Salt and Light

From 1 John (ESV): 

19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. 

I think we, as Christians, often forget to love. And unfortunately for us it's one of the most important things we ought to be doing.

 And while yes, 1 John is addressing Christians in the early church, I don't think the writer of the epistle is using 'brother' in strictly the Christian sense in this passage. Lest we forget:

Matthew 22:36-40 (ESV):

 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Love your neighbor as yourself. Not the other people in your congregation. Not the other people in your denomination. Your neighbor, whoever that may be.

I don't know how to convince every man, woman, and child to join the church. But in my life I'm around many who are 'unchurched,' and I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt that many of them won't step foot in a church building because they view Christians as judgemental hypocrites lacking in compassion and love.

If the church has this reputation, then I daresay we've earned it.

We were called to be the 'salt of the earth.' Matthew 5:13-16:

13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that[b] they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Just as Christ said in the sermon on the mount, we have a particular calling, to let our light shine before others that we might give glory to God.

Unfortunately, many non Christians don't see our light shining, only our judgement and hypocrisy.

We can't change others hearts, others minds, nor others perceptions. We have no control over others. However, what we do control is our own behaviors and actions towards others in the world throughout our daily lives. So if Christians are to combat the perception that we are hypocritical, judgmental people lacking in compassion, the impetus is on us, Christians,  to truly live up to the name 'salt of the Earth.'

If we're not accomplishing that task, then what does Christ say? We are 'no longer good for anything except to be thrown down and trodden upon.' Harsh words for a harsh reality. Christ didn't mince words. We cannot love God if we don't love his people. If the 'world' doesn't know that Christ called us to do this, then we've failed somewhere along the line as a church.