You Are the 100 Watt Bulb of the World?

"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 shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5 14-15

When reading this, I’ve always pictured a fire on a hill at night; soft, warm, inviting. People are attracted to it. Or a house that’s warm and cozy, the light shining out through the windows.

I just got a picture in my head of the way many Christians try to be the “light of the world.” It’s a picture from those old police TV shows. An interrogation. A criminal (the bad guy) is kept in a chair, against his will of course, and the “Christians” (the good guys) shine a bare light bulb in his face. He squints and tries to shield himself from it. The “Christians” hope he’ll break down and say, “Okay, okay, I want to be a Christian too!” (Then they all get on their knees and help him pray the sinner’s prayer and everybody’s happy.) How appealing is that?

You might know some of these people. You might even be one. They’re especially common on the web. They barge in, telling others that they’re sinners and need to be saved. They don’t try to get to know people first; just tag them:

Sinner – going to hell. Target and save. Next…

I want to be the light on the hill. I want to be the warm, inviting light that attracts people, because they say, “I want what she’s got.” I don’t have a quota of people to save, so there’s no need to go out and wrestle sinners to the ground. There are plenty of people around me in my life. It’s no secret that I’m a Christian. I “do good deeds;” not to show people what a great Christian I am, but because it’s the right thing to do. I’ve never cornered anyone and started a theological argument, but I’m open to discussion if someone wants to.
I’ve talked to many atheists and agnostics who hate Christians… and Christ! Why? Because their image of Christ is wholly negative. They can’t even see Jesus past that glaring bulb!

I urge all Christians to turn off the ugly bulb and light a candle.

Peace, love and light