Salt and Light

This post is part 3 of my “Join Me on The Mountainside” series but it stands on its own just fine.

Many believe that to achieve spiritual growth we must leave modern society and live by ourselves far away from others. Many are so concerned with their personal holiness that they do not want to risk defilement by interacting with those they consider spiritually inferior. Jesus challenges this elitist and exclusivist approach to spirituality with the illustrations of salt and light.

If the beatitudes describe the essential character of the disciples of Jesus, the salt and light metaphors indicate their influence for good in the world.
[…] What possible influence could the people described in the beatitudes exert in this hard, tough world? What lasting good can the poor and the meek do, the mourners and the merciful, and those who try to make peace not war? Would they not simply be overwhelmed by the floodtide of evil? What can they accomplish whose only passion is an appetite for righteousness, and whose only weapon is purity of heart? Are not such people too feeble to achieve anything, especially if they are a small minority in the world?
- John R. W. Stott and John R. W. Stott, The Message of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7): Christian Counter-Culture, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985), 57. (bold mine)

Salt of the Earth

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.”
- Matthew 5:13 NKJV

Jesus’ illustration of salt and light comes right after the beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12 discussed in detail in my posts Blessed are You parts 1 and 2.) and commenting on this context Craig Blomberg has the following insight.

In light of the countercultural perspectives enunciated in the Beatitudes, it would be easy to assume that Jesus was calling his followers to a separatistic or quasimonastic life-style. Here Jesus proclaims precisely the opposite. Christians must permeate society as agents of redemption. 
- Craig Blomberg, Matthew, vol. 22, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 102.

Whenever salt is mentioned, I primarily think about flavor in food, but Blomberg points out that when we take into consideration the historical and cultural context, Jesus’ audience probably viewed salt differently than most of us do today. Blomberg says it is unlikely that ancient people thought of salt primarily as a taste enhancer.

Of the numerous things to which salt could refer in antiquity, its use as a preservative in food was probably its most basic function. Jesus thus calls his disciples to arrest corruption and prevent moral decay in their world.
- Ibid

Along these same lines, the book Thoughts from the Mount of Blessings says the following.

Salt is valued for its preservative properties; and when God calls His children salt, He would teach them that His purpose in making them the subjects of His grace is that they may become agents in saving others.
- Thoughts from the Mount of Blessings p35

I especially like the insight that is shared in the following paragraph.

Salt must be mingled with the substance to which it is added; it must penetrate and infuse in order to preserve. So it is through personal contact and association that men are reached by the saving power of the gospel. They are not saved in masses, but as individuals. Personal influence is a power. We must come close to those whom we desire to benefit.
- Ibid p36 (bold mine)

The Bible presents humanity, when left to its own devices as entirely corrupt.

11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.
- Genesis 6:11-12 NKJV

2 The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men,
To see if there are any who understand, who seek God.
3 They have all turned aside,
They have together become corrupt;
There is none who does good,
No, not one.
- Psalm 14:2-3 NKJV

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
- Ephesians 2:1-3 NKJV

2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. 3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.
- Titus 3:2-3 NKJV

According to Jesus’ illustration of salt, the remedy for this fallen human nature is the presence of His disciples among the world’s population.

The character and principles of Christians, brought into close contact with it, are designed to arrest the festering corruption of humanity and season its insipidity.
- Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vol. 2 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 20.

By calling His followers the “salt of the earth” Jesus highlights the vital power of the Christian. When we have the love of Jesus in our hearts, the righteousness of Christ pervades our lives, we discover that the love of Christ is diffusive and aggressive. When the love of God is dwelling in us it will flow out to others. Our unselfish interest and love will warm the hearts of those around us. We do not do this by our own efforts, but rather the Holy Spirit accomplishes this in our hearts and in the lives of those around us.

What if the salt loses its flavor?

Not surprisingly, there is debate over the notion of Salt losing its saltiness. Sodium Chloride (NaCl) is a stable compound and it is unlikely (impossible?) to turn it into any other compound. But salt does not have to literally lose its saltiness for Jesus’ point to be accurate and true. Essentially, who would want salt that is not salty?

There are a number of possibilities for salt to seem less salty and those circumstances are related to salt being mixed with other substances that cause it to lose its purity. So if salt were to become mixed with impure substances causing it to become worthless as a preservative it would not have any other use.

If Christians become assimilated to non-Christians and contaminated by the impurities of the world, they lose their influence. The influence of Christians in and on society depends on their being distinct, not identical
- John R. W. Stott and John R. W. Stott, The Message of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7): Christian Counter-Culture, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985), 60.

Those who are more self-centered, read this passage and suddenly become concerned about their salvation. “Oh no! If I stop being salty I’ll lose my salvation. I need to make sure I preserve my saltiness!” This would then cause people to become “overly salty?” or their “saltiness” becomes a performance. But according to Jesus’ illustration, the whole point of the “saltiness” of the Christian is the influence it will have on those around them. We are not salty because our salvation depends on it, we are salty because we want to be effective agents of positive change and redemption.

Live your life with a focus on mission, it is much better than living a life focused on fear. Stop focusing on holding on to your salvation and focus on being an agent of change and redemption.

If that Christianity on which the health of the world depends, does in any age, region, or individual, exist only in name, or if it contain not those saving elements for want of which the world languishes, […] Since living Christianity is the only “salt of the earth,” if men lose that, what else can supply its place?
- Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vol. 2 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 20.

Imagine people, recognizing their poverty of soul, realizing the insipidity of their lives, approach someone who claims to be a follower of God and discover this person lacks “saltiness” and is thus unable to help them. Of what value is this supposed follower of God?

Your personal walk with God is not just about you, it is about all those who will come into contact with you and the influence you will have on them. When you come to God and desire to grow in your relationship, do not do it in a selfish way, but do it out of a desire to be an instrument in God’s hand to bless those around you! Unless we have a living faith in Christ as a personal Savior it is impossible to make our influence felt in the world. How can we possibly give to others that which we do not possess? It is in proportion to our own devotion and consecration to Christ that we exert an influence for the blessing and uplifting of humanity.

When we lack love, our “good” Christian behavior is simply a performance and at most evidence of discipline and self-control.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
- 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 NKJV

By contrast, when the love of God fills our hearts it will naturally flow to those around us. Not because they have done anything to deserve it but because love is the source of our actions.

Light of the World

14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
- Matthew 5:14-16 NKJV

More specifically Jesus is the light of the world (John 1:4; 8:12; 9:5) so we reflect His light. The life of Christ in our souls causes His love to be revealed in our characters making us the light of the world. We have no light in and of ourselves.

 […] as the disciples of Jesus, we are not to conceal the truth we know or the truth of what we are. We are not to pretend to be other than we are, but be willing for our Christianity to be visible to all. 
- John R. W. Stott and John R. W. Stott, The Message of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7): Christian Counter-Culture, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985), 62.

Here Jesus is calling us to openly live our lives as our true Christian selves and not be ashamed of Christ. Our lives should match what Jesus described in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) and those who witness our good words will glorify God because they will realize that it is not our light but Jesus’ light reflected in us and even our good works are evidence of the Holy Spirit working in us and through us for the benefit of those around us.

Jesus is the great source of illumination for the entire world, however, He chooses to be revealed through us, his human followers. Jesus came to reveal the Father, and now we are sent to reveal Jesus to the world. Think about this, God’s blessings are being bestowed through human instruments! God using you to bless others. You are the answer to your neighbor’s prayer. God wants to do this through you, are you willing to be a light for the world?

Imagine the angels of glory waiting to communicate through you light and power from heaven to those who are dying in sin. When you refuse the influence of the Holy Spirit in your life, you are robbing those around you of the blessings they could receive. But Jesus is not saying for us to make our light shine or make our light shine brighter, but rather for us to let our light shine. Jesus wants to shine through us, we just have to allow Him to do so. It is also true that if we are not connected with Jesus, we will have no light to share with others.

Trials patiently borne, blessings gratefully received, temptations manfully resisted, meekness, kindness, mercy, and love habitually revealed, are the lights that shine forth in the character in contrast with the darkness of the selfish heart, into which the light of life has never shone.
- Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing p.44

Practical Application

At first glance, salt and light are very different, but Jesus was intentional with His illustrations.

‘Salt and light have one thing in common: they give and expend themselves—and thus are the opposite of any and every kind of self-centred religiosity.’

Nevertheless, the kind of service each renders is different. In fact, their effects are complementary. The function of salt is largely negative: it prevents decay. The function of light is positive: it illumines the darkness.

So Jesus calls his disciples to exert a double influence on the secular community, a negative influence by arresting its decay and a positive influence by bringing light into its darkness. For it is one thing to stop the spread of evil; it is another to promote the spread of truth, beauty and goodness.
-  John R. W. Stott and John R. W. Stott, The Message of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7): Christian Counter-Culture, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985), 64–65.

It is also worth noting that salt and light make no noise. You notice the influence of salt and you experience light yet they are not loud. Jesus did not say we are a loud siren or clanging bell. Salt and light naturally make a difference without artificial effort, they are just their pure selves. Being salt and light is not a performance but rather a revelation of our truest selves. The purer the salt and the light the better. We do not have to try harder, we have to just get out of the way and allow God to work through us for His honor and glory and for the benefit of those around us.

In light of Jesus’ call for us to be light and salt, are you willing to make a difference? Are you willing to be different in a way that blesses those around you and points them to Jesus? Even if it causes you to be treated negatively? (Matthew 5:10-12)

This is God’s purpose in calling you. It has always been God’s purpose in calling His people. This was made clear when God called Abraham and said “I will bless you… and you will be a blessing!” Genesis 12:2.

Connect deeply with God and allow Him to shine through you and use you mightily for the salvation of those around you.