Salt of the Earth « Thread Started on Oct 4, 2008, 11:16am »
I love those verses there in Matt. 5 about the salt and the chapters that follow as Jesus sat talking to his disciples on the mount.
v13 - ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, where with shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men.
Salt has a savor which is different than any other savor in all the world. Naturally salt brings out the savours of what it is put on. Spiritually, God wants his savour to be in this earth amongst the people here. This savour is a part of his people.
It goes on to say that we are the light of the world. This light should not be hid... but set on a candlestick so it can give light to all who are in the house that they may see your good works and glorify God which is in heaven.
Salt when used will still look like salt, but will not have the savour anymore. To me this savour speaks of the Spirit of God within his people. Without it, we are nothing. If we have it, we should not cover it up and hid it, but let it shine forth like a light unto the world that it might glorify God.
Over the years I have had discussions with those who called themselves Christians... and when they describe what makes them a Christian, they speak of all the good they have done for the poor and downtrodden of mankind. They definitely seemed like good people and I enjoyed our visits, but sometimes afterward, I would start reflecting on their goodness and wonder if that is all they had. In one instance I just happened to be sitting next to this couple and they ask me if I was saved... and I answered yes. They began to tell me how they were just coming home from a mission in Ecuador and how they had done so much and spent thousands of dollars there to help the poor. It ended up being that they worked at a christian radio station and had eventually gotten to be partners in the station. Now they were spending more and more time in other countries spending their money helping the poor. I admire those who are willing to do this type of thing. I have never had the time or money to do such.
Is this the type of thing that most christians consider to be the works glorifying God? These words about salt, light and works are in the beginning of what my bible calls the sermon on the mount. To me they are clarifying what the rest of those words are about, how we glorify God. How we live our daily lives. I don't believe they are talking about specific actions that need to be in our lives, but attitudes and standards. It seems to me that Jesus was showing that our righteousness should be more than the law, above the law, not just the law. Not limited to the law so we can point to what we have done, but our attitudes and the love and desires that drive us.
Guess I hit the wrong button when I was previewing this post, but wanted to add that I would like to hear any others views and what their thoughts are on these words and the rest of what Jesus said in Matt. 5,6,7.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Dennis Jacobsen Charter Member Forum Moderator[M:30] member is offline
B&R, well indoctrinated, USA/Swedish ex-worker married, kids, axed in '86, free at last in '90!
Joined: Jan 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 219 Location: Castle Rock WA 98611, USA
Re: Salt of the Earth « Reply #1 on Oct 14, 2008, 2:17pm »
In that day and age, salt was VERY valuable, as there were no refrigerators, nor canning. It was the source of preservation. For me, that is a great lesson in this quotation, not merely for it's savor. Today, salt cannot lose its power to preserve as it did in that day, because of it's present pure form, and our knowledge of the necessity to keep it dry.
Nonetheless, imagine if as a preservative, it could no longer preserve. It would be good for nothing whatsoever, even though some savor might remain. If those who believe are indeed the salt of the earth, then they were indeed that which preserved what the Lord brought, generation upon generation. Sad when there are those who do not accept who Christ is, and what He taught, there is no preserving power then.
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