Christians are the salt of the earth. Jesus says this in the Sermon on the Mount.“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” Matthew 5:13 ESV.
Salt brings to mind the navy blue Morton Salt carton with the little girl in a yellow dress holding her umbrella. But for first-century Palestinians, the comparison would have brought to mind the timely and important work of preservation and wound care. Salt was to them what refrigeration and antibiotics are to us. Rubbing salt into meat stopped the process of decomposition. And salt rubbed into wounds acted as a disinfectant for healing. Salt was a valuable and precious commodity, the difference between life and death.
This is only possible when salt is actually salt. Modern-day product regulations safeguard us from questioning whether salt is good. For “the ancient world, it was common for salt to be derived from salt marshes or the like, rather than by evaporation of salt water, and therefore contained many impurities,” notes theologian D. A. Carson. When the mineral was diluted, it became ineffective and unable to perform any of its purposes. Its only use would have been to mix it with mud to reinforce a roof patio from leaking.
Jesus taught that Christians are to be to the world what salt is to meat. Christians are called to bring out the best from culture while also preserving it from rotting and decaying.The only way Christians can do this is by being different than the world. I must admit that I don’t like to be different. As a teenager, I spent many nights crying to my parents to let me do what my friends did and wear what they wore. Even as an adult, I struggle with the fear of not fitting in. Our culture is vocal about “approved” differences, and a Christian who takes God’s authority seriously is not on the “approved” list.
A few years ago, my family moved to a different part of the city. We prayed for good schools and a kid-friendly neighborhood. More than that, we prayed that God would use us to share the Gospel to neighbors who didn’t know Jesus. I jumped right into meeting my neighbors. I invited them over for book club, burgers and playdates. We talked about everything—literature, politics, school, marriage and trendy new restaurants. We talked about everything but Jesus. I felt paralyzed that once all my new friends found out I was a Christian, I would be ousted from the group. I wanted my neighbors to like me more than I cared about their salvation.
I had lost my saltiness. I had become so much like my neighbors that I was indistinguishable from them. It took me a while to realize that, more than a good laugh or even a good friend, they needed Jesus. Theologian Sinclair Ferguson says, “Cease to be different and we cease to be Christians.” The world doesn’t need more of what it already has, it needs Christians to point it to the hope it so desperately needs.
Christians are the Light to the World
Jesus followed his salt of the earth metaphor with a second: “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” Matthew 5:14–16 ESV.
Jesus said we should shine bright like a “city on a hill.” In those days, some cities were made of white limestone. Up on a hill and reflecting the light of the sun or moon, cities could be seen for miles and miles. The brightness and warmth of the city drew in people from the cold shadows.
Christians are lights, not by our own power or ability to shine bright, but because the true Light of the World dwells within us. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). The closer we follow Jesus, the brighter our light will be.
We are not called to be light for light’s sake. We are called to “give light to all in the house” and to “let our light shine before others.” People of God are called to be a light for the nations, just as Jesus was: “I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon …” Isaiah 42:6–7 ESV.
The world is a dark place full of horrors. Sometimes that darkness is blatant in its evil; other times it masquerades as good. When our minds and hearts are darkened by the desires of the world, we are deceived to believe the promises of this world. But when we walk in the light, we begin to see and discern between what is good and what is evil. Our eyes are opened to see reality for what it is. The light of God reveals the sins that control us so we can experience freedom from them.
Light exposes the evils that hide in darkness. It also makes it possible to behold the wonder and beauty of God. There is no darkness in God. He is perfect and infinite in His majesty and glory. When we fellowship with God and walk in the light, our eyes are opened to see the glory of God.
God paints the day with light and sprinkles the night sky with glittery stars. He created fireflies and phosphorescence to reflect the glorious artistry of God. Jesus says, “In the same way, let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” Matthew 5:16 ESV. To the world, a Christian’s life should expose evil and reveal the beauty of God.
Christians See the Need
There is no debate that the morality of the world is in decline. It’s not a new nor a solved problem. In a recent sermon, my pastor posed this question: “If society is decaying, whose fault is it?” We want to blame society, the media, the entertainment industry and the like. But is it actually society’s fault? My pastor explained, “If meat goes bad and becomes inedible, is it the meat’s fault or the fault of lack of salt? There is no sense in blaming the meat. That’s just what happens when bacteria breeds unchecked. The question is: Where is the salt? If society becomes corrupt, there is no sense in blaming society. That’s just what happens when human evil is unrestrained. The question, again: Where is the salt? Where are the believers?”
The question is incisive: Have we lost our saltiness? Is it our fault that society continues to morally decompose? How do we be the salt of the earth and the light of the world the way Jesus intends? How do we live distinct lives that illuminate the love of Jesus in a dark world?
We look to Jesus, who was Himself salt and light. We look to Jesus, who cared so much for people that He was willing to leave His Father in heaven, come to earth to live a perfect life, and die a death He didn’t deserve to die. We can imitate the example that Jesus gave us in loving people.
There was a time in my life when everything was broken. The boy I loved didn’t love me back. I was working 60+ hours a week in a job that sucked the hope right out of me. I had been betrayed by my best friend. And the biggest heartbreak of all, my dad was dying of cancer. Angry and confused at God for how my life was turning out, I walked away from Him. After two years of trying and failing to heal my heart on my own, I opened my Bible to the Sermon on the Mount and read the words that changed my life, “Jesus, seeing the crowds … ” Matthew 5:1 ESV.
Jesus saw the crowds.Really saw them. He saw their brokenness, their questions and doubts, their fear that life was meaningless, their anxiety over money, marriage and addiction. (Matthew 4:23) Jesus saw their need and was moved to compassion. His compassion for the crowds compelled Him to walk and talk with them, pray for them to be healed, teach them a better way of living and eat meals with them. Jesus entered their world while remaining pure and distinct from it.
Just as salt works only when it is rubbed into the meat, we can only bring change to the world around us when we are “rubbed into” society. We can follow Jesus’ example of being in the world while not being of the world. Paul charged the church that by holding tightly to the Word of God, we “… may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation’. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky” Philippians 2:15 NIV. Christians cannot be effective when we are not part of our communities, neighborhoods and city. We cannot be a light in a dark place if we never set foot in a dark place.
Every Good Thing
Jesus says, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” Matthew 5:16 NIV. The presence and efforts of Christians are intended to cause others to see God and give glory to Him. The good works of Christians encourage and edify fellow believers. They also cause nonbelievers to see who God is and what He cares about. The way we think, believe and act shows the world the mercy and grace of Jesus.
Our good works do not earn us salvation or win more love from Jesus. Rather, they reveal that we have been saved by Jesus and loved by Him. We obey and serve Jesus out of the overflow of love He has poured into us. When our nature was changed through salvation, our desires were changed to worship, serve and obey God. Our obedience from a heart of faith is intended to point the world to God so all can join in glorifying Him. We cannot do good works that glorify God apart from faith. And faith cannot be separate from good works. Faith and works is a both/and.
James says, “But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?” James 2:18-20 NKJV. A life devoid of works reveals a heart that has been unchanged. Our endeavors are fueled by the faith in Jesus that has given us life.
God has given us gifts, blessings, wisdom and creativity to spend in countless ways. He has given some knowledge and wisdom in the realm of finance, business and leadership so we can run businesses full of integrity and ethics that cause communities to flourish. He has given others a knack to know just how much salt to add to an ingredient to make it sing with flavor so people wonder at earth’s creations. He has given some the gift of hospitality that welcomes and warms lonely and hurting people. To some, He has given them the gift of language and counsel to help others understand truth.
Every good gift we have comes from God. Every kind word we speak, every wise decision we make, every moment we choose good over evil is a result of the faith God poured into us. Everything we do—spend time, order our values, and respond to insult with peace and forgiveness—points the world to Jesus.
God gifts us with abilities so our endeavors cause others to be in awe of Him. Our lives should be distinguishable from the world—not so others see us and give us praise, but so they see God and give Him praise. Jesus, the essence of salt and light, changes everything about us. Our lives, salty and bright, are intended to point the world to Jesus Christ so other can experience His life-altering grace.
