Some material taken from sermons by Van Houser and Sam Nobles
You are the salt of the earth… Matthew 5:13a
According the insight of Urban Dictionary, "salty," when used as a slang term, can be used to describe someone who is "angry, agitated, or upset," as well as someone who is "mean, annoying, and repulsive." A more nuanced and specific definition of the word, which also comes from Urban Dictionary, details it as, "The act of being upset, angry, or bitter as result of being made fun of or embarrassed. Also, a characteristic of a person who feels out of place or is feeling attacked." Those are harsh words to describe someone. Although these are negative definitions of the word, but for Christians, it means something different altogether.
You are the salt of the earth… Matthew 5:13a
According the insight of Urban Dictionary, "salty," when used as a slang term, can be used to describe someone who is "angry, agitated, or upset," as well as someone who is "mean, annoying, and repulsive." A more nuanced and specific definition of the word, which also comes from Urban Dictionary, details it as, "The act of being upset, angry, or bitter as result of being made fun of or embarrassed. Also, a characteristic of a person who feels out of place or is feeling attacked." Those are harsh words to describe someone. Although these are negative definitions of the word, but for Christians, it means something different altogether.
If you go by the definition above, salty is not something you want to be called. But according to God’s dictionary, we should all strive to be salty. Saltiness is a good thing to be if you are a Christian. Salt is a very versatile and important mineral. Salt is important to our bodies because it regulates the water content in our bodies. It is important for good health and totally transforms food. In the ancient days, salt was a precious commodity, even used as payment sometimes. Before there was refrigeration, salt was used to slow the decaying process of meat and other foods so it would be edible for longer periods of time. In His statement above, Jesus was referring to the Christian witness and influence we can have on the moral decay of the world we live in. Salt will also make you thirsty. Thirst is the natural result of eating salty foods. As believers, we are to be so salty in our schools, our jobs, and our social events that we create a thirst in the society and culture of which we live. Once a thirst is created, we then have the Living Water, who is Jesus Christ, to offer them in order to quench their thirst. Once a thirst is created, we then have the Living Water, who is Jesus Christ, to offer them in order to quench their thirst. Our job as the salt of the earth is to make others thirsty for Jesus by how we live our lives.
How Can We Lose Our Saltiness?
How can we lose our saltiness or influence with the rest of the world? When we act in ways that are not Christian we definitely lose our influence with the world. When we judge and discriminate we lose our influence also. When we act like the world, why do they need to look our way? Loss of saltiness happens when we have nothing different to offer the world. In order to be an influence, we have to look different. We need to have something that they want – such as peace, integrity, honor, obedience at all cost.
Are you salt on your job? At home? At school? Or have you mixed in the culture so much that you think, talk, and act just like everybody else? If we stay close to God, there is less of a chance that our saltiness will be worn away by the world. By abiding in Him we can stay salty and have the greatest influence for Him in this world.
Scripture to Claim:…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. Matthew 5:13b
