Jesus' Un-American Dream

The owner of the Chicago Bulls defined the American Dream when Michael Jordan retired (the first time). “He’s living the American Dream,” said Jerry Reinsdorf. “The American Dream is to reach a point in your life where you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do and can do everything that you do want to do.”

I do this. So do you. We set up our lives so that we don’t have to get involved with the world if we don’t want to. We can’t do it on the scale of a wealthy person. But we do it. And when we do we leave Jesus’ decidedly Un-American dream for us out of the equation. His Un-American dream? “You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its flavor, how will it be made salty again? It is good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do men light a lamp and place it under a bushel, but on the lamp stand; and so it gives light to all who are in the house.”

The Anglican cleric John R.W. Stott makes a pertinent observation on this point.

"You know what your own country is like. I'm a visitor, and I wouldn't presume to speak about America. But I know what Great Britain is like. I know something about the growing dishonesty, corruption, immorality, violence, pornography, the diminishing respect for human life, and the increase in abortion.
Whose fault is it? Let me put it like this: if the house is dark at night, there is no sense in blaming the house. That's what happens when the sun goes down. The question to ask is, "Where is the light?"
If meat goes bad, there is no sense in blaming the meat. That is what happens when the bacteria are allowed to breed unchecked. The question to ask is, "Where is the salt?"
If society becomes corrupt like a dark night or stinking fish, there's no sense in blaming society. That's what happens when fallen human society is left to itself and human evil is unrestrained and unchecked. The question to ask is "Where is the church?"

When Jesus said “You are the salt...You are the light...” The “you” was in the emphatic. It’s like when we say “YOU DA’ MAN!” He’s saying, “God has a job for you. You – the members of my kingdom - are the only ones who can do it. You will be the ones who prevent decay and show the way, the salt and light of the whole world.”

God leaves his people – us – here for a reason. He could have said, “Come out, be separate, start a holy commune, create your own economy, your own schools, your own record companies, your own TV shows. Keep your churches so rule bound that no sinner would dare show up in the place. Hide out in the holy ghetto until I come and get you!”

But that isn’t what he said. He said, “Stay there! Stay in the world! Keep it from rotting. Guide it toward that which is good!” You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world.