Here's the link. I'm looking at verses 13-16.
In these verses, Jesus is talking about being salt and light to the world. I have heard these verses many times in my life, but honestly, I never really knew what being "salt" meant. I always hear the phrase, "He/She is just 'salt of the earth,'" and I interpreted that to mean that someone is essential, basic, and down-to-earth. Salt is a mineral that is essential to the earth and essential to make crops grow, it is prevalent, it is necessary. And to a certain extent, I believe that we as Christians must be essential and down-to-earth. We must make people grow, we must be prevalent.
But, in walking through these verses with my church, I learned a lot more about what it means to be "salt." First, salt was valuable during the time that this verse was written. Some people would even be paid in salt (and that's where we get the phrase, "Worth their salt"). Second, Jesus says we are "salt," not "sugar." Salt is a sharp, savory flavor. Therefore, we as Christians aren't meant only to be sweet and saccharine (that's okay if we are), but we also need to understand that the gospel and what we believe can be offensive, and that in sharing it, we become savory. Third, salt was and still is used tp preserve our foods from decay and rot. Therefore, we as Christians in being "salt" are meant to preserve the world from decay and rot. I see the decay of the world every day--all you have to do is turn on the news, drive in rush hour traffic, read an article about Kim Kardashian, go to Wal-mart. The purpose of our lives and our belief is to be a tool for God, it is to preserve his kingdom.
In a similar way to "salt," Jesus says to be "light." The thing about light is that it is visible, and it is life-giving. We as Christians are meant to be those things as well. We should be visible to the world, to the point where people look in on our lives and see that we are followers of Jesus. My pastor says people can struggle with this concept in three ways:
In these verses, Jesus is talking about being salt and light to the world. I have heard these verses many times in my life, but honestly, I never really knew what being "salt" meant. I always hear the phrase, "He/She is just 'salt of the earth,'" and I interpreted that to mean that someone is essential, basic, and down-to-earth. Salt is a mineral that is essential to the earth and essential to make crops grow, it is prevalent, it is necessary. And to a certain extent, I believe that we as Christians must be essential and down-to-earth. We must make people grow, we must be prevalent.
But, in walking through these verses with my church, I learned a lot more about what it means to be "salt." First, salt was valuable during the time that this verse was written. Some people would even be paid in salt (and that's where we get the phrase, "Worth their salt"). Second, Jesus says we are "salt," not "sugar." Salt is a sharp, savory flavor. Therefore, we as Christians aren't meant only to be sweet and saccharine (that's okay if we are), but we also need to understand that the gospel and what we believe can be offensive, and that in sharing it, we become savory. Third, salt was and still is used tp preserve our foods from decay and rot. Therefore, we as Christians in being "salt" are meant to preserve the world from decay and rot. I see the decay of the world every day--all you have to do is turn on the news, drive in rush hour traffic, read an article about Kim Kardashian, go to Wal-mart. The purpose of our lives and our belief is to be a tool for God, it is to preserve his kingdom.
- Thinking/praying point: Am I "salty"--a preservative of the world--or do I contribute or participate in its decay? I believe that I often am part of the problem. I pray that I become emboldened by the gospel, and that I embrace the savory nature of what I believe. I need to understand how valuable I am to God, and how, as "salt," I have an important role to play in his kingdom.
In a similar way to "salt," Jesus says to be "light." The thing about light is that it is visible, and it is life-giving. We as Christians are meant to be those things as well. We should be visible to the world, to the point where people look in on our lives and see that we are followers of Jesus. My pastor says people can struggle with this concept in three ways:
- You can forsake the offensiveness of the gospel, to be "nice," "kind," or "a good person." It's like you say you are a "Christian" but you believe you must show it in action only, not through your words, not through speaking the gospel or actually giving God the credit.
- You can dim your "light" given certain scenarios. Like, you're an outspoken, strong "light" at church, but at work, you dim your Christianity down so that it's not as visible.
- Your "light" can become overcome by the world's darkness.
I think I fall into the first and second categories of this. I often feel that if I am just "sweet" to others, that's all that's necessary to share Christ's love. Or, I am a reflective Christian with my Christian friends, but I employ a different demeanor with my friends who are non-believers.
- Thinking/praying point: Do I put my light on a stand or under a bowl most of the time? Am I like a city on a hill, where my light could never be hidden? I pray that I remember to be a "light" to the world, to my friends, to my workplace. And I pray that the light of my actions be accompanied by words that point people to God.
The thing we need to remember is that Jesus is the true salt and light of the earth. The Bible is full of illustrations of Jesus being the "light of the world." So, therefore, we need to remember that we are salt and light only because of him. He doesn't say we "have" salt and light, or we can "get" salt and light, he says we "are" salt and light when we follow him. It is part of ourselves, it is part of our definition. We need to be empowered by it and never let the "saltiness" or visibility of our "light" go away.
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