Many Montanans savor their meat – marinating it, rubbing it, glazing it, “salting” it – enhancing its taste. Jesus said his followers would similarly impact culture – Mt. 5:13 – “You are the salt of the earth.” Following Jesus adds zest and zing!
Our Deep Need
An extended translation of Proverbs 13:2 would read:
- “The rot of the world, the flesh, and the devil
- have twisted us and our ways of living so that
- our souls can deal ‘treacherously – faithlessly – deceitfully – acting covertly’ (these words translate a Hebrew word used 48x in the Old Testament)
so that
- we desire to devour and wolf down what is ‘violent and wrong – including verbal and physical abuse'” (a word used 60x in the OT).
These two dangerous words are used 108 times in the OT. Think Hollywood. Salt is needed! Even a few small grains make a difference.
A Need Greater than We Expect
Jesus sees that and more. Still, he warns: “But if the salt loses its ‘saltiness,’ how can it be made salty again?” Lacking courage or stamina, we can disengage. Mom once read to me the Douai-Reims translation: “If the salt loses its virtue.” “Virtue” – “manliness” – “truth!”
Jesus continues: “It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.”
What a wretched progression.
Both “saltiness” and “virtue” translate the Greek “moranthe” – “flat, boring, without edge, foolish, silly.” Let’s look at two of the four times the NT uses this word.
What We Make Without God – Romans 1:21, 22
Paul: “Although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became ‘fools'” (our word – “without salt” – “without virtue”).
So, lack of worship, ingratitude, and self-deception produce folly – life missing its deeper purpose – life without edge. Aha.
What God Makes – 1 Corinthians 1:20
Paul again: “Where is the one who is wise? Has not God made ‘foolish’ (our word – “without salt,” “without virtue”) the wisdom of the world?”
Creator God, who “made foolish” worldly wisdom, has made a lot – what a materialist! But, when Paul asks: “Has not God made ‘foolish’ the wisdom of the world,’?” this is another kind of making. It is like the making of hell – a place described by Jesus more than anyone! If left to our own devices, we succumb to worldly wisdom. Hell and such ‘folly’ become our natural destination. How sobering.
Some Roadblocks
What or who can divert us from the broad way of destruction to the narrow path of life? The International Olympic Committee’s ‘branding’ campaign is “Become the Light.” May God prosper them. And, what about other leaders – in politics, art, sports, education, military, and media – showing the way? By God’s grace, they may.
Still, being a leader does not necessarily bring understanding. God allows even fools to be kings (Eccl. 4:13). To a great leader, God said: “I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honor, though you do not acknowledge me” (Is 45:4). Go figure!
Perhaps people who claim to know God will be roadblocks to destruction. Not necessarily. Paul reminded self-righteous Israel, those who had not yet “accepted the good news” of the gospel (Rom. 10:16), that God had said: “With a foolish nation I will make you angry” (Rom 10:19, quoting Dt. 32:21). These so-called “law keepers” were appalled! How could God prosper such lawless people? Instead of being roadblocks to evil, God warns the self-righteous, those lacking the love of Jesus, they will develop road rage. This is what their nature does. “I will make you angry.” But their outrage, their “salt,” eventually sputters, becomes insipid.
Although Jesus shows us appropriate anger, have you noticed how many people are simply angry? Connect the dots. God makes “angry” the bland salt – those to “be thrown out and trampled by men.” Such salt has lost its essence – its edge. It does not truly point people to God. Another roadblock – collapsed.
A Way Forward
Still, Jesus proceeds: “You are the light of the world…let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Mt. 5:14,16).
When we need “light,” we need Jesus. He says: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (Jn 8:12).
Really? Wasn’t the “light” of Jesus obscured on the cross when the sun refused to shine and Jesus entered the deepest darkness of all? Apparently.
But, in the “foolishness” of the “word of the cross” is the “power of God” (1 Cor 1:18) to energize folks like us with – hidden only for a time – the light of eternal life. “He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves” (Col. 1:13). “In a crooked and depraved generation, you shine like stars in the universe” (Phil. 2:15).
For example, despite initial intense opposition by the Irish, Patrick preached the Gospel. “It is not a ‘candle under a bushel’ that I will make of myself.” Patrick’s bright light went all over Ireland, preaching, baptizing, building churches, communities.
Two Final Realities
God is sovereign. Even during the reign of leaders who do not acknowledge him, God promises: “From the rising of the sun to the place of its setting, men will know there is none besides me. I am the LORD, and there is no other” (Is. 45:6). So despite our folly and anger – life trampling our salt – God gets the last word.
God redeems. Not having a better story to tell, God tells the story of the cross again and again. There, instead of God saying: “Be salty and shine and you will live,” he says to redeemed sinners: “Because of Jesus, you are salt and light.” In Christ, he gives us an A+ and then says: “Go, be salty; go, shine.” Let’s.
Note 1: “No life can surpass that of a man who quietly continues to serve God in the place where Divine Providence has placed him.” – C. H. Spurgeon
Note 2: “The problem with Western Christians is not that they aren’t where they should be, but that they aren’t what they should be where they are.” – Os Guinness
