Boring: The Good Life (2)
2014/01/19
Christ Church, Mountain Top
Christ Church, Mountain Top
Prayer,
Psalm 87
Psalm 87
Children,
2 Kings 5.1-19
2 Kings 5.1-19
Message,
Matthew 5.13-16
Matthew 5.13-16
Dick Woodward’s conversion
Brother’s response: “Now you can’t have
any fun!”
any fun!”
Discipleship is BORING!
Salt
and light – neither are boring
and light – neither are boring
Complaints by folks who have to go salt-free/low-salt
The stereotypical cave man: I made fire
Could boring – at least when it comes to
the gospel – be sin?
the gospel – be sin?
Grammatical analysis of the text:
1. “You” (plural)
“it takes a village”
Our shared witness, many gifts
2. “are” – not “ought to be” or “have”
(Bonhoeffer, 131-132; Bruner, 188)
(Bonhoeffer, 131-132; Bruner, 188)
A statement of fact, the identity of the
disciple community
disciple community
“Now
they must be what they really are” (Bonhoeffer, 132)
they must be what they really are” (Bonhoeffer, 132)
No covering with a basket, no losing
our savor
our savor
3. “the” (definite article)
Not standard in Greek syntax … emphatic
“the very salt”, “the very
light” (Bruner, 187-188)
light” (Bruner, 187-188)
“Even
by the time Matthew wrote these words the church was not yet sizeable or
quantitatively significant in the roman Empire.
It could seem near presumption, then … Yet their fulfillment proceeds
apace” (Bruner, 188).
by the time Matthew wrote these words the church was not yet sizeable or
quantitatively significant in the roman Empire.
It could seem near presumption, then … Yet their fulfillment proceeds
apace” (Bruner, 188).
“The
disciples … are the highest good, the supreme value which the earth possesses,
for without them it cannot live” (Bonhoeffer, 129).
disciples … are the highest good, the supreme value which the earth possesses,
for without them it cannot live” (Bonhoeffer, 129).
Metaphorical analysis:
1. Salt/light … plainly noticed, generally attractive
… not at all boring
… not at all boring
2. Action: Impossible to stop (see you are,
above)
above)
Lose its taste (as if that is impossible)
Cannot be hid (impossible)
3. Destruction image added to each metaphor
Salt … thrown out and trampled
Light … under a bowl and concealed
Destruction: backfires on the world?
Throw out the salt (because prefer
sugar)
sugar)
Yet are actually salting the
earth
earth
Cover the light with a basket
(because prefer darkness)
(because prefer darkness)
Yet the light is an open,
burning flame … cause bigger fire?
burning flame … cause bigger fire?
Me
starting a fire
starting a fire
Destruction: challenge to disciples?
“Not
challenged to become salty – their
saltiness is a gift of Jesus’ presence – they are challenged to stay salty, that is, they are challenged
to be what they are” (Bruner, 189)
challenged to become salty – their
saltiness is a gift of Jesus’ presence – they are challenged to stay salty, that is, they are challenged
to be what they are” (Bruner, 189)
“Now they must be what they really are”
(Bonhoeffer, 132)
(Bonhoeffer, 132)
Friday night at the Dome
Being what we really are … even when we
want to be something else
want to be something else
Resources:
Dietrich
Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship
Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship
Frederick
Dale Bruner, Matthew, A Commentary, Vol
1: The Christbook, Matthew 1-12
Dale Bruner, Matthew, A Commentary, Vol
1: The Christbook, Matthew 1-12