Matthew 5:13 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.
In this verse Jesus uses a comparison as a teaching tool. He tells the disciples that they are the salt of the earth. So, we must think about what that would have meant to the original hearers.
Salt was a valuable commodity in the ancient world. It had two main purposes. One was to increase flavor, much the way we use salt today. The other was as a preservative. In the hot, middle eastern climate of Israel, salt was about the only way of keeping meat from spoiling. Therefore, the original audience would have understood Jesus’ statement to mean that they added something to the world, and they were a preserving agent.
Followers of Jesus should influence the world just as salt affects the food it is added to. Salt makes food taste “salty”. Christians should make the world more Christ-like. Do not get me wrong, we can never fully change the world, but we should be having a much greater impact than we are. The Church should be influencing the culture around it but instead, the culture is influencing the church.
Christians should be acting as a preservative in the world. Our influence should be keeping the world from decaying as rapidly as it would without us. To some extent the Church probably does have that effect. I’m sure the world would be a much worse place without Godly people in it. However, considering how weak our influence is, we could be doing much better.
The second part of the statement is interesting, and frightening. Jesus says that salt that is no longer salty is useless. Saltiness is an inherent quality of salt. For salt to lose its saltiness is ceases to be what it is. Remember, Jesus is using this as a teaching tool. He was saying the disciples were the salt of the earth. What makes believers Christian? It is the work of the Holy Spirit in their life. When the Holy Spirit is no longer working in a Christian’s life Jesus says that they are useless as a Christian.
Now I believe Jesus is referring to a Christian who has walked away from God. If salt loses its saltiness then it ceases to be salt. A Christian who has lost the Holy Spirit ceases to be a Christian. I know many of you believe in once saved always saved. While it is not my intention to offend you, that is not my interpretation of scripture and I am compelled to tell the truth as I understand it. I see the theme of people walking away from God throughout the Bible. This is one of those passages.
Jesus’ words are harsh, even shocking, but this is a very serious situation. A person who has ceased to be a Christian no longer affects the world in a Christ-like manner and therefore, has no value to the Kingdom of God. It is a horrible and terrifying thought. Thankfully, as long as God does not give them over to their sin there is still a chance for repentance.
So, let us be salt and grow in saltiness so that we will impact the world.
Heavenly Father, I do pray that You will change the world through me as You work in me. Grant me a passionate heart for You so that I will never lose my saltiness.