Salt of the Earth

Here is one last entry on my classes at the the Sunset Workshop. James said Rudy Wray was endearing so I went to his class on “Kingdom Living in the World”. His main text was Matthew 5:13. ““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 by men.””

Rudy spoke of having seen a Peanuts cartoon where Peppermint Patty is blaming Charley Brown for her being sent to the office. “If you would have been a good enough influence, Chuck, I wouldn’t have had to go there.” Although she was passing the buck, it was a great example of how we should be the good influence on the world to help keep them out of trouble. That is what this scripture means: We all (Christians) are the salt of the earth. The following is my interpretation of Rudy’s class:
Salt at the time had an infinite value. The word ‘salary’ comes from salt. The roman guards were paid in salt. This is also where the phrase “worth your salt” comes from. As Christians, we are God’s masterpiece, (Eph 2:10) created to be His medium through whom His work is done.
One function of salt is that it is a preservative that controls decay. As God’s workmen, we are a moral antiseptic for the world. We should, unlike Chuck, help to prevent trouble making. We are the influence in our world that prevents lower standards.
Since salt also promotes thirst, Christians are to make Christ desirable so people will want more of Him. However, salt is not effective unless it comes in contact. We can not be effective if we do not come in contact with people.
The second part of the passage refers to salt’s ability to lose its saltiness. Rain can wash salt away from minerals, leaving a substance that looks like salt, but has no salty flavor.
Mahatma Gandhi said that “the greatest hindrances to Christianity in India are other Christians”. When you put that with the ability of salt to kill (plants, snails…), then you must realize that either we are working for God or against Him.
Being the salt of the earth is a big responsibility. It does not say we could or we should be salt. It says that we are salt. If you are worth your salt then you will recognize the masterpiece that you are, and work for Him.

It is my understanding that salt is a symbol of loyalty and friendship. (Maybe this is why Lot’s wife turned to a pillar of salt once she turned around; thus she broke her loyalty with God.) Salt was used as a covenant sign (Lev 2:3, Num 18:19), it was not suppose to be left out of the sacrifices. In 2 Kings 2:20-22, Elisha poured salt into the pool of Jericho to heal the water. Maybe he used salt to symbolize not only the purification function of salt, but also the covenant faithfulness of the Lord. Getting back to the scripture in Matthew, a person who has once joined in a “salt covenant” with God and then breaks it, is fit only to be thrown away. Because we are salt, we must remain loyal to God in order to not lose our salty properties.

The flavor property of salt is also used in Colossians 4:6: “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” We have to remain flavorable to be make others desire Christ. Mankind is without taste so we are sent to sprinkle peace, knowledge, justice… we are sent to add the flavor. I came across this interesting quote from Oswald Chambers:
“A Christian is salt, and salt is the most concentrated thing known. Salt preserves wholesomeness and prevents decay. It is a disadvantage to be salt. Think of the action of salt on a wound. If you get salt into a wound, it hurts, and when God’s children are amongst those who are “raw” toward God, their presence hurts. The man who is wrong with God is like an open wound, and when “salt” gets in, it causes annoyance and distress and he is spiteful and bitter. The disciples of Jesus preserve society from corruption; the “salt” causes excessive irritation which spells persecution for the saint.”
Oswald Chambers (1874–1917)

Rudy was very endearing. I wish I could have stayed to hear his flashlight story while he talked about being the light of the world. I tell you one thing, I am not going to let myself be thrown out and trampled by all men. No unsaltiness here!

Kathy