The Salt of the Earth
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.” Matthew 5:13
Pliny, the Roman historian, once wrote that there is nothing more useful than “salt and sunshine.” It was a play on words. In Latin, salt and sunshine are sale et sole. Nevertheless, Pliny had a point. A home without sunshine would be an unwelcoming place; a table without salt would be equally dreary. Jesus makes the same point. Those who live according to the values of the Kingdom of God, for whom the Beatitudes form a framework for living, must be salt and light in their communities.
We may be surprised to hear this. After all, the attitudes of meekness and mercy, purity and peace, which characterize the Beatitudes, are not normally found in those who set out to change the world. In fact, it is even more surprising that Jesus calls His disciples “the salt of the earth.” Would it not be easier for them to avoid all contamination, to escape from the world instead of trying to change it? It might be easier, but it would not be faithful. This raggle-taggle band of Jewish peasants is charged with making a difference. So are we.
Followers of Christ are to be “salt”.[1] What does this mean? In Jesus’ day, salt had two main uses – to flavor food, and to preserve it. Some commentators suggest that Christians must bring flavor to their communities by encouraging them in good deeds and right living. Christians, it is said, must be activists, bringing out the best in people, initiating meaningful change, speaking out for the poor and the oppressed. This is undoubtedly true, but it is probably not what this text means.
Jesus is saying that it is our responsibility to prevent societal decay, to preserve society by our influence for good. This will not necessarily make us popular, at least in the short term, but it is an essential element in the work of the people of God. Wherever there is cruelty or exploitation, the church must speak out. Wherever folly masquerades as faithfulness, the church must speak out. But we will do this, primarily, by being different, by seeking to be more like Jesus. If we lose that difference, if our saltiness loses its flavor, then we will have failed.
Are we different? Are we really Christlike? Is it obvious that the church is a different society, governed by very different rules, owing ultimate allegiance only to God? Or, are we far too anxious to blend in?
Lord God,
Forgive my easy appeasement of evil,
my accommodation of the things of this world.
Draw me back to Yourself.
Make my discipleship real.
So shall I be salt in this decaying world.
Amen.
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.” Matthew 5:13
Pliny, the Roman historian, once wrote that there is nothing more useful than “salt and sunshine.” It was a play on words. In Latin, salt and sunshine are sale et sole. Nevertheless, Pliny had a point. A home without sunshine would be an unwelcoming place; a table without salt would be equally dreary. Jesus makes the same point. Those who live according to the values of the Kingdom of God, for whom the Beatitudes form a framework for living, must be salt and light in their communities.
We may be surprised to hear this. After all, the attitudes of meekness and mercy, purity and peace, which characterize the Beatitudes, are not normally found in those who set out to change the world. In fact, it is even more surprising that Jesus calls His disciples “the salt of the earth.” Would it not be easier for them to avoid all contamination, to escape from the world instead of trying to change it? It might be easier, but it would not be faithful. This raggle-taggle band of Jewish peasants is charged with making a difference. So are we.
Followers of Christ are to be “salt”.[1] What does this mean? In Jesus’ day, salt had two main uses – to flavor food, and to preserve it. Some commentators suggest that Christians must bring flavor to their communities by encouraging them in good deeds and right living. Christians, it is said, must be activists, bringing out the best in people, initiating meaningful change, speaking out for the poor and the oppressed. This is undoubtedly true, but it is probably not what this text means.
Jesus is saying that it is our responsibility to prevent societal decay, to preserve society by our influence for good. This will not necessarily make us popular, at least in the short term, but it is an essential element in the work of the people of God. Wherever there is cruelty or exploitation, the church must speak out. Wherever folly masquerades as faithfulness, the church must speak out. But we will do this, primarily, by being different, by seeking to be more like Jesus. If we lose that difference, if our saltiness loses its flavor, then we will have failed.
Are we different? Are we really Christlike? Is it obvious that the church is a different society, governed by very different rules, owing ultimate allegiance only to God? Or, are we far too anxious to blend in?
Lord God,
Forgive my easy appeasement of evil,
my accommodation of the things of this world.
Draw me back to Yourself.
Make my discipleship real.
So shall I be salt in this decaying world.
Amen.
[1] Mark 9:50
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