Light on a Candlestick, City on a Hill: How and Why The Metaphor is Misinterpreted

One of the most distressing behaviors of my church and others is to misinterpret the phrase "Ye are the light of the world."

In fairness, many non-religious institutions do the same. 

In context--and context does matter--the phrase "ye are the light of the world" in Matthew 5 occurs within the Sermon on the Mount and follows the Beatitudes. That is, Jesus has just praised the meek and poor in spirit; the merciful and pure in heart; those eager for righteousness; those who are worried or mournful or unsure; those who are persecuted; those who are peace-longing. He goes on to use deliberate hyperbole to commend the same listeners to not settle for legalistic arguments in their beliefs but rather to live by beliefs wholeheartedly: to treat partners with respect; to not run around boasting about one's religious adherence; to forgive enemies; to love enemies; to give away goods. 

The following lines come between the above described passages:

13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Note that the first analogy is not "light" but salt, a substance that is nearly indistinguishable from sugar despite the immense difference in result (if you have ever made that mistake, you know what I mean). Very little salt is needed to change the constitution of a dish. 

Note, also, that "ye are the light of the world" is not a command. Listeners are not being told to show themselves off on a hill (candlestick). Within the chapter and alongside many of Jesus's other parables and sayings, such a command would be patently ridiculous. In fact, grandstanding is specifically condemned within the gospels and Paul's letters. (The analogy of salt also doesn't contain a command, only a warning.)

Jesus is discussing a result. Just as candles aren't placed under beds, then the outcome of belief--how a person behaves or tries to behave--will be noticed. Just as salt can make a difference, so can acceptance of Christ's words in one's life make a difference, including accepting what the Beatitudes imply about what truly matters: what behavior should be honored, emulated, and given respect. 

Again and again, the New Testament makes the following arguments (see more extensive list below):

1. Jesus is the light.

2. Blessings come from God through Jesus Christ and Christ's example.

3. Behaving in the name of Christ is an action among people.

4. Saying, "This is in Christ's name" is not the same as an act being something Christ would sanction. 

Now, people have disagreed, in good faith, about the nuts and bolts of the above list, including the connection between works and grace. They disagree about priesthoods and rituals. They disagree about hierarchies and church managements. They disagree about the nature of God and the afterlife. 

My point here is that taken in context (rather than removed out of context as a kind of ha-ha texting "slam"), the light Christians shine/hold up/hold onto and Christ's example/teachings are expected to correspond, as much as ordinary, fallible, constantly trying and trying again humans can get them to correspond.

Arguing a "religious right" to do whatever one wishes because one claims the name of Christ and making that argument without humility (for standing laws) or empathy (for honest disagreement) or pureness of heart (by using sneaky methods) or good taste (okay, that one is subjective but I personally stand by it) is not a Christian act. 

It's prideful. 

This behavior is unfortunately quite common in our culture and not just in religions and on social media: that is, people see an outcome (being a light, getting a good job, getting the candidate they want, achieving a particular life goal), an end that may be defensibly good. So they move the result/outcome to the beginning of the process. Instead of "I will try to live better, work hard, get an education, vote, sacrifice to achieve what I hope will happen..."), the process becomes "I will make this happen today, right now, instantly and if it doesn't, the system has to change until I get what I want."

Again--there may be valid reasons to change a system. But "I didn't take the time--I don't have to--because what I want is already justified by my label" is not one of those reasons. 

Who is employing a label doesn't matter either. Right. Left. Religious. Non-religious. Whatever group. Doesn't matter. A label does not ensure anything by itself for anyone. 

The Calvinist-trained New Englanders who read The Book of Mormon would have recognized the difference between behavior as a reflection of grace/belief/actions/taking-the-time and behavior as a kind of instant gratification performance (they argued about the difference, which is how I know they would have recognized it). In sum, The Book of Mormon backs the position that beliefs and grace show themselves through character:

If it be called in my name, then it is my church if it so be that [they = the church as a group of people is] built upon my gospel. Verily, I say unto you that ye are built upon my gospel; therefore, ye shall call whatsoever things ye do call in my name; therefore, if ye call upon the Father [on behalf of] the church, if it be in my name, the Father will hear you. And if it so be that the church is built upon my gospel, then will the Father show forth his own works in it.

But if it be not built upon my gospel and is built upon the works of men or upon the works of the devil, verily I say unto you they have joy in their works for a season and by and by, the end cometh, and they are hewn down and cast into the fire from whence there is no return. For their works do follow them. (3 Nephi 27:8-12, my emphasis)

An earlier chapter and verse in 3 Nephi further clarifies what it means to shine a light. It isn't about buildings--buildings are tools to an end; not the end themselves:

Therefore, hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up—that which ye have seen me do. (3 Nephi 18:24, my emphasis)

I was worried several years ago that the adoption of the name of Christ within my church's URL would be a problem. At the local micro level, it isn't. People try on a day-to-day basis to do what is right in their personal lives and with each other. I'm not entirely sure how much the theology (which I do believe in) has changed (from when I determined I believed in it). But the behavior is much the same. People are mostly trying to be good/better, including me.

And, to be entirely fair, many projects at the macro level, such as medical missions, continue to move forward as departments simply get on with things. 

But "using" Christ in some macro matters has become disturbing and unacceptable. 

It starts by mistaking ends for means. 

What the scriptures state about Jesus Christ and light:

1. Jesus Christ is the light. 

I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (John 8:12)

As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. (John 9:5)

[A] light for revelation to the Gentiles (Simeon's blessing, Luke 2:32) 

The Lamb is [the city's] light. (Revelation 21:23)

Behold, [Christ] is the life and the light of the world. Behold, he is the word of truth and righteousness. (Alma 38:9)

I am the light and the life of the world. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. (3 Nephi 9:18)

2. Blessings come from God through Christ and Christ's example. 

For it is God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6)

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. (James 1:17)

But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul. (2 Nephi 32:2)

[T]he light which did light up his mind, which was the light of the glory of God, which was a marvelous light of his goodness -- yea, this light had infused such joy into his soul, the cloud of darkness having been dispelled, and that the light of everlasting life was lit up in his soul, yea, he knew that this had overcome his natural frame, and he was carried away in God -- (Alma 19:6)

Behold I am the light; I have set an example for you. (3 Nephi 18:16)

3. Behaving in the name of Christ is an action by an individual amongst other individuals.

And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. (Matthew 8:5)

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20, in which the context is forgiving others; again, a single scripture appears to justify dismissing people from that gathering; the context, however, maintains that unending forgiveness should be the norm.)

To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours. (1 Corinthians 1:2, my emphasis)

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. (Ephesians 5:8)

But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul. (2 Nephi 32:9)

Too many scriptures in Acts to list here.

Basically, Ammon and Alma/Amulek in The Book of Mormon.

4. Saying, "This is in Christ's name" is not the same as an act being something Christ would sanction. (I'm not a huge fan of "watch out--wrath is coming" verses, and I think the loving, positive verses within scriptures far outweigh the warnings, but such scriptures do need to be taken into consideration since they are part of the context.) 

For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. (Matthew 24:5)

Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His” (2 Timothy 2:19)

You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Therefore by their fruits you will know them. (Matthew 7:16, 20)

But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If, therefore, the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! (3 Nephi 13:23)

For their works do follow them. (3 Nephi 27:12--the similar verse in Revelations is about good deeds following the righteous. Here, the verse is used to paint a darker image, rather like a rabid dog following the worldly-minded. Current-day New Englanders may picture Cujo.)