Be Salt

Salt was very valuable during Jesus' day. It aided in the preservation of meat and enhanced the taste of food. But another less commonly known use of salt plays a key role in our understanding of what it means to be "salt" on our world.

During the first century, the people of Galilee used dome-shaped ovens made of hardened mud. Salt was mixed with dried animal droppings: a common fuel, because the chemical reaction made the animal droppings burn hotter and longer. Over time, however, the salt lost the qualities that made it effective. So, when it was no longer fit even for being mixed with manure, the "saltless" salt was thrown out.

As believers, God calls us to "mix" with sinful people and yet keep our distinctive Christian identity. God sent his disciples into an evil world to live out the good news. They were not to lose their faith by absorbing the values of the pagan world, nor were they to be isolated from unbelievers.

(taken from Follow The Rabbi)

Mat 5:13 "You are like salt for the whole human race. But if salt loses its saltiness, there is no way to make it salty again. It has become worthless, so it is thrown out and people trample on it."

Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.
Mark 9:50



Sister Coconut...I enjoyed reading that thank you. I was reading a little Spurgeon on 'salt' earlier...and thought it may compliment what you have written. Its a long sermon so I have just added a snippet.

Regarding Christians.....Spurgeon writes

Your influence must act quietly and unostentatiously, like the influence of salt, which is not noisy but yet potent.
You cannot get through this world rightly by saying,
"If I do no good, at least, I do no hurt;" that might the plea of a stone or a brick, but it cannot be an apology for savourless salt;
For if when the salt is rubbed into the meat it does not season and preserve it, it is bad salt, and has not performed its work, but has caused loss to the owner, and left the meat to become putrid.
And if you in this world, according to your capacity and means, do not affect other people for good, you have convicted yourself of being useless, worthless, a cumberer of the ground.
The Master expects, as He has put the pungent influence of His grace into you, that you should be as salt;
As He has put the burning light of His grace upon you, that you should be as a lamp, and scatter light all round.
Take good heed of that.
It is no saying of mine, it is the saying of Him whom ye call Master and Lord.
Think you hear Him speaking it from those dear lips, which are like lilies dropping sweet smelling myrrh, and instead of seeing my hands lifted up in warning, think you see the print of the nails in his hand, and let the words come home with force to your soul.
(From CH Spurgeon A Call to Holy Living)

Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
Colossians 4:6