Be the Salt in the Earth

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What should the church’s relationship with the world look like? There has been great debate on this throughout church history. Some believe the church is to be totally separate from the world. This has been seen in how some Christian communities isolate themselves from the world in monasteries. They are not to touch the world—listen to its music or entertainment; they are to be totally separated. Though this is not as popular today, some do this in different ways. They go to church with no unbelievers, are homeschooled or go to a Christian K-12, go to Christian colleges, work in Christian organizations, and literally never have contact with the world. I heard of one family that would not let their children go to youth group because some unbelievers were attending.

Other Christian communities seek to mimic the world in order to influence it. Church services play secular music, the pastor occasionally curses; believers enjoy the same entertainment and wear the same clothes as the world. In this community, it is often hard to tell the difference between Christians and nonbelievers. This is frequently all done in the name of being “seeker sensitive.”

There are commendable aspects to each of these practices: One emphasizes holiness and the other emphasizes evangelism. However, they both miss the mark.

What does Scripture say about the church’s relationship to the world? In Matthew 5:13-14, Christ calls the disciples the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Both of these metaphors symbolize how Christians should influence the world and are presented on the backdrop of the Beatitudes. In Matthew 5:3-10, Christ emphasizes the character traits of true believers—those who are part of the kingdom of heaven. They are the poor in spirit, the mourners, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. They are the merciful, the pure in heart, and the peacemakers. These attributes ultimately provoke anger and resentment from the world. Matthew 5:10 says the final trait of kingdom citizens is that they are persecuted because of righteousness. Though, at times, hated by the world, Christ said believers are necessary for it. They are the salt and light of the earth.

Big Question: What does it mean to be the salt of the earth and what applications can we draw from this passage?

Salt of the Earth

Interpretation Question: What did salt represent in the ancient context, and how does this metaphor apply to believers?

1. To be the salt of the earth means that believers are valuable to the world.

The Romans believed that, other than the sun, there was nothing more valuable than salt. In fact, Romans were paid in salt, which is where the phrase “He’s not worth his salt” was coined.1 Salt was also considered a mark of friendship. When two people shared salt, they were bound to look after one another’s welfare, even if they were previously enemies.2 Salt also was used to bind a covenant between two parties. It was a form of notarization. Parties would eat salt in the presence of witnesses to confirm the covenant (cf. 2 Chr 13:5).3

Therefore, when Christ called the disciples salt of the earth, these aspects would have naturally come to their minds. Salt was extremely valuable and so were they. Even wars have been fought over salt.4 Though at times hated by the world, believers are extremely valuable to it.

2. To be the salt of the earth means that believers preserve society from moral decay.

One of the primary uses of salt in the ancient world was as a preserve. There were no ice-machines or refrigerators in those days; therefore, to preserve food, it was placed in a saline solution.5 In fact, sometimes salt was even used to preserve bodies for their burial. It was a key ingredient used for mummification in Egypt.6

Interpretation Question: What does this metaphor tell us about the world and its nature?

This implies that the world is on a progressive path to destruction. Left to itself, societies and cultures will naturally decay. look at what has happened in our country

In Romans 1:18-32, Paul describes this process. Because the world suppresses the truth of God because of their love for sin, their hearts are continually darkened (v. 21). “Heart” refers to one’s mind, will, and emotions. Therefore, they turn to worshiping idols instead of the true God. They become consumed with sexual immorality.

Then Paul says this in Romans 1:28-32:

And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what should not be done. They are filled with every kind of unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, malice. They are rife with envy, murder, strife, deceit, hostility. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, contrivers of all sorts of evil, disobedient to parents, senseless, covenant-breakers, heartless, ruthless. Although they fully know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but also approve of those who practice them.

Religion erodes because people don’t want to acknowledge the true God. The family erodes as people lack love. Businesses and government erode as people lack ethics. Society becomes full of evil, murder, and strife. This is the natural decay happening in the world.

In the midst of this world-wide moral decay, believers are salt—a preserving influence on this world. They preserve the world in a negative sense by retarding the decay. But they also preserve it in a positive sense by promoting righteousness.

How do believers preserve society from moral decay practically?

Believers preserve society by keeping back God’s destructive wrath.

In Genesis 18, Abraham petitioned God to not destroy Sodom and Gomorrah if there was a righteous remnant of only ten in the city, and God promised he would not. However, Sodom lacked ten righteous people, and therefore, God destroyed the land. In the same way, God holds back his wrath on a family, a business, a school, a city, or a nation because of a righteous remnant. Commonly, before he brings his destruction, he removes or protects that remnant, as was seen with Noah and Lot. Even the 144,000 Jewish followers of Christ in the tribulation period will be sealed and protected from God’s wrath (Rev 7).

Believers preserve society by praying for it.

In Ezekiel 22:30-31, God said he sought for a man to stand in the gap but because he found none, he destroyed the land. Like Abraham interceding for Sodom and Gomorrah, Christians should often pray for presidents and kings, holiness in nations, the spread of the gospel, and the church to be salt and light. They should also continually pray for God’s mercy and forgiveness over the sins of others. In Amos 7, God was going to judge Israel two separate times, but both times Amos cried out for mercy, and God relented. In Amos 7:2, he said, “‘Sovereign Lord, forgive Israel! How can Jacob survive? He is too weak!” Believers must continually do the same. They must intercede for their family, church, government, and nation. When they do this, they preserve it from Satan’s influence and God’s destruction.

Believers preserve society by being a righteous influence on it.

This is done in many ways: Believers are a righteous influence by practicing godly behavior: caring for the weak and vulnerable in society, practicing honesty and integrity, championing righteous causes and condemning sin, etc. When this is done, it will spur hatred and anger in some, but with others, it will draw them to repentance. For many, it will initially show up in anger and then lead to repentance.

As we consider how morally decadent the world is, we must not be shocked. The world is supposed to decay. It has the treacherous disease of sin in it, and when it is fully grown, it always produces death (James 1:15). What we should be shocked at is the lack of positive influence from the church. When we see the corruption in the world, we must ask, “Where is the remnant? Where is the salt that retards decay and provokes righteousness?” It is no surprise that when societies have reached startling heights of corruption, the church has also; there was no remnant, or it was very small.

3. Believers are salt by bringing flavor to society and creating thirst for Christ.

The ancient world used salt for seasoning, as we do. When eating something well-seasoned or spicy, it typically increases one’s thirst. Christians should serve a similar role in the world. Though the world mocks Christians—often claiming that they are boring and don’t know how to have fun, the reality is that society itself is bland like tasteless food. Everything it offers fails to satisfy. This is very clear when considering consumerism. “Buy this!” “Watch that!” “Eat this!” “Listen to that!” Everyone claims to have the latest and greatest product which will bring satisfaction; however, it all leaves a person ultimately unsatisfied. It may seem to satisfy briefly, but it leaves a person dry, as nothing can truly gratify the desire for eternity and God in the heart of man. Therefore, humanity is doomed to continually run after the next thing. People go from product to product, job to job, and relationship to relationship—only to find themselves unfulfilled.

In John 4:13-14, Christ said this to the woman at the well: “‘Everyone who drinks some of this water will be thirsty again. But whoever drinks some of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again.” That is exactly how this world is—nothing truly satisfies. All their wells leave them parched and dry.

When the world looks at believers and sees how different they are, it should provoke them to want to know why. When the world sees how believers can go through trials with joy and without complaining, when they are content instead of constantly dissatisfied, when they bless instead of cursing their enemy, when they suffer willingly for righteousness sake, it demonstrates what the world lacks—and draws them to Christ. The world is bland and therefore unsatisfying, but the true believer’s lifestyle should be like salt—provoking people to thirst for the satisfying water only Christ can give.

4. How can we loose our flavor

By being double minded

You know who jesus spoke to the harshiest when he was here on earth?

It wasnt the drunk it wast the prostatute

It was the religoius crowd

Why

Because they appeared to be holy and righteous on the out side but on the inside were full of wickedness

John the baptist called them bood vipers, Jesus called them sins of thier father the devil and hypocrytes

Not very nice

The bible is clear we cannot be the light and the salt and be in the world.

Loving the things the world does

A idol is anything you love more spend more time with and enjoy more than God

Christians we cannot be idle about our idols

How can we have a testimony to the world if we are caught up in the same things

This tells the world that there is no real power in Christ to forgive and change a mans sin

Brothers >>>>>. Sisters

Paul writes in philipians

Philippians 4:13 NKJV

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

it may be hard but you can repent it pleases the father when we turn from our wickedness and seek him as a broken as a empty vessel ready and willing for the potter to transform our life

The bible says that all of heaven rejoices when one sinner comes to repentance

The bibles warns about us being double minded

1 Kings 18:21 NKJV

And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word.

Isaiah 29:13 NKJV

Therefore the Lord said: “Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men,

1 John 2:15 NKJV

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

James 4:1–4 NKJV

Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Matthew 6:24 NKJV

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

So please ask yourself today are you more like a religious double minded oharasee that may appear good on the outside but inwardly wicked

I would say tou you please seek god while he still may be found religion saves none christ alone saves

are you a wordly christian that is cold and indefferant to the church to christ ti the lost to your neighbor do your profess to belive but openly live in sin destroying not only your testamony but the testimony of Christ

I would say to you dear child repent God is willing to forgive He is able put your trust and faith in him and no longer in the pleasures of this wicked world be set free live for Christ

Maybe you say well neither is me Im doing ok what im doing. Im happy where i am and the ammount im involved, I say to your Sir Repent

Cry out to god like David God see if there be any wickedness within me

We can never do enough for his grace his mercy we can never repay we love we praise we honor we serve him out of our grattitude for he paid the price that we could not

And if you be here tonight and you do not know jesus but you know something is missing I say to you as Christ said Repent and belive that you may be saved

Put your faith in Him that became flesh to bear your sin on that cursed tree that your name will be written in the lambs book of life