Salt of the Earth ...

One of my favorite parts of the Gospels is the Sermon on the Mount in which Jesus reveals just how radical and how different the Kingdom of Heaven is from the kingdoms of this earth.  When you read it carefully, it is inescapable that the rules of that new kingdom are so different from what we think and do.  In verse 16 of the fourth chapter of Matthew's gospel, Jesus said "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven."  (Matt. 4:16).  

That is so opposite from how we behave when left to our own devices -- we want everyone to notice when we've done something -- I always gather an audience to appreciate my latest painting project even if I put it off for months!  We all desire recognition and praise, but Jesus says that our motivation is that our heavenly Father will be glorified instead of us.   I know that the Father doesn't need my praise and His glory doesn't increase because I recognize it.  And yet we are commanded to bring glory to His name.  That's another reminder of how different our thinking is from heavenly thinking.

    I've wondered about the meaning of the verse that precedes this ... "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again? ..."  (Matt. 4:13).  I've heard many conversations about how salt preserves and how the church is to preserve the culture.   I think that anyone who has ever eaten ham or prosciutto understands how salt preserves.   ... but I think Jesus was talking about salt as the flavor of life.

   Think about how salt is used in cooking -- you sprinkle it, a little salt is added to the pot, a little salt is mixed into the rest of the ingredients.  The measures for salt are always small -- less than a teaspoon, a pinch, a dash, but never a tablespoon or a cup.  When there's too much salt we gag.  When there's no salt the flavor is gone.  Salt is about balance  -- enough to enhance, enough to brighten, enough to influence without being seen for saltiness.   When salt is done right, you don't notice it.  You notice salt only when there's not enough or there's too much. 

   That's the model for how the Christian is to permeate the culture -- giving savor, bringing out the best in the others, encouraging, brightening and showing the joy that is our birthright in Jesus.  In Peter's first letter, he tells us that we are to be "ready to give everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that lies within you."   (1 Peter 3:15)  If we're really busy about being salt -- distributed in dashes, pinches, and teaspoons -- making all around us brighter, you will be asked and our heavenly Father will be glorified.

  Be salt!  Sprinkle!

Keep the faith.