Have I Lost My Saltiness?

The Bibles says in Matthew 5 ¹³ “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 underfoot.”  In biblical times, salt was the means by which meats were preserved.  Today, refrigeration has the same purpose for meats as well as organic foods.  Christ says that we as Christians should be “the salt of the earth.”  He is saying that we should be the preservative applied to this world that keeps it from spoiling.  People must see and be touched by Jesus in us!

As a spice, “salt” does not draw attention to itself.  It enhances the taste of the dish in which it is applied.  The worst indictment to a chef is to hear that the dish is “too salty.”  It is the same way with us.  Our “salty” life should give a spice that paints the picture of Jesus and glorifies his name not ours.

There is a huge “But” in our key biblical text above.  “But if the salt loses its saltiness,…it is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”  Let’s be candid here. To much of the world, the church does not “taste” like the “fruit of the Spirit…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”  Bluntly, some have never seen or experienced a church like that. Too often we are known as condemners and hypocrites not salt. Turn on the TV or talk to many Christians and you discover folks who are puffed up with their opinions of what is right and wrong. We should not draw attention to ourselves and our self-produced opinions which are prideful.  Pride is the antithesis of salt.

Another key point.  For many of us, the only time we worship is in a church building, the “salt shaker.”  We “big time” talk about Jesus in the church.  However, once we leave, we lose our sincere, humble saltiness to our spouse, family, friends and employment colleagues.  All we have to do is listen to how we talk to each other and act outside of our church meetings.  As you read the Bible, you discover “Salt Shaker” Christianity makes no sense.

What happens when food finally outlives the effectiveness of it preservative whether salt or refrigeration?  It really smells. The only thing left to do is to wrap it up airtight and dispose.  The Bible tells us to do exactly that.  Ephesians 4:22-24 says “to put off your old self, which is being corrupted (decayed) by its deceitful (smelly) desires; ²³ to be made new in the attitude of your minds; ²⁴ and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

Each of us must ask ourselves “Have I lost my saltiness?”

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