First
Presbyterian Church of Inglewood
100
North Hillcrest Ave
Inglewood, California 90301
Telephone numbers: (310) 677-5133 Fax (310) 330-8342
Electronic
mail: PRESBYTS@SBCGLOBAL.NET
Sunday,
October 11, 2009
Rev.
Dr. Harold E. Kidd
AND IF NECESSARY…USE WORDS
“You are the light of the world. A
city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it
under a bowl. Instead they put it on its
stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your
light so shine before men (women), that they may see your good deeds (works)
and praise your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:14 – 16
Several weeks ago the Rev. Timm Cyrus
and I drove north to attend the funeral service for the Rev. Dr. Frank Jackson,
a close friend and colleague, to both Pastor Cyrus and myself. The service was
held at the First Presbyterian Church of
Very few funerals that I have
attended where so many preachers were in attendance. The Eulogist began his
message from Rev. 14:13, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, for they do
rest from their labors and their good works do follow them.” And he began his eulogy with a famous quote attributed
to St. Francis of Assisi, who is recorded as having said, “Preach the Gospel, and if necessary use words.”
Now the meaning of this quote by St.
Francis must not be misinterpreted to downplay the use of words in sharing the
Gospel. Or that words have no impact in proclaiming the Good News. The meaning of this quote is that everyone
ought to realize that by our actions we either bear witness to what we have
said, or undermine what we have said. “Preach the Gospel, and if necessary use
words.”
The very theme the Lord would have us
to consider this morning, “And if necessary use words.” Many texts in the Gospels convey, from the
very lips of the Lord, the importance of our being able to verbalize our faith.
Amen. That words, the use of language, has an important role in the
communication of this Gospel. He sent out the seventy and commanded them, “And
as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” Matthew 10: 7. He commissioned them, saying, “Go therefore,
and make disciples … teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded
you.” Matthew 28: 19. The use of words,
what is said about Jesus, the message we have been given to bear witness of,
our personal testimony -- is all important in communicating the Gospel of Jesus
Christ.
Jesus himself was a master of
language. They called him Rabbi, meaning teacher, because he taught them with
words of Godly wisdom and inspiration. He taught them with many parables, as in
the one before us saying, “You are the light of the world, a city on a hill
cannot be hidden.”
In this our text however, the
emphasis of our Lord is not upon the necessity of our speaking, our eloquence
of words, or our teaching, but upon our deeds. Jesus seems to be suggesting
here that there is something to be said about the power of the unspoken word,
which is our deeds. Amen. That deeds
themselves have a way of preaching and teaching. There is an old hymn that
captures this thought: “May the works I’ve done, speak for me.”
If I might paraphrase verse 16, “Let
your light so shine before men (women) that they may see your good deeds ... and
if necessary use words.” Meaning the sermon, the message, that which is either preached,
or taught, the personal testimony that we give, telling of what the Lord has
done for us, ought to be lived out in the fullness of one’s life. After we have
demonstrated the message, then if necessary use words.
Meaning the message only begins in
the pulpit, the message only begins in the pew, the message only begins in the
Bible study, the message only begins with a prayer, the message only begins
with the personal testimony, the message only begins with the song, the message
only begins with our tithes and offerings.
But rather the body of the message,
the flesh and body, bone and sinew of the message, face and hands of the
message, feet and legs of the message … is demonstrated in the deeds that we do
as we live out the gospel during the course of the week. And if
necessary use words.
He says, “You are the light of the
world, a city on a hill that cannot be hidden.” In speaking these words Jesus
was referring to the city of
So these people of antiquity, this
capital of nations had been visited by God, in order that they might be God’s
lamp, God’s light unto all the other nations. It would be through their witness
of God that others might come to know God. The Jews themselves spoke of their
beloved
The light was not their own, but it
was the light of God. The glory of God shining through them. So when Jesus
says, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid,” He
is first reminding them and us that our purpose is to shine with the light of
God. It’s not our light -- but it is the light of Jesus that shines in us. We
cannot produce our own spiritual light, but we shine, with the reflection of His
light. So the Lord first has to shine in you, that he may then shine through
you.
The second thought is that in this
darkened world, darkened by sin, darkened by wars and rumors of wars, darkened
by our own inhumanity to each other, darkened by human greed and ungodly
living, darkened by intolerance for those who ain’t like us, darkened by the
despair and confusion poor when people
cannot tell whether they are going or coming, believer’s the light of the
world.
And the church is or ought to be,
like the
Light is, first and foremost,
something that is meant to be seen. Light will keep one from running off the
road at night. Light will help you to see the direction that you take safely.
Maybe that’s why David declared, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light
unto my path.” (Ps. 119:105) It was the
light of God that led him in the darkest seasons of his understanding.
“The Lord is my light and my
salvation.” (Ps.27:1) It was the Light of God that comforted and gave David a
sense of well-being and protection in the darkest seasons of his living.
A light is something which is meant
to be seen. “Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead
they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.” And
what the Lord was referring to in this verse is that the custom of houses built
in Palestine was that they were very dark, with only one little circular window
perhaps no more than 18 inches in diameter.
The lamp was like a sauce-boat filled
with oil with the wick floating in it. Somewhat like these perfumed Airwick
scented candle bowls you can buy at CVS. Usually the lamp stood on the
lampstand, which was made out of a long branch of wood; but when people went
out at night, they took the lamp from its stand, and put it under a bowl, so
that it would continue to burn without risk of something catching fire until
they came home.
And what Jesus is teaching his
disciples is that Christianity was meant to be seen. There can be no such thing
as secret discipleship. Our faith ought to be visible to anyone. We don’t hide
our faith, but we live it every day! “Let your light so shine before men
(women) that they may see your good deeds, … and if necessary use words.” Some
have even suggested that this faith is more caught than taught.
It has been said that rarely will
many remember the points of the sermon by Monday. By Wednesday even the theme
is getting cold. By Friday, the question becomes, “What was the preacher
talking about?” Called Momma up one Sunday afternoon, and I asked her, “How was
Service?” She said, Harold we had good church, Rev. Daniels really did preach.”
I said, “Yeah, what did he preach about?” There was a brief pause, then a laugh
followed with, “I can’t remember but it shore did sound good!”
People will forget much of what we
say, but deeds that we do can live on, long after we are gone. Preach the
Gospel, and if necessary use words. Yes,
God is light, and in Him there is no darkness. The Light of God banishes the dark
fears of our uncertainty. The light of Jesus God’s Light our the fears, doubts,
and anxieties brought on by the darkness of an uncertain future. His light helps
us to keep seeing the bright hope in our tomorrows, when it’s dark in the
living of one’s days. Light helps us to see things as they really are.
Without His light, no sight. Without His
light, no direction. Without His light,
no confidence, nor hope “that in all
things God is working for our good.” So then Christianity is something that is
meant to be seen. ”Let your light so shine ...” and when necessary, use words.
If you will, permit me to close with
a word about my dear friend Pastor Frank Jackson. At his funeral so many
speakers said Frank had the special gift of making everyone feel like you were
his best friend. One speaker said, “He was not the greatest preacher or
teacher, but he was the one whom you could trust.” Yes, I learned so much about
my friend Frank Jackson on September 21st that I did not know, that “One
can speak with mighty words just through the life that they live.” Yes, Frank had the light of Jesus shining in
him and through him; he let the light of Jesus do His talking for Him. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, for
they do rest from the labors, and their good works do follow them.
“Let your life so shine before men,
women, boys, and girls that they may see your good works and give glory to your
Father, who is in Heaven.” And if necessary use words!