Bright and Salty

Salty!  

Matthew 5:13-20

Salt and light

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its saltiness, how will it become salty again? It’s good for nothing except to be thrown away and trampled under people’s feet. 14 You are the light of the world. A city on top of a hill can’t be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they put it on top of a lampstand, and it shines on all who are in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before people, so they can see the good things you do and praise your Father who is in heaven.

Christ told the crowd who had gathered, “you are the salt of the earth.” He was talking to the entire crowd, not a specific person. Salt, like faith, needs to be salty in order to have any effect. Salt isn’t a flavor without being tasted, and faith isn’t faith without being practiced. The same can be said of theology, that is the applied understanding of Biblical truths; theology isn’t theology unless it is practical and applied in lifelong practice.  The Bible is a book of salt and light; it becomes a living document when the Spirit lives and breathes through our interpretation and practice of God’s word.

“You are the light of the world.” Think of your witness as the light within a lighthouse, it’s only effective when it can be seen. Darkened lighthouses ward no one away from danger. Being a Christian who hears the word and does nothing with it is akin to being a darkened lighthouse. Remember, you are not the lighthouse, “You are the light of the world.”

Each person is called to give a witness and to share that with the world. Let your light shine before people so that they might praise God. Your witness must reach and be seen by others, which requires interaction. Posting to social media doesn’t shine a light into the world as brightly as a life filled with compassionate action. Instead of telling the world about what it is to be light, show the world.

How will you choose to share the light of God? What will you do?

Will you shine with the light of love by reaching out to those in need? Will you be salty by confronting unjust policy and law with prophetic truths? Will you shine with the light of compassion by seeking out someone who is different and listening to their story without judgment? Will you help other taste the saltiness of God by standing up to bullies and tyrants with loving-kindness? Will you illuminate the world by showing mercy to all who have wronged you because God is merciful? Will you enhance the flavor of the melting pot that makes up our world through a salty witness that proclaims God’s love for all regardless of creed, origin, orientation, belief, race, gender, or class?

How will you proclaim God by living as the salt and light you are?