For as long as I can remember, I have heard that Christ followers should be salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16). However, I'm not sure that I've ever thought much about what it really means.
Recently I heard someone being interviewed who talked about how we are called to be salt and light in this world. The host chimed in to point out how most people think salt is just for flavor, but when the Bible was written salt was also used as a preservative. He did not elaborate on this point, but it certainly was an interesting thought to ponder. Hmmm. Besides flavor, we are to preserve.
While I thought about this idea, I decided to see what salt actually does for food. Since I'm not a scientist, I relied on a quick internet search which showed me that Preservation was the very first item listed. Salt prevents microbial growth. Those pesky microbes will eat away at the nutrients of food until it becomes spoiled.
Second on the list is how salt is used for flavor. This is what I always think of first. Grab the salt shaker and make those French Fries extra good! By definition, salt enhances the flavors that are already there and even improves the aroma.
Third, salt improves the texture of food. It tenderizes meat, it helps the gluten in the bread work better, and a pinch of salt can even soften and brighten vegetables when cooked.
Armed with this information, I start to think about how I can apply this to my own life and be salt in this world.
Since salt improves flavor, texture, and tenderizes food, then I should be enhancing my world. For me that could look like encouraging others—being a cheerleader instead of competing.
If I am to be a preservative in this world, that would mean I need to uphold God's Word. That means living my life in such a way that biblical truths can be seen in my life, especially when the world is going the opposite direction. Sometimes that means speaking up, not to uplift myself, but to uphold God's truth. But being "Salt" should be done with respect and love. My mind goes to watching a grandmother baking bread for her family, as she puts all the ingredients together including a pinch of salt. When the bread is done, she serves it to an eager family along with many other goodies with salt. Salt is not the main ingredient. So if I'm only serving salt to my friends, they will spit it out and quit listening. The last thing I want to do is push people away from me or Jesus.
I've seen a lot of salty conversations this year in social media. When some people are passionate about something, they tend to make it their main topic of conversation. After a while, too much salt makes me feel a little bloated. I need more water and it makes my blood pressure go up. That's when I tend to tune out of the conversation. I know when I've had enough salt.
On the flip side of this, the lack of salt can make really bland food and also cause those pesky microbes to start eating away at the good stuff. So being salt by standing up for biblical principles is good. I heard someone say that when something is taken away, there is always something waiting to fill that void. For example when prayer was taken out of public school, Satan was waiting to fill that void. When I was in school, religious groups were still tolerated as extra curricular activities on campuses, but that all started to change when I became an adult. I volunteered with Campus Life and saw it change. It seems like schools have gone downhill since then and many schools have become an unsafe place for kids. Perhaps a little more salt is needed in many areas of society.
Finally, as I have conversations in person or on social media, I pray that I don't give a steady diet of salt to others. But instead, I hope that I'm more like the loving grandmother who serves a tasty recipe with the right balance of ingredients and made with love. The end result is to point others toward Christ.
