Matt 5:13-16 reminds us that we are salt and light in our communities. Light is revelational; salt is transformational. Light shows truth and reveals truth to us; salt is truth in action, where we set an example to others through our lifestyles. Salt stops things going bad; it has a positive influence. As we live out the truth of Jesus’s words, we affect others and can transform our society.
In the 1920, Cardinal Joseph Cardijn founded the Young Christian Workers who campaigned on a range of social justice cause. He developed the See-Judge-Act method as a way to reorient one’s life to God’s ways. The terminology may have been new then, but in the story of Gideon, we see this method acted out, as Gideon saw the angel, judged what was said to him and acted in faith as a result of what was said to him. (Judges 6) Gideon’s actions demonstrate to us the success that comes as we assess a situation (see), judge by the word of God what is true and then act on this.
Christians often hesitate at the point of judging, being influenced by Matt 7:1-5 and Luke 6:37-42. However, we cannot make a blanket decision never to judge anything, as other Scriptures (Rom 2:1, Luke 12:54-58 and John 7:21-24) make it clear that we are to judge correctly and what is right. 1 Cor 6:1-6 reminds us that Christians will judge the world and therefore we have to understand the distinction between what we can judge (weighing and assessing what we see) and what we cannot (partial information, motives, and so on.) We will often have different opinions on matters and must not necessarily dismiss others because of different opinions.
Our actions need to influence others, to counter wrong and to promote good. As a church, we believe we are called to be ‘with God in the community, with God for the community.’ This will involve prayer but also action. Esther is a good example of someone whose faith influenced her actions (see Esther 3:8-9, Esther 4:12-14). She chose not to hide away, but rose to the challenge when her people faced great persecution. As a result of her actions, many were saved. She was involved in her community – we must be too.
There is a need for us to see – to be alert and aware of what is going on. We need to judge – how does God see this situation? How does this line up with what He wants? Then we need to act, so that we can continue to be salt in our society.
