Salt and Light
Lately, as my wife and our two oldest children head out to their respective jobs in either construction or at local cafes, the younger kids and I have been praying for them. Often, we will pray that God will allow them to be salt and light at their places of employment. It’s a common prayer, and common metaphor amongst followers of Christ. This concept comes from Jesus’ sermon in Matthew 5:13-16, where He describes the identity and role of his followers in the world. Unsurprisingly, we encounter these metaphors several more times throughout the new testament, for example multiple times in John, also in Mark 9, Acts 13, etc. Recently, during an elder meeting as we dove into Ephesians, we gloried at the following passage - “but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light…” (Ephesians 5:8 ESV) - and I was struck at the “you are” declaration of this passage as we discussed it in depth. It definitely piqued my curiosity to explore further
Let’s look at the original teaching in Matthew.
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.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that[a] they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Jesus states, “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world.” As I said before He is declaring our identity and role “of the earth” and “in the world”. What do these metaphors mean for us? Do we understand the implications? Let’s think about these:
Salt of the Earth
Preservation: Historically, salt was used to prevent food from spoiling. We as believers are called to have a positive and preserving influence against the wisdom of man, and the thrust of society
Flavor and Thirst: Salt enhances flavor and provokes thirst. Those who claim Christ should live in a way that makes others spiritually "thirsty" for the grace and truth of God.
Distinctiveness: Jesus warns that if salt loses its saltiness (its taste or ability to enhance), it is no longer useful. This represents the danger of compromising faith to blend in with the surrounding culture.
Essentially this “salt” talk is a call to walk in purity - not only in sexual purity but also in the way we use our tongue. This is one of the clearest ways people will look at us as Christians and recognize a difference. Jesus says throughout the New Testament that one of the distinctive marks of a Christian is that they talk differently from the world. Ephesians 4:29 (NASB) says, "Let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth." Needless to say, we could spend an entire pondering on just ‘unwholesome words’ and how we use our tongues. But the point is to be distinct, preserving wholesomeness.
Light of the World
Visibility: Jesus compares his followers to a city built on a hill that cannot be hidden, or a lamp placed on a stand to light up a room. Faith is meant to be openly lived out, not hidden away. Also, notice the placement - on a hill, on a stand - this is strategic. The city is not in the middle of nowhere, lost in the wilderness. The lamp is not in the corner or tucked behind the bookcase. Both are elevated, seen from afar, shining in all directions.
Navigation: Light exposes darkness, provides guidance, and offers hope. We are light. We shine so others can recognize the right path.
Purpose of Good Deeds: Believers are commanded to let their good deeds shine so that others see them and give glory to God in heaven—not to draw attention to themselves.
So, what does this mean for us as followers of Christ? Jesus was prescribing that we are to be engaging of our culture which, we recognize along with Him, is full of darkness, decay, pollution and sin. We need to be participating in daily life at work, at school, and in the homes of family and friends, rather than withdrawing to isolation.
If we're to live in a way that glorifies God, we're to remember that we are salt and light. Salt doesn’t season salt to be more salty. Salt isn’t eaten alone because the other food is flavorless. Lights aren't supposed to gather together in isolation. Candlesticks don't gather in the same room and just talk about how dark it is. We are supposed to be a city set on a hill. This means we are to be strategically located in areas of darkness. Christians aren't supposed to just huddle together and shake their heads at how lost the world is. They are to go and be positively, kingdomly affecting the decaying and sinful world that they're in – seasoning, provoking thirst, guiding, shining for Christ.
Todd Asmus
Let’s look at the original teaching in Matthew.
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.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that[a] they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Jesus states, “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world.” As I said before He is declaring our identity and role “of the earth” and “in the world”. What do these metaphors mean for us? Do we understand the implications? Let’s think about these:
Salt of the Earth
Preservation: Historically, salt was used to prevent food from spoiling. We as believers are called to have a positive and preserving influence against the wisdom of man, and the thrust of society
Flavor and Thirst: Salt enhances flavor and provokes thirst. Those who claim Christ should live in a way that makes others spiritually "thirsty" for the grace and truth of God.
Distinctiveness: Jesus warns that if salt loses its saltiness (its taste or ability to enhance), it is no longer useful. This represents the danger of compromising faith to blend in with the surrounding culture.
Essentially this “salt” talk is a call to walk in purity - not only in sexual purity but also in the way we use our tongue. This is one of the clearest ways people will look at us as Christians and recognize a difference. Jesus says throughout the New Testament that one of the distinctive marks of a Christian is that they talk differently from the world. Ephesians 4:29 (NASB) says, "Let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth." Needless to say, we could spend an entire pondering on just ‘unwholesome words’ and how we use our tongues. But the point is to be distinct, preserving wholesomeness.
Light of the World
Visibility: Jesus compares his followers to a city built on a hill that cannot be hidden, or a lamp placed on a stand to light up a room. Faith is meant to be openly lived out, not hidden away. Also, notice the placement - on a hill, on a stand - this is strategic. The city is not in the middle of nowhere, lost in the wilderness. The lamp is not in the corner or tucked behind the bookcase. Both are elevated, seen from afar, shining in all directions.
Navigation: Light exposes darkness, provides guidance, and offers hope. We are light. We shine so others can recognize the right path.
Purpose of Good Deeds: Believers are commanded to let their good deeds shine so that others see them and give glory to God in heaven—not to draw attention to themselves.
So, what does this mean for us as followers of Christ? Jesus was prescribing that we are to be engaging of our culture which, we recognize along with Him, is full of darkness, decay, pollution and sin. We need to be participating in daily life at work, at school, and in the homes of family and friends, rather than withdrawing to isolation.
If we're to live in a way that glorifies God, we're to remember that we are salt and light. Salt doesn’t season salt to be more salty. Salt isn’t eaten alone because the other food is flavorless. Lights aren't supposed to gather together in isolation. Candlesticks don't gather in the same room and just talk about how dark it is. We are supposed to be a city set on a hill. This means we are to be strategically located in areas of darkness. Christians aren't supposed to just huddle together and shake their heads at how lost the world is. They are to go and be positively, kingdomly affecting the decaying and sinful world that they're in – seasoning, provoking thirst, guiding, shining for Christ.
Todd Asmus
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