Salt of the EARTH
January 28th, 2008In Matthew 5:13, Jesus describes us as the “salt of the earth.” This is a powerful description of who we are to be in our world. As I think about the description, I wonder why Jesus did not just call us ’salt.’ Why did he add, ‘of the EARTH’ to the statement?
We have heard sermons about how salt is a preservative; how it gives seasoning to food; how it is a medical aid; and even how it is able to melt the ice. That does not have to be ’salt of the earth.’ That could be other salts, too. In fact, I season my food with sea salt and it has many of the same characteristics as other salts.
Perhaps there are a couple of things that we can add to the expression. First, ’salt of the earth’ is mixed with the earth. As Christians, we do not generally want to ‘dirty ourselves’ in the sinful world. Yet, that is what Jesus has called us to do. We are to go and season the world and we cannot do that in the salt shaker. We have to mix with the earth to fulfill our function.
Second, Jesus is giving us the task that he began. He is not sending his people anywhere he did not first go. It is thought that the stable in which Jesus was born was a dirty place. There were possibly layers of animal dung and other kinds of filth present when Mary gave birth to the Son of God. Certainly Jesus saw the very worst of man during his public ministry and, especially in the crucifixion event. Yet he came to a dark, sin-stained, ugly world to give it life. He sends us to do the same.
The principle to which Jesus alludes is seen in other ways. In Matthew 13 he describes the kingdom of God as leaven in a lump of dough. It has to mix with the dough in order to do its job.
We do not have the luxury of isolating ourselves from the world in which we live. We cannot retreat into our “ivory tower” and expect to impact people. It is only when we mix with the earth (or dough) that we have the seasoning, preserving, healing impacts.
Keep The Light Burning!
Perry Greene
