Word of Salvation – Vol. 28 No. 02 – February 1983

 

The Light And The City

 

Sermon by Rev. J.W. Deenick v.d.m. on Matthew 5:14

Scripture Readings: Psalm 46; Luke 6:12-31

Liturgy: BoW H 501; 84:1,4,5; BoW H 502; 479; 398:1,3,4

 

Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The sun is the light of our world.  That is why we love the sun.  At occasions we don’t mind not seeing the sun for a while.  We need the clouds too and the rain, especially in those parts of the world where water is a precious commodity.  But as a rule we love seeing the sun.  So, when the Lord Jesus said to His disciples: You are the light of the world, He told them that what the sun is to the earth they were to be to the nations.  That first…!  But secondly, Jesus said that what a city on a hill is to the surrounding countryside they were to be to the world.

In saying that about His disciples the Lord said it also about His Church.  On this Sunday morning/evening we listen to the gospel as it comes to us from these two parables or allegories.  It is good news.  God blesses the world through the Church.  First through the Church as the world’s light; secondly through the Church as the world’s city of refuge.

There is much confusion about the place and function of the Church in the community.  Also among ourselves we are not always completely certain about what we are supposed to be and to do.  Some of us have been involved in heated arguments about it: Why cannot the Church DO more and be involved more?  Why has the influence of the Church become so insignificant in the affairs of the nation?

We are confused about this because it is possible to look at the Church from different angles.  It is possible to look at the Church as the body of all those who come together for worship and prayer, for preaching and praise, for the celebration of the sacraments and the spreading of the gospel.

But it is also possible to think of the Church as the community of those who battle for Christ’s Kingdom to prevail in the world, for the nations to do His commandments in every sphere of their national life.

The one does not exclude the other, of course.  The Church as a worshipping and evangelising community cannot be separated from the Church as the Kingdom community active for Christ in all kinds of practical ways, in the fight against world-wide poverty e.g. and against war, in the battle for social justice and Christian education.

It is all ONE Church, functioning differently in different aspects of its calling.  It is the Una Sancta, the one, holy catholic or universal Church, of which we here as a local congregation are a (be it small) section.  Of this Church in its variety of functions the Lord Jesus said: You are the light of the world.

We notice that the Lord did not say: You are a light in the world but THE light OF the world.  There is no other light comparable with it.  Just as the sun cannot be compared with any other light and makes every other light seem totally insignificant, so the Church is unique in its light-giving function; in the way it spreads the gospel-light, the message of God’s love and grace in Christ Jesus.

We remember, of course, that the Lord Jesus also said about Himself, that He was the light of the world; but He said: So long as I am in the world I am the light of the world.  After His departure His disciples were to take over that function.  God, the Holy Spirit, would come upon them, enlighten them and dwell in them, and then as the body of Christ on earth THEY would be the light of the world.

People have asked: But are there not also still other lights shining?  Isn’t there a little light left in e.g. the Muslim religion?  Buddhists and humanists are not walking in total darkness, are they?  Aren’t some remnants of light left among them too?  Are Christians the only enlightened souls on earth?

Well, we are not talking about what we as Christians in ourselves are, or appear to be.  If we have any light we do not have it in ourselves.

Here we listen to Jesus.  He says that His Church (in as far as it is really His Church, united with Him in faith) is THE ONE and ONLY real light of the world.  All human wisdom, all man-made religion and man- made morality is quite incomparable with it.

Then in the second place Jesus says that His Church is the city on a hill.  As we have the text of the Sermon On The Mount here in Matthew it does not say so literally.  But we have here only an abbreviated edition of that sermon.  We can see that when we compare Luke with Matthew.  Luke has pronouncements that Matthew does not have.  In this case it is clearly implied that the Lord also said: You are the city on a hill.  Because in what follows he said: A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  So the Lord must have said something like this: You are the light of the world, and a light is not put under a bowl.  You also are the city on a hill and such a city cannot remain hidden.

In Jewish experience the city as a place to live in was of paramount importance; much more so than it is for us.  We have a choice.  We can say: I prefer the country life.  I am going to live in the hills.  Jews at the time could not say that.  Even the Roman Empire had not succeeded in making life outside the cities safe.  The ideal living condition was within the walls of a city on a hill.  From afar then people could see their place of refuge.  From the hazards of travelling through the country, and of working in the field, they knew where to go.  Life in the cities was so much safer and richer.  With many more people together in one place there was more cultural activity, more learning and music, and more religious fellowship.

And so when Jesus said: You are THE city, ideally situated on hill, He meant that His Church in the world would be THE place of refuge and safety, of joyful fellowship and of a rich life in the Kingdom of God.  As such His Church was not to hide in a corner but to place itself in position where all could easily find it.

Now, all of this raises a few important questions; but first we say: Praise God, because this is good news.  Although the Lord is no longer with us in person, He is still with us in and through the Holy Church.  The light is still in the world.  The Church carries that light and so becomes that light.  Through the Church that light also shines in my heart.

And then further: Praise God, the place of refuge is there still.  The Church is that place.  We do not have to wander around in a world of coldness, confusion and danger.  In the Church, at the cross of Christ, we find rest and peace.  In the Church, through the Word of God, we find the way, the truth and the life.  In the fellowship of God’s people we find the best security anyone can find here on earth.

But now we come to the questions.

How true is this?  I am sure that there are those among us who find all of this totally unrealistic.  In theory it may sound alright; in practice it has not worked out that way.  In reality it is often as dark in the Church as anywhere else; just as spiritually unsafe.  We all have our own experience of what Church life is about.  Some of us have been in the Church since childhood.  We have seen the Church in action in different countries, in a variety of congregations.  We have been in contact with Christians of different beliefs, practices and traditions.  In one way or another we all know by personal experience how dark and dismal, how disappointing and upsetting conditions in churches can be; how much coldness, unkindness and even unbelief there can be in churches.  No one has to explain to us the failings and frustrations of Christian Church life.

But what then about these words of Jesus?  You ARE the light of the world you ARE the city on the hill?

You say: Sure, that is what the church is supposed to be, but in reality we find it impossibly hard to be what Christ expects from us.

In reply, let us first say this: also with regard to the Church we live by faith; not by what we think we see.

In the Apostles’ Creed we say: I believe one, holy universal Church.  And so here, in response to Jesus’ word we say: Yes, Lord Jesus, I believe that your Church is THE light and THE city.  I believe it, because I trust you; and when you say it, it must be true.  And now that I do believe it, I also begin to see it by faith.  I begin to see that your Church brings the light of the gospel of salvation in the world; and makes it to shine in human hearts; creates hope and love in the hearts of sinners when the cross and the resurrection of Jesus Christ are preached; and when round the Holy Supper the fellowship with Christ and with God’s people is experienced.

And now that I believe it, I begin to see it too that your Church is a city to flee to and to find safety in, joy and happiness.

Notwithstanding all the negative things that I know about the Church, and have experienced in it, I still find Jesus’ word about His Church to be faithful and true.  The Church IS the light of the world.  We can learn a great deal from others.  Unbelievers have their own kind of wisdom and happiness; their own kind of love.  BUT THEY DON’T KNOW GOD.  Only through the Church we have come to know God in the face of Jesus Christ.  And the Church IS the city on the hill, the place where sinners find safety and comfort and fellowship.

People deny it.  People say: I have never found love and fellowship in the Church.  I suffocate in the Church.  I cannot express my love for the Saviour there.

Be careful when people say that.  Ask whether the gospel of the cross of Christ is in that Church, the gospel of His atoning sacrifice, of His victory over death; whether the psalms and hymns and the sacraments are there.  If they are, then Christ Jesus himself is there.  And when it is good enough for Jesus to be there, it is good enough for you and me to be there.

Are we really such special people that we could feel at home only in such a special church?  Mind you, we are not looking for excuses.  These words of the Saviour also contain a challenge.  We must BE MORE in reality what by the grace of God we ARE.  We must BE MORE that light of the world and do good works, that people see them and praise God for them.  The Lord says that in verse 16.  We must let the world share more in the riches of the Kingdom.  Round the Church as a worshipping community the good news and the new life must spread.  If the Church does not proclaim and practice the love of Christ no one else will.  Others may spread morality and human rights; only the Church can spread the love of Christ.  Right in the centre of the frightening problems of our time Christ Jesus places His Church and He says: Bless the world with your light and your fellowship, with your giving and your example, with your learning and your praise.  And see, I will be with you till the end of time.

Amen.