What Would the World be Without a Church?

Matthew 5:13-16

You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.[1]

In the American West a town was established which boasted that it had no church. The man who founded the town hated religion and planned a town without any church. The town lasted in that condition for less than three years. After a couple of years, the founder put an ad in several Eastern newspapers. The ad requested a parson to come start a church in that town.

In part, the ad said, “Though I don’t believe in religion and I want nothing to do with a church, no decent woman will move to our town. The town is full of drunks and thugs and is utterly lawless. We can’t get a family willing to move to our town. Therefore, I have concluded that we need a church to change the character of the town.”

The message for this day addresses the value of a church—not any church, but a vibrant, living church within a given society. The message is the beginning of Jesus’ great sermon which He preached on the hillside that day so long ago in the Holy Land. He had just delivered the Beatitudes, which have become so precious to us. Now, the Master addressed His disciples, picking up the theme of who they are—their essential character and how that character of necessity effects the remainder of mankind.

The Presence of a Church Delays Judgement. You are the salt of the earth. What is the role of a church within society? What value is there in the presence of a religious assembly in a town? A former provincial government debated that issue without coming to a conclusion. They did not consult me, or I might have suggested some points which are too frequently overlooked.

They were concerned that churches and religious institutions receive tax breaks which deprive municipalities of money and which deprive the province of income. Tax consideration—clergy housing allowance and automobile metrage allowance—accorded to individuals engaged in religious endeavours is debated with some regularity at the highest levels of federal government. A growing view among various governments assert that this is just a loss of revenue which would allow even more parliamentary junkets and which would allow even more patronage positions to be apportioned.

Well, can I justify the presence of a church? Can I justify the consideration which is now accorded churches? In an egalitarian society, can tax consideration be justified? Does a church benefit society in any manner? If it does provide benefit to society, then perhaps the consideration received is valuable for society and worth the potential loss of tax revenue for governmental coffers.

There are the immediate and obvious benefits which accrue to society as result of the presence of churches. Churches conduct the overwhelming majority of charitable services in contemporary society, and they do so far more efficiently than does any government. The first hospitals were church sponsored, growing out of Christian compassion for hurting mankind. The first orphanages were church run, prompted by the deep concern of the people of God for the fatherless and the motherless. The first homes for the aged were church sponsored and church run as the people of God put into practise their concern for the widows and the widowers. Virtually all soup kitchens and rescue missions are church based or have their roots in church ministries. It has been so throughout the many years of history, even to this day.

Historically, it was churches—especially evangelical churches—which promoted and provided for benevolent service within society. Governments were unconcerned for caring for the weak and injured or the dispossessed and disadvantaged. Kings did not accept such responsibility and politicians recognised they had no immediate responsibility within these spheres. Healing and health are innately related to the view held by the people of God that they are responsible to minister to the whole man—body, soul and spirit. Free medical services, hospitals, long-term care facilities were all originated by churches. Orphanages, houses of refuge and advocacy for the poor were all services which originated among the churches. Halfway houses and prison ministries were among the services which churches originated. Government neither began such ministries nor were governments particularly concerned to either acknowledge the need for such ministries or exercise oversight over them until well into the twentieth century.

I will make one further contention. When government attempts to serve the weak, the dispossessed and the disadvantaged, they ensure that there are a sufficient number of cracks to allow the majority to fall through. Further, government will always conduct these ministries at excessive social cost—both fiscally and through loss of human dignity. It is not government’s role to attempt to replace the compassion of churches nor is it their role to direct or oversee such charitable activity. Such service lies under the purview of God’s people, arising from the faith of Christ the Lord.

It is not the role of government to redistribute wealth, to provide charity or to control the ministry of the churches which seek to honour Christ through providing such services. In a practical sense, we must guard against ever receiving government moneys for conducting the ministries to which God called us, and we must never permit government to direct the manner in which we conduct the ministries which God assigns us. We must maintain freedom in faith and practise, obeying God in such matters.

The value of a church to society is far greater than the sum of its charitable activity, however. Jesus speaks of Christians, especially when they are united as a congregation, as being the salt of the earth. Within those words is a powerful apologia for the presence of churches within a community. We need to understand the role of salt in that ancient day in order to begin to grasp the vital purpose of a church in the towns and cities of our world today.

Recall Jesus’ words. You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world… [Ὑμεῖς ἐστε τὸ ἅλας τῆς γῆς… Ὑμεῖς ἐστε τὸ φῶς τοῦ κόσμου]. In either statement, you is plural and by its situation within the sentence it is emphatic. Jesus was speaking to those who were His disciples within the crowd gathered to hear Him speak. In these words, the relationship of His disciples to the world is revealed.

Salt has multiple purposes. It seasons food which is insipid and it preserves food which is corruptible. These are the common roles assigned to salt to this day. Perhaps these are the roles which Jesus had in mind as He addressed His disciples. Disciples are charged to make righteousness attractive to those living in the world as they observe the deportment of the saints, and Christians are to so live as to delay decay in the world.[2]

There is another role which salt played in that ancient world which may give us additional insight into the meaning of Jesus’ words. The soil could be treated with salt to destroy weeds and to enrich the soil. In demonstration of this use of salt in that day, I need but refer you to Luke 14:34, 35 where the Master used this same parable, but with a twist. Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

From this parable, it should be obvious that salt was used for making soil more productive. Perhaps this will make more sense for you if I inform you that most salt in the region about Galilee, where Jesus ministered throughout His days in the flesh, came from evaporated pools around the Dead Sea. This salt was contaminated with gypsum and other impurities. Salt, left exposed to the atmosphere, draws moisture from the air. Moisture, when it caked the salt, and then evaporated, would leave behind these impurities, which were mixed with it in the soil. Such salt would no longer be capable of seasoning or preserving, but it could serve to fertilise, even hindering weed growth. When even this function is gone, the salt became worthless.[3]

Put this together and you will see that it is the church which is responsible to set the moral standard of the community. We do so through being Christian within the community. We attract outsiders to the Faith of Christ the Lord and create in them a desire to know Him as they observe our conduct. In reality, a vibrant church ensures that there are always those who adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour [see Titus 2:10].

What has this to do with delaying judgement? Let me remind you of an incident recorded in the first book of the Bible. God determined that He would destroy the cities of the plain—Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham pleaded with God, obtaining a promise that judgement would be delayed if there were fifty righteous people in the city. He continued to plead with God until at last God promised that even the presence of ten righteous people would delay judgement [Genesis 18:22-33].

It may be that Abraham thought that surely Lot and his family would have influenced at least a similar number of people to embrace righteousness. However, when the angels of judgement arrived in the city, they found Lot, together with his wife and his two daughters. Lot’s wife yearned to remain in Sodom. His daughters proved that they were anything but righteous. Lot, alone, is described as a righteous man, and that only after thousands of years have passed when Peter writes of him [2 Peter 2:7, 8].

The destroying angels were stayed until Lot was clear of the city. When the angels urged Lot and his family to flee the city, Lot pleaded for the opportunity to flee to a small town nearby the cities of the plain, which came to be known as Zoar, or Smallville. Listen to the angel who spoke to Lot. I will not over throw the city of which you have spoken. Escape there quickly, for I can do nothing till you arrive there [Genesis 19:21, 22].

Herein lies a marvellous truth. The presence of God’s saints stays the hand of judgement. This is the great reason for the Rapture of the Saints. God will not unleash the Great Tribulation on this wicked earth until He has removed His saints. This is the meaning of the promise which is given to the Church of Philadelphia in Revelation 3:10. Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world to try those who dwell on the earth.

This is the teaching which the Apostle Paul delivered to the Thessalonian saints in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4. Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.

Does the world appreciate the fact that the presence of a church wherein God is worshipped and wherein the Spirit of the Living God dwells stays the hand of divine judgement? The presence of that church is likely a neutral issue so long as the church minds its own business and leaves the world to continue on its way to hell. However, when that church acts as salt to halt the spread of corruption, the congregation may expect opposition and even persecution. Those who are blinded by the god of this world cannot appreciate the value of the church in their midst.

The Presence of a Church Draws Some to Life. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.

This world is a dark place. The Prince of Darkness holds sway over the affairs of this world at this present time. Had the world been lighted, there would have been no need for the Son of God to come. As it is, He came as light into a darkened place. Perhaps you will recall the opening words of John’s Gospel.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it [John 1:1-5].

Think of the multiplied times Jesus spoke of His presence as light. I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life [John 8:12]. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world [John 9:5]. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness [John 12:46]. The clear implication in these statements is that those living in the world walk in darkness, and they are unaware of their darkened condition. The Son of God lights their path.

However, not everyone on whom the light shines appreciates that light. John’s commentary states, this is the judgement: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been carried out in God [John 3:19-21].

The light of Christ’s presence exposes the bondage which holds mankind in thraldom. Those who have become accustomed to darkness do not rejoice at having their condition exposed. The dirt and filth which characterises their lives is acceptable, so long as it is unnoticed. The chains which hold them in slavery are acceptable, so long as no one can see them. However, in the presence of God’s perfect light, they are confronted by their own sordid condition and compelled to respond to His call.

Writing to the Church of God in Corinth, Paul spoke of the condition of those in the world and the ministry we Christians have to them. Having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ [2 Corinthians 4:1-6].

We are the light of the world, shining, not with light generated from within our own selves, but reflecting the brilliance of the light of Christ. Therefore, John writes of our witness, We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life [1 John 5:19, 20].

Christ is the light of the world. The whole world lies in darkness. We who have put our faith in the Living Son of God now reflect His light within this darkened world much as the moon reflects the light of the sun. In fact, we shine forth as the stars of the heavens. There is a glorious day coming when we who are righteous through faith in Christ the Lord will shine like the sun in the kingdom of [our] Father [see Matthew 13:43]. For the moment, we reflect His glory. Then, we will shine with the glory of the Father burning brightly within us and through us. This is the promise of God to each individual who puts his or her faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. Would that we so burned now!

I have a concern. The Faith of Christ as lived out among those called by His Name is compared to a city set on a hill. Our actions will either serve to light the darkened world about us, or serve to confirm the fallen in their condemned condition. If we live godly lives which honour Christ, the world cannot help but be attracted to us. However, should we live for our own purposes, the world will be confirmed in its death.

If the church is merely another organisation, not unlike the Elks or the Rotary or the Lions or any other social organisation, we have no light with which to light the world. There will always be individuals who appeal to the “constitution” for every issue which arises. In their mind, the church is nothing more than a club or a society. They do not care if souls are saved or whether the Kingdom of God grows; they are concerned that we have dotted every “i” and crossed every “t.” For them, government trumps the church.

There will be yet others who wish merely to use the church to advance their own ends, even to make themselves comfortable in their own sinful condition. Such people attempt to manipulate the church to achieve their own ends, twisting and distorting Scripture to satisfy their own perverted desires. The church which surrenders to such individuals has no light within and the darkened world is left to grope about in darkness.

Here is my great concern, so long as the church is distracted by such petty squabbles the light of Christ is dimmed and the city on a hill is left as dark as the world outside her walls. So long as the people of God speak ill of one another, harbour bitter hatred toward one another in their hearts, seek to injure one another or live solely for their own selfish interests, the light of Christ is extinguished and the world remains lost and hopeless in deepest darkness.

However, when a church is united in her desire to honour Christ and to glorify His Name, her light attracts many to seek out the glory of God. Sinners are saved and wounded saints are again restored to health and Christ is honoured. I say this firmly, and from a heart which loves God and which loves His people. Those who would distract us by appeal to this constitution or that particular by-law never win a soul to Christ. Those who would seek to use the church for their own ends drive far more from Christ than they have ever attempted to draw to Christ. This should not be! Let the people of God unite in order to strengthen one another, to encourage one another and to comfort one another. Let us determine that we will live as the lights which Christ intends us to be, and let us endeavour to ensure that this church is a city on a hill, well-lighted and attractive.

The Presence of a Church Glorifies God. Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

As light, disciples are responsible to give open testimony and witness to the presence of Jesus the King. The purpose for giving the testimony is introduced by the conjunction so that [ὅπως] in verse sixteen. The method disciples are to employ in order to honour God is through performing good works in such a way that it will bring men to glorify the heavenly Father.[4]

How we live is of utmost importance to the Father. If we live for “self” we dishonour Him and men will mock the Faith. Far too many of the professed saints of the Most High provide cause to ridicule the Faith. “They are no better than me,” is an all too often heard comment from outsiders concerning the professed people of God.

Do those of the world live solely for their own pleasure? Can you demonstrate a distinction between those who name the Name of Christ and the watching world? Do those of the world live indifferently with respect to worship of the True and Living God? Do we Christians live lives marked by worship, or are we indistinguishable from the world? Is there a difference in the manner in which we speak? Do we seek different forms of entertainment? Are we able to shrug off the petty irritants which abrade all mankind? Is there evidence that our moneys are employed to the glory of God, or do we consume what God entrusts to us on our own pleasures? God calls us to good works, so that the world may see what we do and glorify our Father.

Let me ask a pointed question? Have you ever knowingly brought another to faith in Christ the Lord? Have you ever tried? This is the substance of Paul’s prayer for Philemon. I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ [Philemon 6]. This is Peter’s plea of believers. I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honourable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation [1 Peter 2:11, 12].

Let me emphasise a truth which is too easily neglected in this day. We do not do good works in order to be Christians, but because we are Christians, we will do good works. God blesses us so that we may abound in every good work [2 Corinthians 9:8]. We are God’s workmanship, created in order to do good works [Ephesians 2:10]. If we walk in a manner pleasing to the Lord, we perform good works [Colossians 1:10]. Christian women are to make themselves beautiful with good works [1 Timothy 2:10] and not through pushing themselves to assume man’s role in the Faith. Those who are considered to be wealthy are to be rich in good works [1 Timothy 6:18], being generous and ready to share. Christians are to study the Word so that they may recognise what good works honour the Lord Christ [2 Timothy 3:17]. Christ redeemed us that we might be zealous to do good works [Titus 2:14]. All who name the Name of Christ are called to devote themselves to doing good works [Titus 3:8], including earning moneys which will permit them to perform those good works worthy of the people of God [Titus 3:14].

Let me make a vital point here. God calls us to good works, but those works must be the natural expression of the life which has received mercy from God. We cannot serve God as His assistant. He graciously calls us to be fellow-workers together with Him, but He is not our beneficiary.[5] I am concerned lest I mislead people into attempting to work in order to make God their debtor. I am equally concerned that other professed saints of the Living God never demonstrate an effort to glorify the Father nor are they particularly concerned to honour Him. Either position is a grave error.

Spurgeon spoke of this shining to which we are called. “By good works we best shine before men. True shining is silent, but yet it is so useful, that men, who are too often very bad judges, are yet forced to bless God for the good which they receive through the light which he has kindled. Angels glorify God whom they see; and men are forced to glorify God whom they do not see, when they mark the ‘good works’ of his saints. We need not object to be seen, although we are not to wish to be seen. Since men will be sure to see our excellences, if we possess any, be it ours to see that all glory is given to our Lord, to whom it is entirely due.”[6] Amen, and amen.

Take special note of several truths as I draw this message to a close. Of course, I am speaking to Christians. Those outside the Family neither have understanding of these truths, nor can they hope for such understanding. Those within the Kingdom need to realise these truths. Jesus said to His disciples, “You are salt. You are light.” He did not say, “You have salt.” Neither did He say, “You have light.” There is all the difference in the world between a living influence and a dead, official, attempt at influence. Jesus did not say that we dispense salt and light. Then, we might have looked upon our position as official. There is no such thought in these words.

What you are will have an impact in the world in which you live. It matters little what you say, but what you are must of necessity confront the world about you. There are parents who tell their children what to do, but they are astonished when their children choose to emulate what their parents are instead of doing what they are told. Any influence we have comes out of what we are, and not out of what we say. “You are salt,” and if you are not salt, you lack the power to exercise the sanitising function. “You are light,” and if you are not light, you cannot shine in the darkness.

You are the salt of the earth. The salt is aseptic. Salt prevents the spread of corruption. Salt never changes corruption into incorruption; it has no power to do so, but it prevents corruption from spreading. More than that, salt reveals soundness and creates the opportunity for its continuance.[7]

It is not our work to change corrupt people into pure people. What we cannot do, however, the Master can do. God can make the vilest person clean. Our role is to hold back the advance of corruption through preserving that which is moral and good, ensuring the continued soundness of that which is good and that which honours God.

The sphere of our influence is the earth and the world. As salt, we serve to halt the progress of corruption in the earth. If we silently acquiesce to the wickedness of men about us, we have lost our saltiness. As light, we shine in the world. We are not called to illuminate the universe.[8] We are to live in loyalty to Christ. That is all the command we have received. If we fail to burn brightly with the love of God toward the lost, we are worthless as lights and the world remains in darkness.

There remains this disturbing thought—a dire thought with frightful implications. If salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is impossible to make salt which has lost its taste, salty again. Therefore, it is worthless. The assertion that salt which has lost its saltiness is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet, neither affirms nor denies anything about the security of the believer. This is an acknowledgement of the world’s response to a compromised church.

Believers who fail to arrest corruption become worthless as agents of change and redemption. Christianity may make its peace with the world, and thus avoid persecution, but in so doing, it becomes impotent to fulfil its divinely appointed role. Therefore, such a compromised faith will be rejected even by those with whom it sought compromise.

Discipleship is demanding. Jesus asks both the disciple and the potential disciple to consider the cost of following Him. Associating with Jesus is not an easy affair. Commitments come with the territory. According to His Word, Jesus must come ahead of one’s possessions, one’s family and one’s soul. Commitment to other activities and to other things makes completing the task of discipleship impossible, and renders the disciple useless to God. To be useful, salt must stay salty. Otherwise, the salt will be thrown away by God and rejected by the world.

The words of Jesus are intriguing. Individuals may be as a lamp, but only a church may be a city situated on a hill. The church is to exert influence rather than being influenced. The church is the city of God. Within the church is to be nothing which defiles, nothing which is detestable, nothing which destroys or dishonours.

Instead, within the city of God is to be harmony and peace and beauty. This is the responsibility of the people of God. Here, when one weeps, others weep with her. Here, when one laughs, others laugh with him. Here, we lend our support to one another and together we make every effort to strengthen one another, to encourage one another, and to comfort one another. As we do this, God is glorified and the surrounding valleys and dark dales are illuminated.

The Master passed from the city to the house, reminding us that as individuals we are responsible for our own families. We are to shine brightly within our homes. We are to represent Christ among our own children, and wives and husbands.

Do our parents provide a time of family devotion with the children today? If we spent more time in teaching our children to love God, to read His Word and to pray, we would grieve far less over our wayward children. As parents, do we encourage our children to embrace the Faith? Parents should lead the way in confessing Christ and in standing openly for the Faith and in identifying with Christ in baptism. Parents are responsible to encourage their children to step out in faith to walk with the Lord.

If there is fear concerning our relationship with our children, it should be no surprise that we are even more timid when it comes to our relationship to other family members. Some professed Christians seem almost content to permit parents to go to hell without so much as a moment’s hesitation. Others seem almost content to let husbands and wives pass into eternity as we silently aid them in their rebellion against Holy God. Tracts left in inconspicuous places and sermon tapes left in the tape player will have less impact than will a word of concern and prayer for salvation.

Likewise, far too many of us are silent concerning friends and colleagues for whom we profess great love. Have you spoken to your neighbours concerning your faith in Christ? Have you inquired of those with whom you share the workplace, inviting them to faith in the Risen Son of God? Isn’t it time that we began to let our light shine? Isn’t it about time that we lifted our lamp up to light the way for those about us?

To you who share this service and have somehow failed to believe this Good News of light in the Son of God. Heed these words which are found in the Word of God. If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” [Romans 10:9-13].

The prayer offered up by each child of God at this time is that you might be saved, discovering the light of God in Christ the Lord, and receiving His forgiveness. May God stir each of us who name His Name to be salt and light until He comes. Amen.

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[1] Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Ó 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

[2] cf. Joseph Addison Alexander, The Gospel According to Matthew (James Nisbet & Co., London, UK 1861) 119

[3] see Darrell L. Bock, Luke 9:51-24:53, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Baker, Grand Rapids, MI 1996) 1290-1

[4] Stanley D. Toussaint, Behold the King: A Study of Matthew (Multnomah Press, Portland, OR 1980) 98

[5] For an excellent discussion of this point, see John Piper, Brothers, We Are Not Professionals (Broadman & Holman, Nashville, TN 2002) 39-44

[6] Charles Haddon Spurgeon, The King Has Come (Fleming H. Revell Co., Old Tappan, NJ 1987) 52

[7] G. Campbell Morgan, The Gospel According to Matthew (Marshall, Morgan & Scott, London, UK 1976) 47

[8] Morgan, op. cit., 48