Matthew 5:13. “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt has lost its savour, wherewith shall it be salted (in other words to become salty again)? It is good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under the foot of man. “
We are now starting a new series, trusting that we are building truth upon truth, so that your faith is “up” for this coming series that will be equally as challenging as the past series. Based on our topic, we are getting very close to some personal frustrations of mine. Please do not take anything that I might say as personal. If the Holy Spirit uses it to challenge you or speak to you then be obedient and seek His will. My comments are overall frustrations that I have with the way the Christian faith is preached and practiced.
We are going back in time when refrigeration was not existent, nor vacuum packed bags or airtight containers to store food. Also in this same time antibiotics were not available to fight infection. For these reasons and countless more, salt was highly prized. It was traded in the ancient world as a commodity (the first Nasdaq, maybe?), and also used as currency just as silver and gold was. Surprisingly, some current day expressions come from the use of salt as currency. For example, if you purchased a slave, as was the custom in the ancient world, but he didn’t work out the expression ” he’s not worth his salt” would be used. Also Salt, or Sodium Chloride (it’s chemistry name) was extremely useful as a preservative. So much so that the Egyptians used it for mummification. I know that is a “glorious thought,” a factoid you could not live without. When Napoleon was retreating in the winter of 1812 from his defeat in Russia, thousands of his soldiers died from their wounds because they ran out of salt to prevent infection. ” Salt has also played a vital role in religious rituals in many cultures symbolizing immutable, incorruptible purity.” Salt as an element has very stable chemistry; one of the four most stable composites and it’s use is beneficial both to man and beast alike. “It’s benefit goes beyond knowing history, and its uses both industrial and otherwise are almost without number.”
Therefore when Jesus spoke these words, “Ye are the salt of the world,” the people understood. We have only a very limited understanding of salt. Those cultures understood the beneficial and extremely important role salt played. We are to combat and arrest the infectiousness of sin. We are to not only act as a preserving body for society, but as a curative source as well. We are to keep faith moving forward. Stopping moral decay. Which by definition speaks to the downward progression of society left to itself. We are to be of great value to society, “worth our salt” in otherwards, by being useful to society. Helping and aiding as needs arise. But above all, we are to be “above reproach” immutable and incorruptible holding to the standard of love and holiness, “Be ye holy as I Am Holy.” In Galatians 5:19 we read “the acts of the flesh are obvious: adultery, fornication (the Greek includes hetero and homosexual) impurity and debauchery; idolatry (which includes all these sins, for we are placing them before The Lord) and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissension…drunkenness, orgies and the like… those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Which is the role of the church – to demonstrate a life with God that attracts the unsaved, so that life is saved and not lost.
Question, have these sins increased or decreased in our society; or have they just maintained? In other words, have we had any effect in being a purifying agent for society, have we lived above reproach, brought worth and value to people, “treating their wounds?” Or have we just “traded punches,” scraping out our right to exist, maintaining what other generations have done, or are we losing ground? This is a question that we must ask ourselves, and if you believe we have just traded punches, or we are in retreat, then ask yourself why? And since we are all part of a whole, what part have we personally failed in? Have we lost our definition of what it is to be a Christian?
There’s a great article that defines what it is to be a Christian that I want to share titled “I am a Christian.”
I am a Christian
When I say that “I am a Christian,” I am not shouting that “I am clean living.” I’m whispering “I was lost, but now I’m found and forgiven.”
When I say “I am a Christian,” I don’t speak of this with pride. I’m confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.
When I say “I am a Christian,” I’m not trying to be strong. I’m professing that I’m weak and need His strength to carry on.
When I say “I am a Christian,” I’m not bragging of success. I’m admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.
When I say “I am a Christian,” I’m not claiming to be perfect. My flaws are way too visible, but God believes I am worth it.
When I say “I am a Christian,” I still feel the sting of pain. I have my share of heartahes, so I call upon his name.
When I say “I am a Christian” I’m not holier than thou. I’m just a simple sinner who received God’s good grace somehow!
Father God,
It’s hard to confess that I have missed the mark. That the daily cares and worries have somehow clouded over my relationship to You, which in turn affects everything I do. I have acted more like a “good guy/gal,” than one saved and wanting to be an instrument for saving others. I have lost my true purpose by purposely being lost in the daily affairs of work and family life. Help me to regain my “true north” and start living for the Kingdom. Let me be the prodigal that truly comes home. Thank you and Amen
Move forward in His Grace – Arthur