Who me? SALT?
Matthew 5:13
“Salt of the earth”? What is Jesus talking about? Who is Jesus talking to? As Jesus is preaching/teaching from the hillside in the sermon we call “Sermon on the Mount” Jesus looks at His disciples and states, “YOU are the salt of the earth!” (Emphasis mine). Yes, YOU! Every Christian! Yes, every Christ follower. Every born again believer who claims Jesus as Lord has been called to be an influence in our society. However, in a 2014 study by the Pew Research Forum’s Religion & Public Life Project.
The study found that almost three-quarters of the American public — 72% — believes that religion’s influence is waning in public life, the highest level in Pew Research polling over the past 10 years.
Salt is not something which you TRY to become in Jesus. It is what you ARE in Christ. Salt does not make a lot of noise or whip up excitement. It works quietly, gently and effectively to preserve and influence upon which it is placed. More so Christians are called to gently and effectively preserve and influence our culture from decay and disintegration
It really bothers me a great deal that Christians, it seems to me, have so little influence upon the world in general. There probably is no simple answer but it seems to me that we must not forget that we can’t influence the culture by staying in “the salt shaker”. Salt is only good when it is put to use and leaves the shaker. Christians will do no influencing by huddling in the shaker. It seems to me that a great many of us are trapped inside of our religious structures and refusing to leave those walls of security to head out into the streets to influence our world. We seem to carry on with our religious exercises and formulas while the world is dying at our doorstep.
In his book, “New Light on the Gospels”, Clifford A. Wilson says it was Jewish tradition that when salt became unfit for use for sacrifices that it was sprinkled upon the temple steps in rainy weather to keep the priests from slipping. Barclay makes reference to unfit salt to be thrown upon the roadways. Hence Jesus says, “if salt has lost it 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.” Matthew 5:13
Jesus does not say, if the salt has lost its strength I have to try something else. Friends, there is NOTHING ELSE according to Jesus. It is us, Christians, or NOTHING. If we fail to impact and influence our culture, then the question is, “with what shall the earth be salted?” So, let us never allow the salt of our influence to lose its savor and be therefore consigned to an all but meaningless existence.
Christians are the divine vehicle upon which to influence and impact our world for the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember, what Jesus said, “WE are the salt of the earth!” – Matthew 5:13
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Leonard
Leonard Navarre
Licensed Church Consultant
Your Bible Boost
P.O. Box 990
Edgewood, NM 87015
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