Thursday: Metaphors of Mission
Mission is God’s initiative to save lost humanity. God’s saving mission is motivated by His love for each one of us. There is no deeper reason for it. God sent Christ on a mission to bring salvation for the whole world. John’s Gospel alone contains more than forty declarations of the cosmic dimension of Jesus’ mission. (See for example, John 3:17, John 12:47.) As Christ was sent by the Father to save the world, He in turn sends His disciples with the words as the Father has sent me, I am sending you
(John 20:21 NIV).
Read Matthew 5:13-14. What are the two metaphors used for mission in these texts, and what do they stand for?
The metaphors of salt and light express core functions of Christian influence on humanity.
Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
While salt operates internally, joining the mass with which it comes in contact, light operates externally, illuminating all that it reaches. The term earth in the salt metaphor refers to men and women with whom Christians are expected to mix, while the term light of the world refers to a world of people in darkness that needs illumination.
The children of Israel were encouraged to live up to the moral principles and health rules that God had given them. They were to be a light, illuminating and attracting-you are a light for the Gentiles
(Isa. 49:6 NIV). Their collective existence in a state of health, prosperity, and loyalty to God’s Sabbath and other commandments would proclaim to the surrounding nations God’s mighty acts of Creation and Redemption. The nations, observing their prosperity, would approach them and learn to be taught of the Lord. (That was the idea, anyway.)
When Christ came, He also talked about salt, another way to witness. By their influence in the world, Christians are to curb the world’s corruption. Unbelievers are often kept from evil deeds because of a moral consciousness traceable to Christian influence. Christians not only have a good influence on the corrupted world by virtue of their presence in it, they also mingle with people in order to share the Christian message of salvation.
Light and/or salt, how good a witness are you and your church to the surrounding world? Is the light dimming? Is the salt losing its punch? If so, how can you learn that revival and reformation begins with you, personally?
(30)
As has been the debate, for a Christian there's no need to debate/influence and/or defend Christianity because Christianity calls us to witness by the way we talk, walk, dress and appear in the public domain. Restless Eve's and reckless Adam's have cast doubt in Christianity. By beholding Christ we will be changed into His image. Remain blessed
In a season marked by talk of new light and present truth one may wonder if we are getting salt and light or that which is tasteless and hazy. Whether we have salt or a cheap imitation, a dry powder is soon revealed in its effect. With a little patience much might be revealed (Acts 5:38, 39).
Ever we do well to query where we are heading and who walks beside us in what we embrace and promote. If every step along a chosen course does not glorify God, and the unfolding of our agenda does not serve to develop Christlikeness, then we should question the worth of it.
While some seek exaltation and desire to leave an earthly legacy of achievement let the faithful constantly keep in mind the Redeemer’s purpose to restore the image of God in mankind. It is a little late to purchase dry powder and get distracted by blurry side shows. Look to Jesus (Hebrews 12:2).
Salt is widely known for its seasoning and preservative qualities. For the converted Christian both seasoning and preservation are effected by the salt of the Righteousness of Christ which produces godliness and preserves the soul from the corrupting influence of a decaying world (James 1:26, 27).
The salt added to every acceptable sacrifice (Mark 9:49, 50) gave the offering a sweet savor (fragrance or taste) (Genesis 8:20, 21) when treated by fire. It is when the fire of the Holy Spirit takes possession of the heart yielded to the Savior and drawing on His Righteousness that the saints may salt the world around with the fragrance of love and an undiluted message of truth that preserves the way of the Lord.
Reminds me of the question, " We're you to be tried for being a Christan, would there be enough evidence to convict you beyond a reasonable doubt? "
Thanks to ever loving and un-changing saviour Who in His character reminds us all regardless of our environmental status,to wake up and shine,be of good salt because he has already commissioned us!
I just had to comment on today's lesson. We are the living embodiment of these two metaphors, and our Lord, Jesus, wants us to recognized this and to take The Mission wherever we go. As the lesson says, the Mission didn't just start with Jesus and His disciples in the New Testament, the children of Isreal, and all of God's people before them, were supposed to be the "salt" and "light" to draw the nations around them to God.
Two examples come to my mind of where the children of God could have share God's love and mercy to convert an entire nation. When the Queen of Sheba sought out King Solomon, because she heard of his great wisdom; she was actually in search of The Source of Solomon's wisdom. King Solomon may have given her some wisdom nuggets to take back to her kingdom, but there's no evidence that she took the knowledge of God, the true source of all gifts, back to her nation.
The second was when the Chaldeans sought of The Source of what caused the sundial to go back 15 degrees. The Chaldeans were astrologists; they studies the planets daily. But more importantly, they were seekers of knowledge. They came seeking answers from King Hezekiah, again seeking The Source of this incredible event. Oh, but instead of telling the Chaldeans his "Personal Testimony" of God's love and mercy in healing him, King Hezekiah show them only his material possessions. Just think how the world's history could have been written if King Hezekiah had sent them back to Babylon with the knowledge of God.
If you haven't figure it out by now, this is my answer to today's personal question, the green area. I'm not writing this to criticize the kings of Isreal, but to illustrate that we today are also failing in this area, of sharing God's love to those that are actively seeking answers. I know I had failed in this area, bur praise be to God that He always sent them another salt to share His love and mercy to that person again. We should always be ready to give an answer about The Source of our blessings and mercies. We are to share our personal testimonies of God's love and mercy toward us. And lastly, when we do share our personal testimonies, do it at a time when you are not bitter with the Church and/or with God. That bitterness will show through, and will cancel out The Joy; "...for The Joy of the Lord is your strength ", Nehemiah 8:10. Thanks for reading my long comments, and I have enjoyed reading ALL of yours too.
Toni,
You gave two great examples of people not making good use of God's opportunities.
Your ending, "And lastly, when we do share our personal testimonies, do it at a time when you are not bitter with the Church and/or with God. That bitterness will show through, and will cancel out The Joy; "...for The Joy of the Lord is your strength ", Nehemiah 8:10.", was powerful to me because many of us are angry and bitter on the inside about various things that have occurred in our lives, yet we are handing out tracts and books thinking this is witnessing. We think we are correct and witnessing by understanding the Sabbath is the correct day of worship.
You are so correct that if our hearts are in the wrong place, it does come through and others see what is inside, even when we try to cover up our pain, the real emotions come out at some point with some people.
We need healing and forgiveness toward God and other people and ourselves and it has to go deep enough to make us new creatures in Christ so that the joy and love comes through. As long as we have anger and bitterness, the love of God will not come out of us. At this point in time, bitter and sweet come out of us and alternate, but God wants His love to come out of us all the time and that is the witness that we love the brethren and love God and the true witness about who God is.
Jane spreading the Gospel with tracts and pamphlets is another way of sharing your faith, the Holy Spirit can use a pamphlet even if He can't use you to give light. Albiet I would think that earning the right to share your faith is a more effective way to share your faith. How do you earn the right to share your faith? The classic is the elder walking out on the beach and passes fishermen. He does not say hi here is a pamphlet for you to read, he gets to know them a little 1st. Then gives them lititure about the love of God, and the need for a God if that is where they are at. The fisherman says I can't read. Good opertunity to tell them. Be ready to share what is in the pamphlet in an oral paragraph or two.
As far as the Sabbath, I again have to earn the right to tell someone, unless they ask what is a Seventh-day-Adventist? Golden opertunity.
Thanks Jane. As you so well pointed out that we need healing and forgiveness from God, and in turn, we will become more effective witnesses for Christians. Passing out tracts, and working in the church has its place (I do many of these activities often); but when it comes to giving our personal testimony and/or true soul-winning, we must share with them God's Love without bitterness. I often wonder why many New Believers leave the church shortly after being baptized. There are many reasons, but more than 50% of the time, the church did not live up to their expectations, whether lack of services or not showing genuine love and support to the new babes in Christ. Many churches get caught up in the business of doing church work, and forget what they are really there for, "to love one another", a reference uses many times in the Bible. I know that we are all broken vessels, in need of Jesus hands to repair us. However, we must remember that New Christians, until they begin to grow up in Christ, see us as their religious example; and many of us, instead of showing them love, we show them our bitterness. And sadly, many of them would rather go back to the old lives, rather than to stay in churches (sda and non-sda) with a lot of bitter people. Also, you ever wonder why so many of our children, when they grow up, are no attending our churches. It's not a secret; many of them have had bad experiences from our devout brethren and sisters in the church (bitter people that don't even realize what they are doing to cancel out the Joy). I know this from being a Bible Worker and working with the youth for over 30 years in various sda churches. Many years ago, I was working with a New Believers that came into the church, this was back when wearing heavy makeup and jewelry to church was frowned upon. Every week, this poor woman was accosted by well meaning deaconess and deacon, tell her to give up her jewelry. Despite many days, weeks, months of encouraging her to be patient and let God take away the desire from her, I nor my bible working partner was able to keep her in the church. When those deacons and deaconess should have shown her love, they ridiculed her. Shortly after leaving the church, this woman found another kind of love that throw her into single-parenthood. I have many stories like this one that I could share. But "Praise God" that He doesn't give up on us (in the church) or His lost sheeep; He always sends someone else, through the Holy Spirit, to plead with His sheep to come back home. My point is not directed back to you Jane, because I sense you understand my original point. I'm say all this to say that what an explosion we would have in our country, city, neighborhood, and churches, if we would only take the time to allow Jesus and the Holy Spirit to Heal us of our broken hearts (the source of our bitterness). If we truly did that, our neighbors and our families would be drawn closer to Jesus because of our "light". Have a Blessed week everyone.
Our families and simple life styles should be inspirations to our communities and we should spread the love to the rest of community by sharing what makes our family life an inspiration to them. This being our seeking first knowledge that leads to eternal life.
Two metaphors of Jesus' mission..
Woman at the Well - Jesus went off the road well traveled to find the woman at The Well. Traveling off the beaten path to save the life of the woman at the well. How often was Jesus ridiculed for communing with and or dwelling among people of ill repute, and today he wanted to journey through Samaria, but for what. Jesus had a mission. There was this woman whom everyone knew had many men. The Pharisees, Rabbis and church leaders knew her well. What they didn't know was how much she wanted to change her life, and Jesus knew her heart, so he took the long journey through the ghetto where no good Christian should ever go. Parallel our lives today... When Jesus washes and cleanses us, we are so elated we want to tell the world about this awesome Saviour, but our village where our 6 husbands still live, won't listen. Who wants to listen to this home wrecker. But a changed life will make all the difference....and so we let our life shine so others can see Jesus' wonderful transformation in our lives. (John 4:5-29)
Prodigal Son - Jesus ran away from the 'regulars' (well behaved, honest, faithful, trusting, respectful, always in church, WORKING for, and HELPING the Father) to welcome the prodigal son, not because He, The Father didn't love the son who stayed faithful, but because that son needed more of Jesus; that son needed to know that His father loved him and will not treat this prodigal any different than He would the son who remained at home. Jealousy causes all sorts of problems when a new baby or a new pet is brought home. The Bible was clear that the son who remained was unhappy and very vocal about this rejoicing and what he probably considered favouritism toward this undeserving, disrespectful son. Are we like that today? Do we begrudge those who left the church and came back. Do we murmur and complain when prodigals like myself is clothed, sheltered, hugged, cuddled, even though we clearly squandered away what inheritance we HAD, now expecting to share in what remains? I pray we are mindful of how we treat the prodigals coming home. (Luke 15:11-32)
Mary, you make some good points, but at the expense of certain details which must be understood in order to learn the lessons given us.
Example A: The priests, Rabbis and church leaders did not know this woman well, they couldn't have. It would have been "against their religion" to have enough contact with this Samaritan woman(or any Samaritan or any woman!) to even know her remotely(witness the disciple's reaction). Jesus demonstrated how to be personal and truly come to know others by not being afraid to come close with unbiased interest in their personal and eternal welfare. Jesus' manner of unfolding relevant truth to this outcast of Israel is a golden treasure for all to study closely who would know how to save the lost. Such wisdom, tact and grace toward this one soul of ill reputation, who became a missionary herself out of deep conviction and even joy. Just by His holy manners, she must have felt the forgiveness and acceptance of God toward her. How else could she have faced those who knew and avoided her by bringing them these glad tidings?
Another interesting detail, she wasn't looking to change her life, only concealing it, but Jesus' revelations of her history woke up her conscience which made her "thirsty for the water of Life". Our work is the same for the lost, without any hint of being judgmental or condemning. We reach out with the offer of life and the Holy Spirit does the rest. We only need to sow the good seed.
Example B, the father never left the older son in greeting the younger son, but invited him to join in the rejoicing celebration. The older son "left" the father and younger brother by refusing to rejoice in his "salvation". (your assessment of the "older son" is too generous given the true nature of this obvious self-server, unless you meant it differently than expressed, but there is no hint of sarcasm in your description, and shouldn't be. We should always speak truth plainly as Jesus ever did.)
We need to have both examples understood correctly or we lose the "reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness" they both bring to us.
As you pointed out, they are wonderful examples of Jesus' mission, which He has given to us to complete in His absence.
Thank you Robert. God bless
As the scripture rightfully states we are the light/ and or salt of the world we are sent by Christ to do the work He has left for us , by hiding His word in my heart I will do His work forever. 2Cor 5:17