So for lunch in the office I eat a can of black beans...that is it. I normally get this one kind of black beans, but when I went to the grocery store to stock up I couldn't find that kind anymore. All I found was this new can that has "no salt added." So I got it and decided to try it without seasoning...I can tell you it is not better than beans with salt. So I added salt to improve the flavor and make it soooo good! After this experience this verse came to my mind...
Matthew 5:13-16
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. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
So I pulled out my good old Expositor's Bible Commentary and started to read specifically about this passage by D.A. Carson. It was interesting to learn the differences that salt was used back in Bible times. The two that a lot of people know is to preserve meats since they didn't have refrigerators or ice boxes (for those who are older than I) so salt was used to keep meat from spoiling fast. Then it was used for flavoring like my black beans to make things taste so great! Then I found another reason that it was used for. They would take savorless salt and scatter it on the soil of flat roofs to help harden it up and prevent leaks. That is what Jesus meant when talking about be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. Since rooftops were the clubs/living room/play grounds back then people would trample on the salt.
So what does this mean for us as Christians. Well first of all we need to be preservers of how God wants us to live and to make more disciples. We need to disinfect the horrible morals of the world and bring them back to what God teaches in the Bible. This is done by being the salt and the light of the world. To show them the way to live and to share the Gospel. Because just like salt God makes bland life into something AMAZING if we truly live life for God and strive to be Holy like it says to be in the beatitudes which is right before this passage. This verse as well as Romans 12:2 and John 15:19 really make people think about how do we share the Gospel effectively to the world and not be of the world. What is the level of balance that we need to be to be great salt that preserves and brings flavor and not the salt that is trampled on?
Well some people have taken this and said oh well if I don't do what they do then they will reject the message of God. Therefore, I will be the "cool Christian" who acts similar but will not retain the holiness that God has called me too because I am forgiven and He loves me no matter what. They then hope the friends see being a Christian as nothing too different from their life style and convert. This is what I believe Jesus is saying is salt that has lost its saltiness. This savorless salt are those Christians that throw away God's virtues of being holy to live life how they want because God forgives and loves us. Well then, since God's grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! (Romans 6:15)
On the opposite end are the people who seclude themselves from the world and live their lifes for God. There life is as follows: Read the Bible, homeschool the kids, go to church small group, hang out with church people, go home and read the Bible some more and talk about Jesus to their family. Totally secluded from the outside world and not affecting anyone to come to Christ in their own home but will go on mission trips to do it across the world or in the state next door. This sometimes looks good because we are growing more in Christ, but we are not being the light of the world. These people are the lights hidden under the basket. They are growing in Christ but do not want to share it with those who need it. Mark 2:17 and Luke 15:7 talk more on that.
So the salt warns disciples of the dangers of compromise and conforming to the world and the light warns against withdrawing from the world which does not lead others to God. But they both speak on how we should live our lives holy and pleasing to God in order to shine/delay the decay or the darkness and sin of the world. As well as to be an example for those around us of how to live for God and to bring others to Him and make disciples. This is what it means to be salt and light. We need to live like God wants us to live, but we need to be sharing the Gospel to those around us that are lost in the darkness. We need to bring the awesome flavor of God into this world. What kind of flavor are you bringing to the world or are you just being trampled on?
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