomfortable.  There are two aspects of his argument that I wish to challenge.  The first is the premise that salt is less disturbing.

To an observer, the introduction of salt when cooking might seem to be having a subtle affect, but that is not the case as far as the other elements are concerned.  Salt has a chemical and mechanical effect on the other ingredients.  The presence of a holy and righteous person (such as a Christian?) into a group of ungodly people, will always be disturbing, even if they say nothing.

The second aspect of his argument is the one about which I feel more strongly.  He presented it is two possible approaches to mission.  But we need to be clear that there is no sense in which there is any option.  Jesus said, “You ARE the salt… You ARE the light…”.  When we become Christians, being salt and light are not optional extras to which we can sign up if we wish. Whether we are effective salt and light is another matter, however.

In the days when Jesus spoke these words, salt was almost certainly used for preservation of food and for bringing out flavour in cooking (rather than adding flavour).  As a preservative, it inhibits the development of harmful microorganisms.  There is much in the world that is harmful to individuals and society.  Living with such values and saying nothing is unlikely to do much good.  God expects us to challenge injustice and sin.  Salt is added during cooking, primarily because it has a wonderful way of bringing out flavours.  Similarly, even among the worst of people there are some good qualities, and Christian influence can bring these out.

But too much salt added has a less than pleasant effect.  In this sense the analogy of salt when considering mission can be every bit as disturbing as light.  The challenge of what Jesus said was to ensure that we do not lose our salty properties.  In 21^st Century UK we need to ask whether Christians are not impacting the world around because the salt is too often in the salt pot rather than spread around.

The presence of light brings benefits.  I once took a school assembly with a dirty mark on my forehead.  The children stared but politely said nothing.  Eventually I got a child to tell me what was wrong, and then suggested that a lack of light in the bathroom meant that I failed to see myself as I was.  Of course, this was a set up and that was explained to the children.  They took the point.  Light can help us see what is wrong, as well as journey through life safely.  If we are the light of the world, then we need to be shining appropriately inti the world for the benefit of others.

I inherited a torch from the previous owners of our house.  It has a rechargeable battery.  Charged up it emits a light that can be quite blinding if shone into someone’s face.  That would be an inappropriate use of the torch.  On the other hand, it has annoying habit of the battery running down just when it is needed it.  Some Christians are like that.  Charged up by attendance at a conference or a poor course on evangelism, they dazzle others they might wish to win for Jesus.  But then as the influence that charged them up begins to wane, the light grows dim.

Some Christians are like some power-saving lamps.  They take time to warm up and give a poor light at the start.  Others are like fluorescent tubes with faulty starters.  The flick on and off all the time instead of giving out a steady light.  Still others are more like the lights on Christmas trees, very attractive and drawing attention to themselves, but otherwise not much use!

So, the challenge is not to be too bright and dazzling, not so dim as to be no use, to shine consistently, and to ensure that the light shed is helpful to others and does not simply draw attention to ourselves.  And we need to remember what Jesus said about not hiding our light.

Salt can only loose its saltiness if it becomes contaminated or overly diluted.  Lights in Jesus’ day depended upon a steady flow of fuel and a clean wick.  In our day, light powered by electricity can become dim because of dust and dirt, or poor contact with the power source.  Effectiveness in both similes can only be determined by good outcomes it has on those around us.

Remember these are not alternatives and it is not optional.  Christian disciples ARE both salt and light.  The question we need to ask ourselves is how effective are we?  Often the benefit of salt and light is not recognised until they are absent.  I ask myself, if I were not present, or if my church did not exist, would it make much difference to those around?

Dear Lord, you called me to yourself so that I might be a light to help others.  You know that I do not always shine as brightly as I should. Sometimes the circumstances around me cause my light to grow dim just when it is needed to be bright.  Sometimes I neglect to seek to be constantly filled by you, and my own neglect causes my light to fail.  Fill me afresh, Holy Spirit.  Help me to shine as brightly as needed to give light to others without dazzling the.

Lord, you have declared that I am the salt of the earth. Help me to be effective, driving back corruptive influences, bringing healing, and influencing others to bring the best of taste into your world.

You know, Lord, that I cannot be in my own strength what I am meant to be. Please take me as I am, and make me all you would want me to be.  Amen

From the Diary

Give thanks for the blessing of the past week, for moments of inspiration, and the opportunities to open up God’s word to bless others.  Especially give thanks for an effective day of teaching at the Salvation Army’s William Booth College, on the Safeguarding Course

Sunday 22^nd – Nottingham Congregational Church

Tuesday 24^th – HMP Gartree

Thursday 26^th – Country Way Magazine Editorial Team

Saturday 28^th – East Midlands Area (Congregational Federation) Meeting

Sunday 29^th – HMP Gartree

Please do not underestimate the value of your prayers day by day.  Please keep us in your prayers asking God to keep us walking close with him and faithful each day in living out the ministry with which he has entrusted us.  Your prayers and support are vital.

May God bless you and make you a blessing to many through the coming week.

Barry

God's Love Agenda

I am always grateful to receive comments following the e-letter/blog, and was especially grateful to receive a generous letter together with a paper challenging the use of the term, “Unconditional Love”, which I had used in the last piece I wrote.  My friend, David, pointed out that this is not a phrase that is used in the Bible and he also quoted various Bible passages that imply that God only loves where certain conditions are satisfied.  It made me think, and I hope will make you think too.

Before I reflect further on this topic I would like to state that while we might want to assert that God’s love is unconditional, his forgiveness is certainly not unconditional, calling for genuine repentance, which ought to include appropriate actions.

Probably, both words, unconditional and love need some unpacking.  Let’s start with love.  The simple definition form the Oxford English Dictionary is “A strong feeling of affection”.  There is further definition but this will suffice for the present.  It is probable that our understanding of what love means is derived from our experience in giving and receiving love.  This might be the experience we have within family or among friends.  In some situations, it might be entangled with sexual attraction, and the concept of being in love.

I recently watched a TV programme that showed various animals acting in a loving way, both towards partners, offspring, and in a situation of tragic death.  It would be impossible to describe the behaviour in any other way than loving.  Many reading this will have benefited from the loving devotion of their mother or another adult who cared for them as new-born babies.  At a time of extreme distress as a child in hospital I felt love from a staff nurse, whose concern for me made that time bearable.

While we rejoice over such expressions of love, we also recognise that this is a love that is the response to something we observe in another.  We also recognise that it can vary in degree and might not endure.  The behaviour of someone we have loved might cause us to no longer feel that deep affection.

While there are biological explanations for the production of love, the theological explanation is that we love because we are created in God’s image.  John tells us that God IS love.

The Bible uses two Greek words for love.  These are philia and agape.  The love of which I have written above is mainly the philia love.  The Greeks in the time of Jesus, used the word agape to describe the highest and purest form of love. This is the word used to describe God’s love towards humankind.  It was used to describe the strong affection that is not evoked by the merit or actions of another.  It is the love that is described by Paul in 1Corinthians 13.  Essentially, this is a love that endures even when the loved one is unresponsive, unkind, unlovable, and unworthy. In this sense, it is unconditional.

You may already be aware of the interplay of these two Greek words in the conversation between Peter and Jesus recorded in John 21.  Jesus asks Peter if he loves him.  After all, at the Last Supper Peter had assured Jesus of his devotion, but had failed to prove it when tested.  The first two occasions, Jesus used the word agapao in his question.  But Peter could only respond using the word phileo.  It is as if Peter knows that his love for Jesus is not as strong as it should be.  The third time that Jesus asks Peter he uses phileo, as if asking Peter if he could be sure of that much love.  No wonder Peter was distressed as it seems he had to face up to the reality of his limited love for his Master.

In the light of the extravagant generous love of Jesus, our love for him will always seem poor.

But what do we mean when we speak of God’s love (always agape) being unconditional.  We need to be clear that God’s amazing love does not cause him to be tolerant about our sin.  If we were to say, “Because God loves me, it does not matter how I live”, we have missed the whole point of love.  God’s love is always intentional.  That is to say it has purpose.  In John 15 Jesus speaks about ”abiding in his love”. This is linked to keeping his commandments. But this does not imply that God ceases to love us or that he loves us less if we fail.  This is about our dwelling in that love which he has for us – making it our home.  It is we who move out of the centre of his love; not that his love becomes less or imperfect.  Keeping his commandments is like moving out of the shadows into the sunshine.

Love is a big theme for John and on several occasions in his first letter, he speaks about love becoming perfect. (See 1John 2:5; 4:12; 4:17).  John, here, uses a wonderful expression in the Greek.  He uses the word, teleioo. In this context, it means the fulfilment of its goal.  Just as a loving parent’s love for their children wants only the best for their, would keep them from harm and do well in life, so God’s love for us embodies his desire that we achieve the best.  So, just as deliberate disobedience moves us out of the fullest experience of God’s love, similarly, living in full obedience places us where his love longs to bring us.  But again, it is not the character of God that changes.

Perhaps we do need to be careful if we use the expression, “God’s unconditional love”.  The gospel reveals for us a God who is not casual about sin, but whose love for sinners is so strong that God the Son freely gave his life for us and our salvation.  I certainly do not believe that this is a love that arbitrarily picks and chooses those who will benefit from it.  But it is a love with intent. By comparison our love for God is weak.  It is a responsive love, evoked by the wonder that God first loved us.  If the love is true it will draw us ever close to God through the glad surrendering of our wills to his, so that his love for us achieves its goal.

And if we are wise we will do all we can to make the fullness of that love our dwelling place.  1 John3:1 says it so well: See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God” Three hundred and fifty years this revelation inspired Samuel Crossman to write my favourite hymn.

My song is love unknown

My Saviour's love to me,

Love to the loveless shown

That they might lovely be.

O who am I that for my sake

my Lord should take frail flesh and die?

From the Diary

Most of the coming week will be used for writing.

Tuesday January 17^th – HMP Gartree

Wednesday 18^th – Churches Together in Harborough

Thursday 19^th – William Booth College, London (teaching on Safeguarding Course)

Saturday 21^st – Mission Support Group, Narborough, Leics.

Sunday 22^nd – Nottingham Congregational Church

Thank you for your fellowship.

Barry

Living with failure

One of my favourite subjects when I was at school was technical drawing.  I was a keen mathematician and technical drawing seemed to grow out of that.  However, I have never had good control over my hands and drawing neat lines was a problem. It ought not to have been a problem since we used a tool called a clutch pencil and mistakes could be erased.  But that was where things always seemed to get worse.  My attempts to erase failure always seemed to leave behind the evidence.  As much as I loved the subject, my messy work let me down time and again.

I intended to entitle this article, ‘starting afresh’, but ‘living with failure’ seemed more honest.  I thank God that his mercy endures for ever, and that he gives the opportunity for fresh starts again and again.  However, even if we managed to never make the same mistake twice, we often find that, from our perspective, something of past failures remain in our lives, rather like the evidence left behind when I tried to erase my mistakes on the drawing board. But is that necessarily a bad thing?

If we have let ourselves and God down (and anyone else), it is wonderful to know that God completely forgives when we repent.  From his point of view, it seems the evidence has been erased.  So, we talk about what God forgives he forgets.  However, I’m not sure that it is that simple.  Jeremiah 31 speaks about the New Covenant and in verse 34 God promises that in that day he will not remember the sins of his people any more.  But I’m not sure that the doctrine of forgiveness and justification grows out of an inability to remember.  Is it that God cannot remember what we have repented of, or that he chooses to forget them?  Surely the wonder of salvation is that God knows all too well our weaknesses but so forgives us that it is as if we had never sinned.

I used to look at my technical drawings with huge disappointment.  The more I tried to erase my mistakes the worse I seemed to make it.  Of course, I should have been using my mistakes to make me extra careful in future.  That way living with failure would have led to a positive outcome.  These days, the essential tremor that affects my hands means that I type rather than write, and try to be careful if carrying anything with liquid in it, like a hot cup of coffee.  I recognise I have a weakness and learn to live sensibly.

Many years ago, when I was living in community, we had a well-known painting of an English, blonde Jesus staring knowingly out of the picture frame.  Beneath it were the words,” The Lord turned and looked upon Peter and Peter remembered”. The picture was inspired by words from Luke 22:61 and record a moment as Jesus was led from the house of the High Priest where he was on trial for his life.  Peter had adamantly assured Jesus that he would never let him down.  But, in the pressure of the situation in the courtyard, he had three times denies knowing Jesus.  What was in that look that Jesus gave to Peter, that made Peter remember, then go out and weep bitterly?

Doreen and I once attended a performance by the Rev Frank Topping of The Impossible God.  It had a powerful impact on me.  The dramatization of this story I knew so well gripped me in a new way.  It seemed to grip the audience in the Stables Theatre in Hastings, possibly as many had not realised the message and purpose of the performance.  I found myself beginning to understand how Peter must have felt.  I was also moved by the scene of Thomas meeting the risen Jesus.  There is a line which goes something like, “Those were not nail prints; they were chasms of love”!  Wow!

Prior to this I used to state that it was the baptism of the Holy Spirit Peter experienced on the Day of Pentecost that made him a different man. But then I saw things differently.  How important was it that Peter made such a dreadful mess of things and knew that he could never put it right?  How important was it to hear again loving words and receive loving looks from the One he had failed, and who knew his failure?

I do not believe in the so-called doctrine of sinless perfection.  I am not glad that I fail and mess things up between me and the Lord, but I think that living with failure in the light of God’s unconditional love is important.  In my teens, I was a zealous Christian who tried to be a better Christian than others of whom I was critical.  When I heard about the baptism in the Holy Spirit, I started attending special prayer meetings where people met to seek this experience. I saw many of my peers receive the Holy Spirit just as people did on the Day of Pentecost.  But I left these meetings disappointed.  I could not understand why God blessed others and not me when I was sure that I was at least as good if not better than them.

Some months later, in a church meeting and listening to a sermon from a man whose life I could see was marred by a critical spirit, God met with me.  As I rehearsed his failings before God and asked why he had the audacity to preach at me, the Holy Spirit withdrew from me.  In a moment, I knew why.  The faults I found in him were also in my life.  I prayed that God would take the bitterness from my heart and baptise me in his love.  Immediately I was baptised in the Holy Spirit, just as the disciples had experienced in Jerusalem so many years before.

My failure to see myself as I really was, had become the reason I was failing to experience all that God wanted to do in my life.  There is an important balance to be struck in the aspect of forgiving ourselves.  God does not want us to cart around unnecessary guilt when he offers forgiveness and reconciliation.  However, it is important that we acknowledge that we do mess up from time to time.  God does not look at you and me through some kind of divine blinkers.  The wonder of grace is that he sees us as we really are, yet still lives us and offers us forgiveness.  We also need to see ourselves as we really are as we take hold of that love and forgiveness.  Facing up to my mess, helps me to move on with God, and deepens my awe of him.

From the Diary

Tuesday 10^th – HMP Gartree

Wednesday 11^th – Churches Rural Group (representing the Rural Evangelism Network and smaller Free Churches)

Friday 13^th – Interviewing a student moving into ministry.

Thank you for your fellowship.

Barry