We usually think of salt as something that makes popcorn taste better. And that’s fine. But in the ancient world, salt wasn't a luxury for your fries; it was a lifeline. It was the only thing standing between a piece of meat and total decay - Sunday dinner and starvation.
When Jesus calls us the "salt of the earth," he’s not just saying we should be "tasty" or "nice." He’s articulating our job description - something that's critical - life saving .
Salt is a preservative. Its job is to slow down the rot. To keep things from falling apart.
Let’s be honest: our world feels like it’s rotting in a lot of places right now. We see it in the way we talk to each other, the way we treat the vulnerable, and the way cynicism just seems to eat everything it touches.
As Christians, our "saltiness" isn't our ability to judge the world for rotting. That’s easy. Anyone can point out a mess. Our job is to be the element that stops the decay.
In our Church's Baptismal Covenant we "strive for justice and peace among all people." That’s preservative work. It’s staying in the room when everyone else is walking out. It’s holding onto hope when the culture is spiraling into despair. It’s being the person who says, "No, we aren't going to let this relationship—or this community—turn to dust."
But here’s the catch Jesus says: if the salt loses its saltiness, it’s useless. Meaning, if we become just as cynical, just as divisive, and just as bitter as the world around us, we’ve lost our preservative power. We aren't holding back the rot anymore; we’re just part of it.
Being salt means you bring a different "chemistry" to the room. You’re the one who preserves dignity when things get ugly. You’re the one who preserves truth when everything feels like a lie.
So, look around your life today. Where is the rot starting to set in? Is it in a friendship? In your social media feed? In your own heart?
Don’t just watch it happen. Be the salt. Rub a little grace into the wound. Hold things together. It’s hard work, and it might even sting a little, but it’s what we’re here for.
Stay salty, friends.
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