A letter from Anthony...
“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.” Matthew 5:13
Sometimes we might hear someone use the phrase “the salt of the earth” to describe another person. And when people use that term, they are saying that the person they are talking about is reliable and genuine in all of their dealings with others.
It’s interesting isn’t it, how a phrase that was once used by Jesus to describe those who trust in Him has slowly lost its meaning in our culture, so that now it’s most common use is simply to refer to someone of good character? Now of course, it is a complimentary term, and so as those who trust in Jesus we don’t need to offended by the popular use of this phrase. But the way that this phrase has lost meaning over the years, does illustrate how easily Christian principles and beliefs can be eroded over time in a culture that is hostile toward the things of God.
Salt is a mineral that is found all over the world. It is incredibly stable and unable to lose its saltiness. And I think that is Jesus’ point; those whose hearts have been changed by the good news of Jesus have become “the salt of the earth.” They have become new creations – the old has gone and the new has come – and therefore, they simply cannot lose their saltiness even when they are thrust into a culture that desires to water them down.
This coming Sunday we are taking a break from our series in the book of Luke and beginning a 6 week series in the book of Daniel. The book of Daniel addresses a time in the history of God’s people, when the tribe of Judah was thrust into a culture that was at odds with the things of God. They were dragged off into captivity in a foreign land by the King of Babylon. But even in what would have seemed like a hopeless situation for the people of Judah, God was refining His people. He was still at work in those who were “the salt of the earth” and who remained faithful to Him come what may.
As people who live in a culture that is increasingly hostile toward followers of Jesus, may we be “salt of the earth” people. May those who don’t know Jesus, know us to be more than just people of good character, but also people whose lives and actions are being shaped by the hope we have in Jesus.
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