A LIGHT IN THE CITY

Scripture: Matthew 5:14-16

INTRODUCTION

As a little boy growing up around New York City, our family lived in Sag Harbor, Long Island and then moved to Bloomfield, New Jersey. From my suburban bedroom window, I could see a light on top of the Empire State Building, blinking on and off, on and off every night. It was the first light in the city that ever caught my attention, and it was dazzling to me, reflecting a ray of hope on the horizon and signaling a sense of urban mystery that ignited my imagination.

By the time I went away to the Stony Brook School at the age of 14, and then on to college in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, our family had moved to Pittsburgh and later to Philadelphia. I can remember, as I would fly or drive home to those cities, seeing the bright lights glittering over the skyline, lights which would one day beckon me to return as an ordained pastor to both of those metropolitan areas in Pennsylvania.

And then in the spring of 1990, as I drove down I-85 through South Carolina into Georgia which has now become our home, I saw the afternoon sun reflecting from the magnificent skyscrapers of Atlanta. All over again, I was dazzled by the glowing brightness of the city, which is most evident today in our tallest tower called the Bank of America building, with its golden web of light that hovers above us like a watchtower and shines as a beacon over this entire region of four and a half million people.

And right here at the corner of 16^th and Peachtree, every night as the sun goes down there is a light which begins to shine through our stained glass window, illuminating the figure of Jesus Christ with His arms reaching out to the world. It is a light in the heart of the city, radiating our Lord’s love and grace, as we in His name seek to embrace people from every walk of life and welcome them here into this sacred place.

So it has been for a long time now, going all the way back to when Jesus preached His Sermon on the Mount, saying to those first disciples and to everyone who has followed Him since then: You are the light of the world! A city set on a hill cannot be hid…let your light so shine before others that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven (Matthew 5:14-16).

Now according to the Scottish Bible scholar William Barclay, “When Jesus used that expression, it was familiar to the Jews who heard it. For they themselves spoke of the city of Jerusalem as a ‘light to the Gentiles.’” (The Daily Study Bible Series, “The Gospel of Matthew: Volume I,” by William Barclay, The Westminster Press, Philadelphia, Second Edition, 1958, page 118)

Having visited there myself six years ago, I can attest to the massive walls and the tall watchtowers which were once lit with lamps at night, all sitting on a row of hills 2,500 feet above sea level. So Jerusalem was then, as it is today, a city set on a hill.

And in the heart of that ancient city was a great temple, first constructed by Solomon and then re-built by King Herod circa 20 B.C. That temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D., and it is now the site of the Muslim Dome of the Rock, which as you know is a source of intense conflict between Judaism, Christianity and Islam, all of which claim that holy place as their own. (The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, “Jerusalem” and “The Temple,” Abingdon Press, 1962)

Even so, during the time of Jesus’ ministry, the temple was the place for worship and the center of community for all of the Hebrew people, including the first Christians, at least at the outset. So when Jesus spoke about a city set on a hill and how those who followed Him were called to be the light of the world, they began to understand what He meant. And as He sent them out to proclaim the gospel and share the good news (Matthew 10:5), the light of His love spread like a fire and transformed the lives of all who believed in Him.

II.

Nearly two thousand years later, the skyline of this city is now dominated by skyscrapers, most of which have been built during our lifetime. In the early 1990’s, I drove down Peachtree Street with Ivan Allen, Jr. on our way to lunch at the Commerce Club. Mayor Allen was at the wheel, which gave me the opportunity to look at the buildings on both sides of Peachtree. The great skyscrapers and tall towers of business and banking stretched out before us and I said to Mayor Allen how impressive and inspiring all of it was. He smiled and replied wistfully, “I can remember the groundbreaking for every single one of them.”

Those towers, gleaming in the daytime sunlight and shining like stars in the night – they are the symbols and the source of the economic well being of Atlanta. But rising up alongside them are the steeples of the churches, and we who worship and work and make our witness in all of these congregations – we are the ones whom God has called to watch over the spiritual welfare of the city and to reflect the light of Jesus Christ wherever we go and in all that we say and do.

Moreover, we are also discovering, in this post-September 11, 2001 world, that we share and bear the light of God’s love together with Jews and Muslims and people of other faith traditions. And I believe that God expects us to join our hearts and hands with them as we seek to right the wrongs that have divided us for so long, and to work side by side to build a better city and to promote the hope of peace on this earth.

In fact, for the past two years, an interfaith movement has been developing here in Atlanta called “Faith In the City.” It was envisioned by Andy Young and Jim Laney, it has received the full support of Mayor Shirley Franklin and many other leaders, and as this ministry gathers momentum, I hope and pray that members of our church will become involved.

Because, if we truly desire and aspire to be, just as Jesus called us to be The light of the world, then what better place than here, what better time than now for us to let our lights shine in the city of Atlanta, Georgia.

In a book entitled “The Twenty-First Century: Resurrecting Urban America,” Indianapolis Mayor Stephen Goldsmith, quoting a charitable worker in his city, put it this way: “No amount of concrete, no number of police officers and no amount of government spending can create a city that works if its citizens lack a broad commitment to core values. We could put police officers on every corner…but if our citizens did not believe in God or adhere to basic moral values, we would still not have safe communities.” (From “The Twenty-First Century: Resurrecting Urban America” by Mayor Stephen Goldsmith, Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, Lanham, MD, 1999, Preface Page viii)

Mayor Goldsmith and Mayor Franklin, Andy Young and Jim Laney are focused on “Faith In the City” and we need to be focused there too. For that is where the Lord wants our lights to shine.

III.

And as we talk about “Faith In the City,” I want to conclude this sermon by asking you to consider putting your faith into action through the many opportunities we offer here at First Presbyterian Church.

Following the benediction, we are going to adjourn to Fifield Hall for our Annual Meeting where we will hear about all of the good things going on in the life and work of this congregation. We are spiritually alive, financially solvent, and we are eagerly engaged in the ministry and mission of Jesus Christ. Many of you are already involved, but there are also many others who are looking for ways to make your faith more tangible and meaningful, so this closing story and final quotation are meant for you.

A man driving along the interstate noticed a middle-aged woman stranded by the side of the highway, trying to fix the flat tire on her car. Being a gentleman, he stopped and offered to help. It was a hot and humid day and it was hard and dirty work. But when the man finished replacing the tire and moved around to the back of the car to release the jack, the woman stopped him for a moment and quietly whispered, “Please let the car down easily – my husband is asleep in the back seat.”

Now I know that some folks go to sleep during our worship service, and although I can see you dozing off, I never pick on you because I figure you must be tired and need the rest. But when it comes to service to others, to helping people in need, to rolling up your sleeves and getting involved, then I have no hesitation to encourage you to open your eyes, your hearts, your arms and your hands and put your faith into action.

So during the final hymn, I invite you to bring your volunteer pledge cards forward and put them on the communion table as a sign of your commitment to Jesus Christ and to the work of His kingdom on earth. It was Albert Schweitzer who said, “One thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve.”

Which is exactly what our Lord meant when He said, You are the light of the world. Let your light so shine before others, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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