THE CHURCH: THE SALT OF THE EARTH
MATTHEW 5:1-13
TODAY WE COME TO THE END OF A SERIES ON THE SIGNIFICANCE AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CHURCH. JESUS USED A NUMBER OF SYMBOLS TO DESCRIBE THE CHURCH AND THE LAST ONE WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT IS SALT. SALT IS SOMETHING THAT IS READILY AVAILABLE IN MOST REGIONS, AND WE MAY HAVE SOME IDEA OF THE MANY USES IT CAN HAVE FOR US. MY FAVORITE USE THOUGH IS ON FRENCH FRIES AT DAIRY QUEEN, OR MacDONALDS, OR ANY OTHER PLACE WHERE YOU CAN GET FRIES.
JESUS USED SYMBOLS AND TOLD STORIES THAT THE PEOPLE COULD RELATE TO, AND SALT WITH IT’S MANY USES IS SOMETHING WE CAN ALL RELATE TO, ALTHOUGH THE WAY WE RELATE TO IT NOW IS DIFFERENT THAN THE WAY THEY DID IN JESUS’ DAY AS WE SHALL SEE.
SALT TODAY HAS MORE OF A NEGATIVE CONNOTATION. IT HAS A BAD REPUTATION IN HEALTH CIRCLES, BUT I FEEL THAT A SALT IN SMALL QUANTITIES, AND NOT AGAINST A DOCTOR’S ADVICE IS ALL RIGHT.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO TODAY IS SUM UP HOW I FEEL THE CHURCH IS PERFORMING IN THE WORLD TODAY. IF WE ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH, ARE WE SPICING THINGS UP, OR HAVE WE LOST OUR SALTINESS AND POTENCY FOR CHRIST?
IF WE LISTEN TO THE WORLD THE CHURCH IS IN BAD SHAPE. NOT ALL CHURCHES BUT BIBLE BELIEVING CHURCHES DO STAND AGAINST MUCH OF THE MORALLY ACCEPTABLE STANDARDS OF TODAY. WE BELIEVE IN THE COVENANT RELATIONSHIP OF MARRIAGE BETWEEN ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN. WE STAND AGAINST ABORTION AND DIVORCE. WE OPPOSE GOVERNMENTS WHO WANT TO TAKE PRAYER OUT OF SCHOOLS, ALLOW BIBLE READING TO ELEMENTARY STUDENTS, AND DESIRE A SABBATH DAY OF REST. WE STAND FOR THESE THINGS AND I AM NOT ASHAMED OF DOING SO.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT SINCE THE WORLD TURNED IT’S ATTENTION FROM BIBLICAL WAYS, AND NOW FOLLOW A STANDARD WITH NO VALUES AND NO ABSOLUTES, THAT FAMILIES ARE BEING DESTROYED AT AN ALARMING RATE, DIVORCE RATES ARE SKY HIGH AS ARE TEENAGE SUICIDE RATES. HUSBANDS AND WIVES NO LONGER TRUST IN EACH OTHER BECAUSE THEY LIVE OUTSIDE THE COVENANT OF MARRIAGE. THE WORLD HAS NOT GAINED PEACE ON THE BASIS OF ITS ACCEPTANCE OF SOCIAL STANDARDS, IT HAS GAINED ONLY THE TURMOIL OF UNACCEPTANCE BY ITS OWN PEOPLE.
THE WORLD POINTS TO BIBLE BELIEVING CHURCHES AS A GROUP OF NARROW MINDED BIGOTS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE TROUBLE IN THE WORLD TODAY. IN SOME CASES THEY CAN BE RIGHT, BUT ALL CHURCHES ARE NOT LIKE THAT AND WE SHOULD NOT ALL BE PAINTED WITH THE SAME BRUSH, AS THE CHURCH SHOULD NOT PAINT ALL NON-BELIEVERS WITH THE SAME BRUSH. NOT EVERYONE IS BAD AND MOST PEOPLE ARE JUST TRYING TO LIVE THEIR LIVES.
IT WAS NOT THE CHURCH THOUGH THAT APPLAUDED IN NEW YORK WHEN THEIR LEGISLATION TO ALLOW LATE TERM ABORTION WAS PASSED. THERE ABPORTION IS NOW LEGAL RIGHT UP TO THE TIME OF DELIVERY AND AS THE GOVERNOR SAID DEATH OF THE CHILD SHOULD BE ALLOWED EVEN AFTER THAT. THERE IS LEGISLATION THAT COVERS THIS AND IT IS CALLED “MURDER”. IF PEOPLE ONLY KNEW THAT ONE DAY EVERY BABY WHOSE LIFE WAS ENDED BY ABORTION OR MISCARRIAGE WILL BE PRESENT AT THE WEDDING BANQUET OF THE LAMB, AND THEIR VOICES WILL BE ADDED TO THE PRAISE OF THE KING OF KINGS.
IT IS THE CHURCH THAT BROUGHT ABOUT MANY OF THE REFORMS FOR CHILDREN BACK IN THE 1800’S. IT WAS A CHRISTIAN WHO FORMED THE RED CROSS. IT IS THE CHURCH THAT REACHES OUT TO HELP IN TIMES OF NATURAL DISASTER. IT IS THE CHURCH THAT CAN OFFER TRUE PEACE TO FAMILIES WHO HAVE LOST LOVED ONES IN DEATH. IT IS THE CHURCH WHERE PEOPLE TURN TO FOR PRAYER FOR SICK FAMILY MEMBERS, AND WHO WILL STAND FOR PEOPLE WHEN IN LEGAL TROUBLE.
WHEN HOSPITALS IN THE AREA WERE GOING TO MAKE THEIR CHAPELS USABLE FOR ALL RELIGIONS, THE RESPONSE FROM MANY PEOPLE WAS THAT THEY DIDN’T WANT A CENT OF THEIR MONEY TO GO TO USELESS (AND I’M BEING KIND WITH THAT WORD) RENOVATION.
I ONCE HAD A MAN GET MAD AT ME AS PASTOR BECAUSE I WOULDN’T HELP HIM. HIS WIFE WAS LEAVING HIM AND HE WANTED TO HELP HER GO BY GETTING GAS MONEY FOR HER. THE CHURCH DOESN’T SUPPORT NOR HELP FINANCE THE BREAK UP OF A MARRIAGE. WE ARE TO BE THE SALT OF THE EARTH. WE ARE TO MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE.
CONTEXT:
JESUS IS TEACHING HIS DISCIPLES THIS LESSON ON THE BEATITUDES. IT IS A LESSON FOR BELIEVERS, AND THEY ARE THINGS THAT SHOULD BE PRESENT IN A BELIEVERS LIFE. WHEN JESUS LOOKS AT THEM AND SAYS “YOU ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH” IT IS TO MAKE THEM REALIZE THAT THEY HAVE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THIS IS NOT AN OPTION IT IS A COMMAND STATEMENT.
SALT WAS VERY IMPORTANT IN JESUS DAY. THEY WOULD USE IT AS A PRESERVATIVE COVERING FISH TO BE SOLD THE NEXT DAY AFTER CATCH.
SALT WAS ALSO USED MEDICALLY. IF A SOLDIER WAS WOUNDED OR IF A CHILD FELL, THE WOUND WAS BATHED IN SALT AND WATER. IT PROVED TO BE AN EXCELLENT STERILIZATION AGENT.
SALT WAS A FORM OF PAYMENT IN LEIU OF MONEY. THE ROMAN SOLDIERS OF JESUS’ DAY WERE SOMETIMES PAID WITH IT. OUR ENGLISH WORD “SALARY” COMES FROM THE LATIN “SALARIUM” WHIOCH REFERRED TO THESE PAYMENTS. TODAY WE STILL USE THE PHRASE THAT A PERSON IS “WORTH THEIR SALT.”
SALT IS ASSOCIATED WITH GOD’S PRESENCE AND HIS CHARACTER AS IT WAS USED TO MAKE INCENSE IN THE TABERNACLE. THE OLD COVENANT WAS CALLED THE “COVENANT OF SALT
NUMBERS 18:19: WHATEVER IS SET ASIDE FROM THE HOLY OFFERINGS THE ISRAELITES PRESENT TO THE LORD I GIVE TO YOU AND YOUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS AS YOUR PERPETUAL SHARE. IT IS AN EVERLASTING COVENANT OF SALT BEFORE THE LORD FOR BOTH YOU AND YOUR OFFSPRING.”
SO HOW DOES JESUS USE OF “SALT” IMPACT US AND HOW SHOULD IT DIRECT US TODAY. THERE ARE OVER 40 USES FOR SALT THAT I KNOW OF, SOME OF WHICH WE ALREADY LOOKED AT, AND SO WE ARE GOING TO BRIEFLY LOOK AT OF THEM TODAY. TAKE JESUS’ WORDS TO HEART, AND IT CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE AS IT DID THE DISCIPLES.
FIRST: SALT IS DISTINCTIVE:
SALT IS SOMETHING THAT CANNOT BE CONFUSED WITH SOMETHING ELSE. PEOPLE WILL NOT SAY IT’S EITHER “SALT” OR “VANILLA”.
1 PETER 1:15-16:
BUT JUST AS HE WHO CALLED YOU IS HOLY, SO BE HOLY IN ALL YOU DO; 16 FOR IT IS WRITTEN: “BE HOLY, BECAUSE I AM HOLY.”
WE ARE NOT CALLED TO BE THE SAME AS EVERYONE ELSE. WE WANT SALT TO BE SALT. WE DO NOT WANT IT TO BE MUSTARD OR KETCHUP. WE WANT IT TO DO IT’S JOB AND BE DISTINCT IN DOING SO.
THE CHURCH NEEDS TO BE DISTINCT FROM THE WORLD AS WELL. IF WE ARE TO INTRODUCE PEOPLE TO CHRIST AND INVITE THEM TO TURN THEIR LIVES OVER TO CHRIST, THEN WE HAVE TO BE LIVING IN SUCH A WAY AS TO MAKE THEM WANT TO DO SO. WHAT ARE YOU DOING DIFFERENTLY NOW AS A CHRISTIAN THAT WOULD LEAD PEOPLE TO MAKE A DECISION FOR CHRIST? PAUL SAID:
2 CORINTHIANS 5:17: THEREFORE, IF ANYONE IS IN CHRIST, THE NEW CREATION HAS COME: THE OLD HAS GONE, THE NEW IS HERE!
SECOND: SALT WAS USED AS IT IS TODAY, TO FLAVOR FOOD.
THE FOOD DURING JESUS’ LIFETIME WAS VERY BLAND AND WOULD REQUIRE SALT TO IMPROVE IT’S FLAVOR.
CHRIST IS TELLING US THAT IF WE ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH THEN OUR ACTIONS SHOULD HAVE A POSITIVE INFLUENCE ON THE PEOPLE AROUND US.
THE CHURCH IS HERE FOR A PURPOSE. WE ARE HERE FOR A PURPOSE AND THAT IS TO SHARE THE LOVE OF JESUS TO THOSE WE MEET.
1 PETER 3:15-16:
BUT IN YOUR HEARTS REVERE CHRIST AS LORD. ALWAYS BE PREPARED TO GIVE AN ANSWER TO EVERYONE WHO ASKS YOU TO GIVE THE REASON FOR THE HOPE THAT YOU HAVE. BUT DO THIS WITH GENTLENESS AND RESPECT, 16 KEEPING A CLEAR CONSCIENCE, SO THAT THOSE WHO SPEAK MALICIOUSLY AGAINST YOUR GOOD BEHAVIOR IN CHRIST MAY BE ASHAMED OF THEIR SLANDER.
OUR MISSION AS A CHURCH IS TO CHANGE THE WORLD AROUND US, ONE PERSON AT A TIME.
WHEN SALT IS USED TO FLAVOR FOOD, IT CREATES A PERMANENT CHANGE. YOU CANNOT TAKE THE SALT OUT OF THE FOOD ONCE YOU STIR IT IN. THE FOOD IS FOREVER CHANGED.
PEOPLE’S LIVES SHOULD BE FOREVER CHANGED IN A POSITIVE WAY WHEN THEY INTERACT WITH US. THEY MAY NOT ACCEPT CHRIST BUT THEY WILL KNOW THAT THEY ARE APPRECIATED AND LOVED.
COLOSSIANS 4:6 TELLS US:
LET YOUR CONVERSATION BE ALWAYS FULL OF GRACE, SEASONED WITH SALT, SO THAT YOU MAY KNOW HOW TO ANSWER EVERYONE.
THIRD: SALT IS USED TO CREATE THIRST:
THIS USE OF SALT ACTUALLY HAS POINTS FOR BOTH BELIEVERS AND NON-BELIEVERS.
WHEN I WAS YOUNG, I WAS WITH MY FATHER AT THE DRUG STORE. THIS WAS RIGHT AROUND EASTER, AND WE ALWAYS ATE A LOT OF HAM AT EASTER. WE HAD HAM FOR SUPPER AND ONLY AN HOUR HAD GONE BY AND I ASKED HIM FOR A POP BECAUSE I WAS REALLY THIRSTY. IT TURNED OUT THAT HE WAS TOO AND HE GOT ONE FOR US.
WHEN WE GOT HOME WE FOUND THAT THE HAM HAD BEEN BATHED IN A SALT BRINE AND ALLOWED TO STAY IN IT FOR A LONG TIME. IT HAD ENGRAINED ITSELF IN EVERY PART OF THE HAM. YOU HAD TO HAVE A GLASS OF WATER BY YOUR PLACE AT THE TABLE TO EAT IT.
THAT KIND OF THIRST IS BAD, BUT THERE IS A GOOD USE FOR THIRST. PEOPLE CAN THIRST FOR, OR DESIRE, THE THINGS OF GOD.
PSALM 119:11: I HAVE HIDDEN YOUR WORD IN MY HEART THAT I MIGHT NOT SIN AGAINST YOU.
AS CHRISTIANS WE ARE TO KNOW THE WORD OF GOD. WE ARE TO HAVE IT IN OUR MINDS AND BE READY TO USE IT, TO WITNESS AND TO FIGHT OF ATTACKS FROM THE EVIL ONE.
WE ARE ALSO TO PROMOTE A THIRST IN THOSE WHO ARE NOT BELIEVERS, A DESIRE TO HAVE WHAT IT IS WE SHARE.
THE PSALMIST PAINTS A VIVID WORD PICTURE IN PSALM 42 OF A DEER THIRSTING FOR WATER.
PSALM 42: AS THE DEER PANTS FOR STREAMS OF WATER, SO MY SOUL PANTS FOR YOU, MY GOD. 2 MY SOUL THIRSTS FOR GOD, FOR THE LIVING GOD. WHEN CAN I GO AND MEET WITH GOD?
THIS DEER IS SO THIRST THAT HE WILL NOT STOP SEARCHING UNTIL HE FINDS WATER TO DRINK. ARE YOU THAT THIRST FOR THE WORD OF GOD TODAY.
I WAS OUTSIDE ONE TIME PLAYING AS A KID. IT WAS HOT AND WE WERE RUNNING, A LOT, AND I GOT THIRSTY VERY THIRSTY. I RAN HOME AND WENT INTO THE KITCHEN. TO MAKE IT WORSE I THINK MOM’S MINISTER WAS VISITING.
I RAN RIGHT TO THE SINK, DIDN’T BOTHER WITH A GLASS AND JUST PUT MY MOUTH UNDER THE FAUCET AND DRANK. MOM WAS EMBARASSED BUT THAT WATER WAS WHAT I NEEDED TO CONTINUE. THAT’S THE KIND OF THIRST WE NEED TO HAVE AS SALT OF THE EARTH.
FOUR: SALT MELTS ICE
IF JESUS CAN USE ILLUSTRATIONS FROM EVERYDAY LIFE TO PROVE HIS POINTS, I THINK I CAN HAVE A GO WITH THIS ONE IN NORTHERN NEW BRUNSWICK.
WE’VE ALL HAD OUR FILL OF WINTER SNOW AND ICE. THERE IS ONE THING THAT WE DO KNOW AND THAT IS THAT SALT CAN MELT ICE AND GIVE US TRACTION. IT IS STRONGER THAN THE COLD.
AS BELIEVERS WE CAN MELT THE ICE OF A COLD HEART WITH THE GOOD NEWS OF THE GOSPEL. WE CAN LIFT UP THE HURTING AND COMFORT THOSE WHO ARE HEARTBROKEN.
THE SALT MELTS THROUGH THE ICE AND ALLOWS US TO SEE WHAT IS BENEATH IT. AS SALT OF THE EARTH WE CAN SEE THROUGH THE PAIN OF A COLD HEART AND SHARE THE LOVE OF JESUS WITH THAT PERSON.
CONCLUSION:
JESUS ENDS THIS PASSAGE WITH A WARNING.
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 UNDERFOOT.
PLACES ON OF WHICH WAS THE DEAD SEA. THE DEAD SEA IS KNOWN FOR IT’S SALT DENSITY.
DURING JESUS TIME, SALT WAS COLLECTED FROM AROUND THE DEAD SEA, WHERE THE CRYSTALS WERE OFTEN CONTAMINATED WITH OTHER MINERALS. THESE CRYSTALIZED FORMATIONS WERE FULL OF IMPURITIES, AND SINCE THE ACTUAL SALT WAS MORE SOLYBLE THAN THE IMPURITIES, THE RAIN WOULD WASH OUT THE SALT, LEAVING WHAT WAS LEFT WORTHLESS AS IT HAD LOST IT’S SALTINESS. THIS SALT WAS THROWN OUT AS IT HAD NO VALUE EITHER AS A PRESERVATIVE OR FOR FLAVORING.
IT HAD NO VALUE FOR WHAT IT WAS TO BE USED FOR, BUT IT STILL HAD THE POWER TO DESTROY. W, PHILIP KELLER WROTE:
“THE PECULAR PROPERTY OF SALT IS THAT EVEN THOUGH IT MAY HAVE LOST ITS PUNGENCY…IT STILL RETAINS ONE VERY DEVESTATING QUALITY. THIS RARE AND REMARKABLE MATERIAL CAN STILL…DESTROY PLANT LIFE IN THE LAND…THE SAME PRINCIPLE APPLIES IN THE CASE OF THE CHRISTIAN. EITHER OUR LIVES COUNT FOR GOOD AND FOR GOD OR THEY ARE MAKING AN IMPACT FOR EVIL AND THE ENEMY…THE WAY WE LIVE, THE THINGS WE SAY THE ATTITUDES WE ENTERTAIN, THE LIFE STYLE WE ADOPT…ARE CONTINUOUSLY PRODUCING EITHER POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE RESULTS IN SOCIETY…OUR LIVES, WHETHER WE ARE AWARE OR NOT, EITHER COUNT FOR GOD OR AGAINST HIM. THERE SIMPLY IS NO MIDDLE GROUND.”
I WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU WHERE WE STAND AS SALT, BUT THE REALITY IS THAT I CAN’T. THE SUCCESS OF OUR CHURCHES MISSION WILL BE DETERMINED BY YOU, NOT BY ANYTHING THAT I SAY.
A PASTOR ONCE TOLD A COLLEAGUE, “I HAVE 800 MEMBERS IN MY CHURCH” “HOW MANY ARE ACTIVE” HIS FRIEND ENQUIRED? “ALL OF THEM” CAME THE REPLY, “600 ARE ACTIVE FOR THE LORD AND THE REST ARE ACTIVE FOR THE DEVIL.”
YOU ARE GOING TO BE SALT FOR ONE OR THE OTHER BUT ONLY YOU CAN DECIDE WHICH.
