Why do we add salt to our food? I believe the answer to be very informative to our call as Christ followers in view of Matthew 5:13,
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet." (ESV)
The Greek word translated "lost its taste" is, mōranthe, from mōraino, meaning "to be a fool" or "be foolish". So what does it mean to be a fool? A primary rule of studying the Bible is to let the Bible define itself. Psalms 14:1a says,
The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” (ESV)
A fool, then, is someone who denies the existence of God, and foolishness is acting as though you do not believe in God. How then may we know if we have lost our saltiness? By understanding what salt does...
The following six purposes for salt are borrowed from http://foodreference.about.com/od/Ingredients_Basics/a/Functions-Of-Salt-In-Food.htm
1. Preservative
2. Texture enhancer
3. Flavor enhancer
4. Nutrient source
5. Binder
6. Color enhancer
When you read how salt accomplishes each of its tasks, the analogy of being salt becomes even more profound.
1. Salt draws the moisture out of food. Moisture is essential to microbial growth. In other words, the existence of salt reduces the opportunity for dangerous microbes to grow. As believers, just our presence in society has the influence of preventing sin from developing in society.
2. Salt increases yeast fermentation, gluten formation, and gelatinization of protein cells, each of which greatly affect the texture of bread. As believers, our very presence should cause changes in the texture of society.
3. Interestingly, while we may enjoy salt just as salt, its greatest asset to food is bringing out the best flavors in the food it is added to itself. Ironically, salt when by itself is almost overpowering.
4. Again, while too much salt is not good for us, salt is an essential nutrient, without which we could not survive.
5. The gelatinization spoken of above has an additional effect. It binds the food together. In other words, we as believers should be helping to hold society together. We should, particularly among our brothers and sisters in Christ, have the influence of unifying, not dividing.
6. Finally, salt makes colors more vibrant. The life of a believer should enhance the appearance of the society in which they live, not make it ugly.
When we look at this list, I wonder if we don’t need to take a new perspective of what it means to be in the world, but not of the world. Perhaps rather than fighting against so many things, we should try demonstrating to society the benefits of living like Christ. Our lives should help prevent harm taking place in our society, enrich the texture and character of our society, bring out the best in the people around us, strengthen the society and people we are around, build unity and cohesiveness, and generally make the society in which we live more beautiful and vibrant.
I have to wonder what would happen if society saw believers more from the perspective of positively demonstrating Christ-like behavior, and demonstrating the benefits of a Godly life, rather than continually tearing down those who do not believe is Christ. What would happen if the simply saw us living what we believe rather than demanding others to live in accordance with what we believe.
Yes, we absolutely need to teach what is right and wrong in accordance with God’s Word among ourselves, and be willing to graciously explain what we do believe, but demanding that others conform to our beliefs is not what it means to be salt.
The last observation I would like to make is this… a pile of salt that stays off by itself is not fulfilling the purpose of salt. Salt in a salt shaker accomplishes nothing. Salt can study continuously its purpose, but if it never gets out of the shaker, it is useless.
Be salt
