A Happy Life Even if You Walk a Narrow Path
Bible passage: Matthew 5:13-16
“13. "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. 14. "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15. 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. 16. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. ”
Christianity is said to be a religion of paradox.
The meaning of paradox is that although something appears contradictory and absurd on the surface, it contains deep truth. In this respect, the Bible is also a book of paradoxes. Many paradoxes are expressed in the Bible. For example, Matthew 7:13-14 can also be considered a paradox. It says, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” In the world, a narrow path is dangerous and can result in loss of life, but spiritually, if you follow a narrow path, you can gain life.
Therefore, unlike the people of the world, we can become believers who live a happy life while following a narrow path. A paradox is also expressed in today’s scripture. For salt to taste salty, it must melt away, and for a lamp to shine, it must burn its own wick. However, paradoxically, when we melt away and burn our own bodies, we can prevent the corruption of the world, brighten the world, and bring glory to God. A true religious life is to let go of the values accepted in the world and instead live armed with the new values presented by God. True prayer is not constantly pestering God for blessings, but rather praying, “God, I want to live with new values.
Please help me live the new way of life that God wants.” This is how you ought to ask for it. Today's scripture says that even though the world is rotting with sin and becoming increasingly dark, you are the salt of the world and the light of the world, so you must live joyfully and happily while walking the narrow path. Let me tell you a few things you need, to realize this kind of life.
1. Jesus tells us what our essence is. In verses 13-14, Jesus said, ‘You are the salt of the earth’ and ‘the light of the world.’ What you need to notice here is that He did not say, ‘Be the salt of the world,’ or ‘Be the light of the world,’ but rather, He said, ‘You are the salt and light of the world.’ He clearly told us what our essence is.
The secret to being happy as a Christian even if you walk a narrow path is to live a life of light and salt. Who am I? Who are we? It is very difficult to answer in one word. Schopenhauer, known as a pessimistic philosopher, preached that in order to find true happiness in life, one must first discover oneself through inner will. One day, Schopenhauer sat on a chair in a park and was deep in thought, thinking, ‘Who am I?’ As time passed and it was time to close the park after darkness came in, the park manager approached Schopenhauer, who was sitting alone late at night. And he asked, “Who on earth are you to sit here so late?” Schopenhauer answered this as follows: “Well, I’m sitting here like this because I want to know who I am.”
Although it is a philosopher-like answer, it is also a bitter answer at heart. While delivering the Sermon on the Mountain to the disciples who flocked to the mountain to hear His words, Jesus clearly stated the essence of Christian identity, or existence, by saying, “You are the salt and the light.” Whenever you find your way with a map, what do you look for first? The first thing you should pay attention to is the current location where it says ‘You are here’ . No matter how elaborately the location of each building is marked, the map is of no use if it does not provide the coordinates of the current position. The same goes for life.
If I cannot find where I exist, what kind of being I am, and ‘I am here,’ my future goals and life plans are meaningless. Jesus is saying something much more essential and important than saying, “Do this or that.” He does not say, ‘You must be salt,’ or ‘Follow the role of salt,’ but rather, He speaks of the essence of existence by saying, ‘You are the salt, you are the light.’ There is a saying that ‘Being’ is more important than ‘Doing’. This means that what kind of person I am is more important than ‘what I do.’ In Luke 10:38 and the following verses, the story of ‘Martha’ and ‘Mary’ appears. ‘Martha’ is volunteering to prepare food to serve Jesus as He goes up to Jerusalem to carry the cross. Her sister Mary does not do her service, but comes before Jesus and listens to her.
But Jesus said, ‘She chose the better part, Mary.’ However, this in no way disparages Martha's service. Service for the Lord and the church is a beautiful thing and something that pleases the Lord. Service should never be underestimated. However, the reason the Lord said here, ‘Mary chose the better part,’ was to teach us that being someone is more important than doing something. The Lord looks at our hearts more than our work. What is Martha’s state of mind right now? It was busy. The word ‘busy’ here means a state in which the mind is torn and disorganized. ‘Mary’ sits at the feet of the Lord, listens to the Word with a peaceful heart, and cultivates a good heart. It is said that a vigorous and impetuous deacon in his mid-40s lived on the third floor of an apartment building, and had a fight over the phone with someone who lived on the ground floor over parking.
He was so angry that he hung up the phone and walked down the stairs to the ground floor of ‘Ta-da-da-da’ to give her a treat, but the thought suddenly crossed his mind, ‘Oh, by the way, I am a deacon.’ Then, he walked down the stairs ‘Da-da-da-da’ and came up without fighting, saying, “Let’s get along.” We need to recognize, ‘Oh, I am a Christian who believes in Jesus.’ When I know my being has changed, this affects my life. Therefore, as believers in Jesus, the first and most important change we must consider is not a change in our behavior, but a change in self-awareness. 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. ” ‘Now you are salt, you are light, the old things have passed away.
It has become something new.’ If we do not recognize this change in existence, the Christianity will be reduced to a cheap religion. Why are Christians having trouble changing their lives? This is because the change in perception of one’s existence did not go well. “I am no longer a child of darkness. We are children of light. I am a worker at Nairobi Manmin Church, a member of the choir, and I have become a holy being who offers holy praise every Sunday.” If this does not affect your life during the six days after Sunday service, you are all living a pretentious life here. So, we have to make this declaration of existence; “I am the salt of the earth, the light of the world. I am a new creation.”
2. The reason Jesus made us aware of our existence was to tell us not to be stained by the fallen world. Verse 13 of the scripture says that if salt loses its taste, it is useless and can only be thrown away. We must not become outcasts. How can salt lose its taste? In many countries, salt is obtained mostly by using sea water, whereas in Israel, salt is obtained from rock salt found near the Dead Sea. Rock salt hardens like a stone, and when it is soaked in water, the salt component is extracted, and the rock salt residue from which the salt component is extracted contains a lot of clay and lime components, so it has no choice but to be thrown away.
In other words, once all the salt is extracted from rock salt, the salt component disappears, and the residue is useless and is thrown outside and trampled on by people. The flip side of Jesus saying, ‘You are the salt of the earth,’ is that the world is already corrupt and stained with darkness. We must keep in mind that we are beings who fight against the evil world, not beings who compromise and live in moderation. Salt is supposed to change the world, but if salt is influenced by the world and loses its taste, it will be abandoned. Because the world has become corrupted, the church must take on the role of salt. Isn't it a big problem that the church is losing the taste of salt? Before Jesus was crucified, Jesus' earnest prayer for His disciples is found in John 17:15. 6 It says, “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.” The world is evil, and I am praying to God to preserve me from falling into this evil world. Let's think about how Noah built the ark during Noah's flood. Ships are not built on land, so how many times did Noah hear people call him a ‘crazy inspiration’ while building the ark? In any case, a ship must float on water, but what is its mission? Ship’s mission prevents contaminated water from seeping in. If water continues to seep in, the ship will tilt under the weight of the water and eventually sink.
No matter how good the wood and expensive materials are, it doesn't matter how big and nice it is made. If water seeps in, it's over. So, in order to prevent the ark from sinking, God had the inside and outside of the ark painted with pitch. Genesis 6:14 says “So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out.” Although the ark is now floating on water, Noah's ark is not affected by the water. This means that no matter how smart a person is and how great his or her career is, if the water of the world seeps in, it will all end. When many people become preoccupied with worldly things and indulge in alcohol, sexual temptation, drugs, etc., they become tainted by the sins of the dark world and eventually their lives sink and become ruined. You need to carefully examine yourself to see if things of the world are seeping into you. I was deeply moved by a devout young woman from a church in Korea who talked about her vision in a very ambitious way.
She was a small, ordinary-looking sister, but her spirit was alive and a holy fire was burning in her heart. This is the essence of what the young sister said. She said, “I began to live a heart-pounding life for the Lord with a mission and vision to dream of ‘The Counterculture of the Kingdom of Christ.” The term ‘counterculture’ refers to a culture that actively challenges society’s dominant culture; they include the American hippie culture of the 1960s, the gay liberation movement, and the women’s liberation movement. They resist and oppose the existing culture, they tattoo their bodies, grow their hair out, etc. In short, it is a corrupt culture. This sister created a new term by adding ‘Kingdom of Christ’ to that term, and her dream and mission is to ‘Counter Over’, a spirit of challenge to bring about change by challenging the current evil world culture. So, the young sister confidently said, “I will never be stained by this world. “I will overcome the temptations of this world. ”
Even though her workplace was small, she dreamed of changing the culture of her workplace. I know that at our Nairobi Manmin Church, there are many young people and ‘teenagers’ who aim to become ‘The Counterculture of the Kingdom of Christ.’ Among young people and teenagers, those who say, ‘I want to be that kind of person, too,’ please raise your hands. Shouldn’t we revive the spirit of these young people? Salt is a tool to prevent corruption. In other words, salt is what fights to prevent corruption from spreading. I heard this a lot in the past; “You can’t do business if you are honest. If you are honest, you will be treated like a fool. You can survive only by telling lies in moderation.” However, our goal should be ‘counterculture’.
1 John 2:15-16 says, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life - comes not from the Father but from the world.” Fight the lust of the flesh. We must fight against our lust. We must fight against the lust of the eyes and the ‘pride of this world.’ Let’s fight this. Let’s ignore pornographic sites. What we really need to fight in this day and age is sexual corruption. In any case, the goal is to create a church that does not use worldly methods nor say, “We are not that kind of church, come see our church” when people in the world criticize the church.
3. The reason those who believe in Jesus are salt and light is because they must have a good influence on the world. In Verse 13 of the scripture, the Word says that when salt loses its taste, it is thrown outside and trampled on by people. What is the reason for us, salt and light, to live on this earth? The role of salt is to create a delicious world, and the role of light is to create a bright world. In a word, living with salt and light means living with an influence that can change the world. In the scripture, Matthew 5:16 says, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Your faith should not be used only within the church, but should go out into the world and exert influence.
In Luke Chapter 5, Peter, who had not caught a single fish all night in the Lake of Gennesaret, did as Jesus said and cast his net deep into the depths, catching so many fish that the net was torn. But that wasn't enough. 9 In verse 7, he called his companions in another boat and filled that boat with fish to the extent that the boat was submerged. In verse 10, James and John were surprised. God's blessing is a blessing that has a positive influence not only on Peter's boat but also on his friends and people around him through Peter's confession of faith. And in the second half of verse 10, Jesus tells Peter, “You will fish for people,” telling him that he will not simply be a fisherman who is good at catching fish, but a disciple who will become salt and light, changing the world, and having a good influence to save people. The world keeps trying to make us small. It dwarfs people into people who live only for themselves. Someone interestingly described this kind of person as someone who lives a one- person life. However, it is a meaningful expression.
Jesus gave Peter not only one portion of blessing, but three or four servings so that he could fill his companion's stomach. Rather than living a one-person life, we must live a religious life of salt and light that has a positive influence on the world. I hope you become believers who worship well on Sunday. And with the strength and grace you received, go out to various parts of the world for six days, becoming salt that purifies the rotten places of the world and a lamp that illuminates dark and shadowy places, exerting a good influence on the world and spreading the fragrance of Christ in the field of life. There is a man named Wilbur Fore, a British slave emancipator. He was born in 1759. He was born into a wealthy merchant's family. He graduated from Cambridge University. When he was a 21-year-old college student, he was elected to the National Assembly. He's a great person. Wilbur Force, who was walking a solid path in British high society, met God at the age of 26 and experienced being born again.
The person who influenced him at this time was Pastor John Newton. ‘Amazing Grace that saved a wretched like me~’ He is the one who created that praise. Wilbur Force, who was born again, was not just a believer. After his conversion, he spent two hours every morning studying the Word and praying. As he read the Word and prayed like this, he came to realize how corrupt the British high society in which he had lived was. What is important is that he gave up all the pleasures he had enjoyed up until then, including the decadent habits of high society, theaters, and clubs. At the time, he was so disgusted by Britain's low-quality culture that he tried to quit the National Assembly. So, he visited his mentor, Pastor John Newton, and asked for his advice.
“Now that I know God, I feel skeptical about politics. Now I am planning to quit my job as a member of the National Assembly and become a pastor. What do you think?” At that time, Pastor John Newton answered as follows. “God has given each person a different calling, and God’s place of ministry is the political world of England. God ordained you for the glory of God’s church and this nation. Therefore, it is for God’s sake that you remain in the National Assembly.” Receiving this challenge, he continued his politics. When he was 28 years old, he received a goal from God. After hearing the Word of God, his life changed. He said that that morning he received two life goals that he will carry with him for the rest of his life. “Almighty God has given me two missions: one is to abolish slavery in Britain and the other is to reform the lives of the British people.” With this vision, he lived his life to achieve these two things until he closed his eyes at the age of 74. 11 At that time, slavery was the backbone of the British economy.
To give up slavery would be to give up one-third of the country's income. As a result, Wilbur Force, whose goal was to abolish slavery, was attacked by his political opponents. His political opponents attempted to assassinate him twice to prevent his attempts to abolish slavery. By overcoming these political threats, he eventually achieved the great achievement of emancipating slaves. I am a pastor. I can't do that. All I can do is preach to those who come to church and meet you religiously. But you can do it. Go into the business world. Go into politics. Go into the field of education and instill dreams in your growing children. A great leader in the field of education must come from our Manmin Church. Please allow the students, young people, and your children of our Manmin Church to enter the economic world and purify it. Please help them enter the political world and correct it. They must enter the field of education and pray that education will be corrected. Our young people must enter all corners of society and make the society shine. You must become a person who exerts a good influence.
It must be a channel of blessing. Conclusion It was 40 years ago when the Ringlin Brothers Circus performed in New York. There was a sudden power outage during the performance. It only lasted a minute, but the crowd was holding their breath. At that moment, a trainer was showing off the tricks of four tigers on stage. Because it was inside a cage, there was no danger to the spectators, but I was worried that the trainer might be attacked by the tiger in the dark. The venue was quiet and dark, as if water had been poured on it, but the sound of the trainer's whip and commands directing the tiger's movements could be heard without any disturbance from the stage. When the lights came back on, the crowd stood up and applauded. When a press conference was held later, the trainer said as follows: “Tigers can see me well even in the dark. I must not let them know that I cannot see them. I must act in the dark as if I were in bright light.” The reason the trainer was able to still subdue the tiger and survive even in the dark was because he acted as a person of light even in the darkness. In this world darkened by sin, you must become a person of salt and a person of light to overcome your enemy the devil and live a victorious life.
When our believers show the light of love, the light of truth, the light of peace, and the light of life, they will become proud Christians, give glory to God, and not only build the Kingdom of God on this earth, but also be able to make many lives in their heavenly home. You will receive a reward. I hope you have an impactful worship service. It’s not about whether you can give it or not. Let it be a worship service that affects your soul as it changes and changes. Since you are the ‘salt and light of the world,’ after today’s service, you must go out into the world and live as salt and light for six days.
This is because we must not be stained by the corrupt world, but rather have a positive influence on the world. Even though it may be difficult to live like that, I pray in the name of the Lord that you will live happy a life as the members of Nairobi Manmin Church, even if you walk a narrow path. - END -
Maisha ya Furaha Hata Unapotembea Njia Nyembamba
Andiko la Biblia: Mathayo 5:13–16
“13. Ninyi ni chumvi ya dunia; lakini chumvi ikiwa imeharibika ladha yake, itatiwa nini hata ikolee? Haifai tena kabisa, ila kutupwa nje na kukanyagwa na watu. 14. Ninyi ni nuru ya ulimwengu. Mji hauwezi kusitirika ukiwa juu ya mlima. 15. Wala watu hawawashi taa na kuiweka chini ya pishi, bali juu ya kiango; nayo yawaangaza wote waliomo nyumbani. 16. Vivyo hivyo nuru yenu na iangaze mbele ya watu, wapate kuyaona matendo yenu mema, wamtukuze Baba yenu aliye mbinguni.”
Ukristo husemekana kuwa dini ya fumbo linaloonekana kupingana.
Fumbo linaloonekana kupingana ni jambo ambalo kwa nje huonekana kupingana na lisilo na maana, lakini ndani yake huwa na ukweli wa kina. Kwa maana hiyo, Biblia pia ni kitabu chenye mafumbo ya namna hiyo. Mathayo 7:13–14 ni mfano: “Ingieni kwa kupitia mlango ulio mwembamba; maana mlango ni mpana, na njia ni pana iendayo upotevuni, nao ni wengi waingiao kwa mlango huo. Bali mlango ni mwembamba, nayo njia imesonga iendayo uzimani, nao waionao ni wachache.” Ulimwenguni, njia nyembamba ni hatari na inaweza kusababisha kifo, lakini kiroho, ukiifuata njia nyembamba unapata uzima.
Kwa hiyo, tofauti na watu wa ulimwengu, tunaweza kuwa waumini wanaoishi kwa furaha huku tukifuata njia nyembamba. Andiko la leo pia lina fumbo. Ili chumvi iwe na ladha yake, lazima iyeyuke; na taa ili iangaze lazima utambi wake uungue. Lakini kwa namna ya fumbo, tunapojitoa na miili yetu inapochomwa kwa ajili ya Mungu, tunaweza kuzuia uharibifu wa ulimwengu, kuuangaza ulimwengu na kumletea Mungu utukufu. Maisha ya kweli ya imani ni kuachilia maadili yanayokubaliwa na ulimwengu na kuishi tukiwa tumejivika maadili mapya yanayotolewa na Mungu. Maombi ya kweli si kumsumbua Mungu daima ili atubariki, bali kuomba, “Mungu, nataka kuishi kwa maadili mapya. Tafadhali nisaidie kuishi maisha mapya unayotaka.” Andiko la leo linasema kwamba hata ingawa ulimwengu unaoza kwa dhambi na kuzidi kutiwa giza, ninyi ni chumvi na nuru ya ulimwengu; kwa hiyo tembeeni kwa furaha katika njia nyembamba. Niruhusuni kushiriki mambo kadhaa yanayohitajika ili kuishi maisha haya.
1. Yesu anatufundisha utambulisho wetu wa kweli. Katika mistari ya 13 na 14 Yesu alisema, “Ninyi ni chumvi ya dunia,” na, “Ninyi ni nuru ya ulimwengu.” Jambo la kuzingatia ni kwamba hakusema, “Iweni chumvi ya dunia,” wala “Iweni nuru ya ulimwengu,” bali alisema, “Ninyi ni chumvi na nuru ya ulimwengu.” Alitueleza wazi sisi ni nani kwa asili.
Siri ya kuwa na furaha kama Mkristo hata unapotembea njia nyembamba ni kuishi kama mtu wa nuru na chumvi. Mimi ni nani? Sisi ni nani? Ni vigumu sana kujibu kwa neno moja. Schopenhauer, mwanafalsafa aliyejulikana kwa mtazamo wake wa kukata tamaa, alifundisha kwamba mtu anapaswa kwanza kujitambua kupitia utashi wake wa ndani ili apate furaha ya kweli maishani. Siku moja aliketi kwenye kiti bustanini na kuwaza kwa kina, “Mimi ni nani?” Giza lilipoingia na muda wa kufunga bustani ukafika, msimamizi alimkaribia Schopenhauer aliyekuwa ameketi peke yake usiku sana. Akamwuliza, “Wewe ni nani hata uketi hapa usiku huu?” Schopenhauer akajibu, “Nimeketi hapa hivi kwa sababu nataka kujua mimi ni nani.”
Jibu hilo linafanana na la mwanafalsafa, lakini pia lina huzuni. Yesu alipowahubiria wanafunzi waliopanda mlimani kumsikiliza, alieleza wazi utambulisho na asili ya Mkristo kwa kusema, “Ninyi ni chumvi na nuru.” Unapotafuta mahali kwa ramani, unatafuta nini kwanza? Kwanza unaangalia mahali ulipo sasa, palipoandikwa “Uko hapa.” Haijalishi ramani imeonyesha majengo yote kwa undani kiasi gani; isipoonyesha ulipo, haitakusaidia. Ndivyo ilivyo pia katika maisha.
Nisipoweza kutambua nilipo, mimi ni kiumbe wa aina gani na “niko hapa,” malengo yangu ya baadaye na mipango ya maisha hukosa maana. Yesu anasema jambo la msingi na muhimu zaidi kuliko kutuambia tu, “Fanyeni hili au lile.” Hasemi, “Lazima uwe chumvi,” wala, “Fuata wajibu wa chumvi,” bali anatueleza asili ya uwepo wetu: “Ninyi ni chumvi, ninyi ni nuru.” Kuna msemo kwamba “kuwa” ni muhimu kuliko “kutenda.” Maana yake ni kwamba mimi ni mtu wa aina gani ni muhimu zaidi kuliko ninachofanya. Luka 10:38 na kuendelea kunasimulia kuhusu Martha na Maria. Martha alijitolea kuandaa chakula cha kumhudumia Yesu alipokuwa akielekea Yerusalemu kubeba msalaba. Dada yake Maria hakujiunga na huduma hiyo, bali alikaa mbele ya Yesu na kumsikiliza.
Yesu alisema Maria alichagua fungu lililo jema. Hili halimaanishi kwamba Yesu alidharau huduma ya Martha. Kumtumikia Bwana na kanisa ni jambo zuri na linalompendeza Bwana; huduma haipaswi kamwe kudharauliwa. Lakini Bwana alisema Maria alichagua fungu lililo jema ili kutufundisha kwamba kuwa mtu wa aina fulani ni muhimu kuliko kufanya jambo fulani. Bwana hutazama mioyo yetu zaidi ya kazi zetu. Martha alikuwa katika hali gani? Alikuwa na shughuli nyingi. Neno “shughuli nyingi” hapa lina maana ya moyo uliogawanyika na usio na utulivu. Maria aliketi miguuni pa Bwana, akalisikiliza Neno kwa moyo wenye amani na kukuza moyo mwema. Inasemekana kwamba shemasi mmoja mwenye juhudi na msukumo mkubwa, aliyekuwa na umri wa miaka arobaini na kitu, aliishi ghorofa ya tatu ya jengo la makazi na akagombana kwa simu kuhusu maegesho na mtu aliyeishi ghorofa ya chini.
Alikasirika sana, akakata simu na kushuka ngazi kwa kishindo ili amkaripie. Ghafla likamjia wazo, “Lo, kumbe mimi ni shemasi.” Akashuka ngazi kwa hasira lakini akarudi bila kugombana, akasema, “Tuelewane.” Tunapaswa kutambua, “Mimi ni Mkristo ninayemwamini Yesu.” Ninapotambua kwamba utambulisho wangu umebadilika, hilo huathiri maisha yangu. Kwa hiyo, mabadiliko ya kwanza na muhimu zaidi tunayopaswa kufikiria kama waumini wa Yesu si mabadiliko ya tabia tu, bali mabadiliko katika namna tunavyojitambua. 2 Wakorintho 5:17 inasema: “Hata imekuwa, mtu akiwa ndani ya Kristo amekuwa kiumbe kipya; ya kale yamepita; tazama! Yamekuwa mapya.” Sasa wewe ni chumvi, wewe ni nuru; ya kale yamepita na umekuwa kiumbe kipya.
Tusipotambua mabadiliko haya ya utambulisho, Ukristo utapunguzwa kuwa dini ya bei rahisi na ya juu juu. Kwa nini Wakristo hushindwa kubadili maisha yao? Ni kwa sababu mabadiliko katika ufahamu wao wa utambulisho hayakufanyika vizuri. “Mimi si mtoto wa giza tena; sisi ni watoto wa nuru. Mimi ni mtumishi wa Kanisa la Nairobi Manmin, mshiriki wa kwaya, na kiumbe mtakatifu anayetoa sifa takatifu kila Jumapili.” Utambulisho huu usipoathiri siku sita baada ya ibada ya Jumapili, basi tunaishi maisha ya kujifanya hapa. Kwa hiyo tutangaze utambulisho wetu: “Mimi ni chumvi ya dunia na nuru ya ulimwengu. Mimi ni kiumbe kipya.”
2. Yesu alitufunulia utambulisho wetu ili tusitiwe doa na ulimwengu ulioanguka. Mstari wa 13 wa andiko unasema kwamba chumvi ikipoteza ladha yake haina faida na inaweza kutupwa tu. Hatupaswi kuwa watu waliotupwa. Chumvi inawezaje kupoteza ladha yake? Katika nchi nyingi, chumvi hupatikana hasa kwa kutumia maji ya bahari; lakini Israeli chumvi ilitolewa katika mawe ya chumvi yaliyopatikana karibu na Bahari ya Chumvi. Mawe hayo ya chumvi huwa magumu kama jiwe. Yanapolowekwa majini, sehemu ya chumvi hutolewa; mabaki huwa na udongo na chokaa nyingi, kwa hiyo hayana ladha wala faida na lazima yatupwe.
Kwa maneno mengine, chumvi yote inapotolewa katika jiwe la chumvi, sehemu ya chumvi hutoweka na mabaki yasiyofaa hutupwa nje na kukanyagwa na watu. Upande mwingine wa maneno ya Yesu, “Ninyi ni chumvi ya dunia,” ni kwamba ulimwengu tayari umeharibika na kutiwa doa na giza. Tukumbuke kwamba sisi ni watu wanaopambana na ulimwengu mwovu, si watu wanaopaswa kufanya mapatano na uovu na kuishi kwa wastani. Chumvi inapaswa kuubadili ulimwengu; ikiwa chumvi yenyewe itaathiriwa na ulimwengu na kupoteza ladha yake, itatupwa. Kwa kuwa ulimwengu umeharibika, kanisa linapaswa kutekeleza wajibu wa chumvi. Je, si tatizo kubwa kanisa linapopoteza ladha ya chumvi? Kabla Yesu hajasulubiwa, aliwaombea wanafunzi wake kwa bidii. Yohana 17:15 inasema: “Siombi uwatoe katika ulimwengu; bali uwalinde na yule mwovu.” Ulimwengu ni mwovu, kwa hiyo Yesu alimwomba Mungu atulinde tusianguke ndani ya uovu huu. Fikiria jinsi Nuhu alivyojenga safina wakati wa gharika. Meli hujengwa juu ya maji; Nuhu alisikia mara ngapi watu wakimwita mwendawazimu alipokuwa akiijenga? Meli lazima ielee juu ya maji, lakini jukumu lake ni kuzuia maji machafu yasipenye ndani. Maji yakiendelea kuingia, uzito wake huifanya meli iinamie na hatimaye izame.
Haijalishi mbao ni nzuri kiasi gani au vifaa ni vya bei ghali kiasi gani, wala meli ni kubwa na maridadi kiasi gani. Maji yakipenya ndani, kila kitu kinakwisha. Ili kuzuia safina isizame, Mungu alimwagiza Nuhu aipake lami ndani na nje. Mwanzo 6:14 inasema: “Ujifanyie safina ya mti wa mvinje; fanya vyumba ndani ya safina, ukaipake lami ndani na nje.” Safina ilielea juu ya maji bila maji kuiathiri. Vivyo hivyo, haijalishi mtu ni mwerevu kiasi gani au amefanikiwa kiasi gani katika kazi yake; maji ya ulimwengu yakimwingia, kila kitu kinaweza kuharibika. Watu wengi wanapojishughulisha na mambo ya ulimwengu na kujifurahisha kwa ulevi, majaribu ya ngono, dawa za kulevya na kadhalika, hutiwa doa na dhambi za ulimwengu wa giza, na hatimaye maisha yao huzama na kuharibika. Jichunguze kwa makini kuona kama mambo ya ulimwengu yanaingia ndani yako. Niliguswa sana na dada kijana mwaminifu kutoka kanisa moja nchini Korea aliyesimulia maono yake kwa ujasiri mkubwa.
Alikuwa dada mdogo mwenye mwonekano wa kawaida, lakini roho yake ilikuwa hai na moto mtakatifu ukiwaka moyoni mwake. Haya ndiyo yaliyomo katika maneno yake: “Nilianza kuishi maisha yenye msisimko kwa ajili ya Bwana, nikiwa na utume na maono ya kuota ‘utamaduni kinzani wa Ufalme wa Kristo.’” Neno “utamaduni kinzani” linamaanisha utamaduni unaopinga kwa bidii utamaduni unaotawala katika jamii. Mifano yake ni utamaduni wa hippie wa Marekani katika miaka ya 1960, harakati za ukombozi wa mashoga na harakati za ukombozi wa wanawake. Watu hao hupinga utamaduni uliopo, huchora chale kwenye miili yao, huacha nywele zikue na kadhalika. Kwa kifupi, ni utamaduni ulioharibika. Dada huyo aliunda usemi mpya kwa kuongeza “Ufalme wa Kristo” kwenye neno hilo. Ndoto na utume wake ulikuwa “kupinga kwa ujasiri,” yaani, kuleta mabadiliko kwa kupinga utamaduni mwovu wa sasa. Kwa hiyo dada huyo alisema kwa kujiamini, “Sitatishwa doa na ulimwengu huu. Nitashinda majaribu ya ulimwengu huu.”
Ingawa mahali pake pa kazi palikuwa padogo, alitamani kubadili utamaduni wa mahali pake pa kazi. Najua kuna vijana wengi na vijana wadogo katika Kanisa la Nairobi Manmin wanaolenga kuwa sehemu ya “utamaduni kinzani wa Ufalme wa Kristo.” Vijana na watoto wanaosema, “Mimi pia nataka kuwa mtu wa aina hiyo,” tafadhali inueni mikono yenu. Je, hatupaswi kufufua moyo wa vijana hawa? Chumvi ni kifaa cha kuzuia uharibifu. Kwa maneno mengine, chumvi hupambana ili kuzuia uharibifu usienee. Zamani nilisikia mara nyingi: “Huwezi kufanya biashara ukiwa mwaminifu. Ukiwa mkweli watu watakuchukulia kuwa mjinga. Ili uendelee, lazima useme uongo kiasi.” Lakini lengo letu linapaswa kuwa utamaduni kinzani.
1 Yohana 2:15–16 inasema: “Msiipende dunia, wala mambo yaliyomo katika dunia. Mtu akiipenda dunia, kumpenda Baba hakumo ndani yake. Maana kila kilichomo duniani, yaani, tamaa ya mwili, na tamaa ya macho, na kiburi cha uzima, havitokani na Baba, bali vyatokana na dunia.” Tupambane na tamaa ya mwili. Tupambane na tamaa ya macho na kiburi cha ulimwengu huu. Tuvipinge. Tujiepushe na tovuti za ponografia. Jambo tunalopaswa kupambana nalo sana katika zama hizi ni upotovu wa kingono. Lengo ni kujenga kanisa lisilotumia mbinu za ulimwengu na lisilojibu lawama za watu kwa kusema, “Sisi si kanisa la aina hiyo, njoni mtutembelee,” bali liwe tofauti kweli kwa maisha yake.
3. Waumini wa Yesu ni chumvi na nuru kwa sababu wanapaswa kuwa na ushawishi mwema duniani. Katika mstari wa 13, Neno linasema chumvi ikipoteza ladha yake hutupwa nje na kukanyagwa na watu. Kwa nini sisi chumvi na nuru tuishi duniani? Jukumu la chumvi ni kufanya ulimwengu uwe na ladha nzuri; jukumu la nuru ni kufanya ulimwengu uwe angavu. Kwa kifupi, kuishi kama chumvi na nuru ni kuwa na ushawishi unaoweza kuubadili ulimwengu. Mathayo 5:16 inasema: “Vivyo hivyo nuru yenu na iangaze mbele ya watu, wapate kuyaona matendo yenu mema, wamtukuze Baba yenu aliye mbinguni.” Imani yako haipaswi kutumika kanisani tu, bali inapaswa kwenda ulimwenguni na kuwa na ushawishi.
Katika Luka sura ya 5, Petro hakupata samaki hata mmoja usiku kucha katika Ziwa Genesareti. Alifanya kama Yesu alivyomwambia na kutupa nyavu zake kwenye kina kirefu, akavua samaki wengi kiasi kwamba nyavu zikaanza kukatika. Hilo halikutosha. Katika mstari wa 7 aliwaita wenzake waliokuwa kwenye mashua nyingine, nao wakajaza mashua hiyo samaki kiasi cha kuzama. Katika mstari wa 10, Yakobo na Yohana walishangaa. Baraka za Mungu zilizoletwa na ungamo la imani la Petro hazikuishia kwenye mashua yake; ziliathiri vizuri marafiki zake na watu waliomzunguka. Katika sehemu ya pili ya mstari wa 10, Yesu akamwambia Petro, “Tangu sasa utakuwa ukivua watu,” akimwonyesha kwamba hatakuwa tu mvuvi hodari, bali mwanafunzi atakayekuwa chumvi na nuru, kuubadili ulimwengu na kuwa na ushawishi mwema wa kuokoa watu. Ulimwengu hujaribu kutufanya tuwe wadogo na watu wanaoishi kwa ajili yao wenyewe tu. Mtu mmoja aliwaita watu wa namna hiyo wanaoishi maisha ya mtu mmoja. Usemi huo una maana.
Yesu hakumpa Petro sehemu moja tu ya baraka, bali sehemu tatu au nne ili aweze kuwashibisha wenzake pia. Badala ya kuishi maisha ya mtu mmoja, tunapaswa kuishi maisha ya imani kama chumvi na nuru, yenye ushawishi mwema kwa ulimwengu. Natumaini mtakuwa waumini wanaoabudu vizuri Jumapili. Kisha, kwa nguvu na neema mliyopokea, tokeni kwa siku sita katika sehemu mbalimbali za ulimwengu, mkiwa chumvi inayosafisha maeneo yaliyooza na taa inayoangaza sehemu za giza na vivuli, mkiwa na ushawishi mwema na kueneza harufu nzuri ya Kristo katika maisha yenu. Kulikuwa na mtu aliyeitwa Wilberforce, Mwingereza aliyepigania kuwaweka huru watumwa. Alizaliwa mwaka 1759 katika familia tajiri ya wafanyabiashara na akahitimu Chuo Kikuu cha Cambridge. Alipokuwa mwanafunzi wa chuo mwenye umri wa miaka 21, alichaguliwa kuwa mbunge. Alikuwa mtu mashuhuri. Akiwa amepiga hatua katika jamii ya juu ya Uingereza, Wilberforce alikutana na Mungu akiwa na miaka 26 na akazaliwa upya.
Mtu aliyemshawishi wakati huo alikuwa Mchungaji John Newton, mwandishi wa wimbo “Neema ya ajabu iliyoniponya mimi maskini...” Wilberforce aliyezaliwa upya hakuwa mwamini wa jina tu. Baada ya kuongoka, alitumia saa mbili kila asubuhi kujifunza Neno na kuomba. Aliposoma Neno na kuomba, alitambua jinsi jamii ya juu ya Uingereza alimoishi ilivyokuwa imeharibika. Jambo muhimu ni kwamba aliacha anasa zote alizokuwa akifurahia, zikiwemo tabia potovu za tabaka la juu, kwenda kwenye kumbi za maigizo na vilabu. Wakati huo alichukizwa sana na utamaduni duni wa Uingereza hata akafikiria kujiuzulu kutoka bungeni. Kwa hiyo alimtembelea mshauri wake Mchungaji John Newton na kumwomba ushauri.
Akamwambia: “Sasa kwa kuwa nimemjua Mungu, nina mashaka kuhusu siasa. Nafikiria kuacha kazi yangu ya ubunge na kuwa mchungaji. Unaonaje?” Mchungaji John Newton akamjibu: “Mungu amempa kila mtu mwito tofauti. Mungu amekupa nafasi ya kulitumikia kanisa na taifa katika siasa za Uingereza. Mungu amekuteua kwa ajili ya utukufu wa kanisa lake na taifa hili. Kwa hiyo, ni kwa ajili ya Mungu kwamba ubaki bungeni.” Akipokea changamoto hiyo, Wilberforce aliendelea na siasa. Alipokuwa na miaka 28, alipokea lengo kutoka kwa Mungu. Baada ya kusikia Neno la Mungu, maisha yake yalibadilika. Alisema asubuhi hiyo alipokea malengo mawili ya maisha ambayo angebeba hadi mwisho: “Mungu Mwenyezi amenipa utume miwili: mmoja ni kukomesha utumwa nchini Uingereza, na mwingine ni kurekebisha maisha ya Waingereza.” Aliishi akijitahidi kutimiza mambo hayo mawili hadi alipofariki akiwa na miaka 74. Wakati huo utumwa ulikuwa uti wa mgongo wa uchumi wa Uingereza.
Kuachana na utumwa kungemaanisha kuachana na theluthi moja ya mapato ya taifa. Kwa hiyo Wilberforce, aliyelenga kukomesha utumwa, alishambuliwa na wapinzani wake wa kisiasa. Wapinzani wake walijaribu kumuua mara mbili ili kuzuia juhudi zake za kukomesha utumwa. Alishinda vitisho hivyo vya kisiasa na hatimaye akapata mafanikio makubwa ya kuwaweka watumwa huru. Mimi ni mchungaji; siwezi kufanya kazi hiyo. Ninachoweza kufanya ni kuwahubiria wanaokuja kanisani na kukutana nanyi katika mambo ya imani. Lakini ninyi mnaweza. Ingieni katika ulimwengu wa biashara, siasa na elimu. Wapandieni watoto wenu wanaokua ndoto. Kiongozi mkuu wa elimu anapaswa kutoka katika Kanisa letu la Manmin. Wasaidieni wanafunzi, vijana na watoto wetu waingie katika uchumi na kuusafisha; wasaidieni waingie katika siasa na kuirekebisha. Waingie katika elimu na kuomba ili elimu irekebishwe. Vijana wetu waingie kila sehemu ya jamii na kuifanya jamii ing’ae. Muwe watu wenye ushawishi mwema.
Muwe njia ya kupitisha baraka. Hitimisho. Miaka arobaini iliyopita, sarakasi ya Ndugu Ringling ilipokuwa ikitumbuiza New York, umeme ulikatika ghafla wakati wa onyesho. Giza lilidumu dakika moja tu, lakini watazamaji walishikilia pumzi zao. Wakati huo mkufunzi alikuwa jukwaani akionyesha hila za simbamarara wanne. Walikuwa ndani ya zizi, kwa hiyo watazamaji hawakuwa hatarini, lakini nilihofia kwamba mkufunzi angeshambuliwa na simbamarara gizani. Ukumbi ulikuwa kimya na giza kana kwamba umemwagiwa maji, lakini kutoka jukwaani sauti ya mjeledi wa mkufunzi na maagizo yake aliyokuwa akiyapa ili kuwaongoza simbamarara viliendelea kusikika bila kusita. Taa zilipowashwa tena, watazamaji walisimama na kupiga makofi. Baadaye kwenye mkutano na waandishi wa habari, mkufunzi akasema: “Simbamarara wanaweza kuniona vizuri hata gizani. Sipaswi kuwaonyesha kwamba mimi siwezi kuwaona. Lazima nitende gizani kana kwamba kuna mwanga.” Mkufunzi aliweza kuwatawala simbamarara na kuishi salama hata gizani kwa sababu aliendelea kutenda kama mtu wa nuru hata ndani ya giza. Katika ulimwengu huu uliotiwa giza na dhambi, uwe mtu wa chumvi na nuru ili umshinde adui yako Ibilisi na kuishi kwa ushindi.
Waumini wetu wanapoonyesha nuru ya upendo, nuru ya kweli, nuru ya amani na nuru ya uzima, watakuwa Wakristo wanaojivunia imani yao na kumletea Mungu utukufu. Hawatajenga Ufalme wa Mungu duniani tu, bali pia wataweza kuweka maisha mengi katika makao yao ya mbinguni. Mtapokea thawabu. Natumaini mtakuwa na ibada yenye ushawishi. Jambo si kwamba unaweza kuitoa au huwezi kuitoa; ibada ibadilishe na kuathiri roho yako. Kwa kuwa ninyi ni chumvi na nuru ya ulimwengu, baada ya ibada ya leo tokeni ulimwenguni na kuishi kama chumvi na nuru kwa siku sita. Tusitiwe doa na ulimwengu ulioharibika, bali tuwe na ushawishi mwema juu yake. Ingawa kuishi namna hiyo kunaweza kuwa kugumu, ninaomba katika jina la Bwana muishi maisha ya furaha kama washiriki wa Kanisa la Nairobi Manmin, hata mnapotembea njia nyembamba. - MWISHO
