Matthew
5:13 “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.”
What
does Jesus mean when he proclaims that his disciples are the salt of the
earth? The uses for salt today are very
different than its uses during the days of Jesus. Today the primary use of salt is that of
flavoring. French fries, potato chips,
and vegetables just would not taste as good if it were not for salt. In fact, most American dinner table have salt
shakers at their center for quickness, convenience, and just in case of a taste
bud emergency. However, salt had a very
different use during the time of Jesus. Salt
was used as a preservative. Refrigerators,
ice chests, or deep freezers did not yet exist, so storing meat for any long
amount of time was simply not an option.
However, where they to rub salt into their meat they could preserve its
freshness for a while longer so that if would not spoil and be of no healthy
use. This is how Jesus’ disciples would
have understood this metaphor of salt and its implication would have been plain
to them. By stating that they were the
salt of the earth he was implying that they are to be used as a preservative
for this world.
Christ
intends the same thing for his followers today that he did for his followers of
the first century. He desires that his
followers today will preserve this world from corruption and even impending
judgment from God. To be the salt of the
earth literally means that Christians need to “rub” themselves into the meat of
the world so that it will not spoil. It
is to proclaim and practice the word of God and preserve the world from
straying far from that word. Paul
seconds this calling bestowed upon the believer when he writes,
Therefore,
if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation…all this is from God, who through
Christ reconciled us to himself and gave
us the ministry of reconciliation…therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. (2
Corinthians 6:17-20)
God
has uniquely given his church the responsibility of being his trumpeting agent
of his gospel to the world. Christ has
called his church to be about “building up the body of Christ.” To give a solid understanding of the
importance of fulfilling its call, Paul reminds the Roman church that,
But
how are they to call on him in whom that have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom
they have never heard? And how are they
to hear without someone preaching? And
how are they to preach unless they are sent?
As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the
good news! (Romans
10:14-15)
One
must notice that Christ makes a declarative and descriptive statement when he
says that they are the salt of the earth.
He doesn’t say that they are to become the salt of the earth nor that
they might at sometimes be the salt of the earth and others times not, rather
he simply states that they are. It is a
constant and continual condition that every believer in Christ possesses. Simply by entering a relationship with Jesus
Christ means that you automatically become the salt of the earth. God has endowed a purpose for the Christian’s
life. It cannot be taken away, nor is it
an option. However, it can be nullified
and becomes wasteful.
Salt
is a chemical compound known as sodium chloride. Sodium chloride is one of the strongest
compounds that exists and cannot be separated.
Salt cannot become non-salt.
Jesus certainly chose an excellent metaphor to compare the status of the
believer has. His relationship with
Christ cannot be dissolved nor separated.
However, while sodium chloride cannot be separated, it can be
contaminated. Mixture with certain other
chemicals can make it a void substance, having no effectiveness, and thereby
nullifying its use. It can as Christ
says “lose its taste.” The Christian,
therefore, can lose his or her effectiveness in this world. As stated early the follower of Christ is to
pattern his or her life characteristic of the holiness of Christ. In his letter to the Roman church, Paul
reminds his audience that the believer is to “not be conformed to the pattern
of this world.” Followers of Christ are
to be like him, resembling his holiness, love, faith, and character.
Today,
many individual of us have nullified our effective witness and salt ministry to
the world. We have chosen not to pursue
and grow in our relationship with the Father.
Many are living a lifestyle of disobedience, not much different from
many of those of the world. A Christian
easily loses his or her effective witness when they practice and participate
the same immoral things nonbelievers do.
Many Christians have allowed themselves to become ignorant of the basics
of the faith, not knowing what they believe and why they believe it. Others have adopted the relativistic and pluralistic
philosophies of their postmodern culture, assuming that Christianity has no
significant standing or meaning over and above any other religion and
worldview. Many of us have become unsalty
as our thinking, lifestyle, worldview, and behavior are no different from one
who does not believe in the Christ.
Many
churches and maybe even the church as a whole have compromised their reputation
and effectiveness before the world as well.
When the church remains silent on the issues that the bible speaks of as
immoral and sinful it begins to lose its saltiness. Issues such as homosexuality, abortion,
premarital sex, divorce, pride and power, and sadly sin and sinful nature are ignored
in churches and sermons. When the
church diminishes its view of scripture and thereby questions much of the
Bible’s validity and significance it becomes no different than the world. Many churches have allowed immorality to flood
their leadership and membership. Others
have organized themselves like local country clubs ignoring the lost and dyeing
world and focusing on the self-esteem, health, and wealth of its
membership. Other churches have adopted
questionable corporate and business practices in order to make budget and grow
membership. When the church loses its
saltiness it becomes an institution that Christ describes as “no longer good
for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.”
Not only can salt just become null
when mixed with certain chemicals, but when mixed with other certain chemicals
it can become dangerous and toxic, even to the touch. Sodium chloride is in fact one of the active
ingredients that makes up the hydrogen bomb.
No wonder Christ said that bad salt needs to thrown out and trampled
under people’s feet. When the believer
compromises his or her lifestyle and beliefs he or she can become harmful and
damaging to the cause of Christ. One of
the frequent excuses many nonbelievers sight for not being interest in or
attending church is because of all the “hypocrites” in the church. By compromising ones pursuit of holiness he
or she presents a message that Christianity is a weak, shallow, and meaningless
religion.
