Being Salt in This World

In Jesus’ day, salt had great value. In fact, Roman soldiers were sometimes paid in salt. That’s where we get the expression, “He’s not worth his salt.” Salt was valuable because it stopped the spread of rot in meat. In the days before refrigeration, people would cut meat into strips and embed it in salt to preserve it. The followers of Christ, the salt of this world, serve a similar function.

Christians stop the spread of rot—or evil—in our culture today. Christians stand up for the rights of the unborn. Christians speak out against racism and try to bring about reconciliation. Christians help people in need. That’s what it means to be salt in our culture today.

Another thing salt does is stimulate thirst. If you eat salty popcorn in a movie theater, it will make you thirsty. (And then you’ll have to spring for a soft drink the size of a small wading pool—with free refills—or a $40 bottled water.)

As the salt of the earth, believers stimulate a thirst to know God in others. When people see someone who loves the Lord, walks with Him, and experiences His joy, they get curious. Maybe a little envious. They start to want what the believer has.

That’s how I came to Christ. I had transferred to a new high school. One of my friends warned me, “Greg, the Jesus freaks are everywhere here. Be careful.”

I said, “Oh, yeah. The last thing that’s ever going to happen is that Greg Laurie will become a Jesus freak.” Famous last words, right?

But here’s what interested me about these people: They had joy and happiness—things I didn’t have. I realized that there was an emptiness in my life. It was the believers’ walk with God that attracted me to them. I showed up at one of their meetings but sat far enough away that people wouldn’t think I was one of them. When I heard what it means to be a Christian, I gave my life to the Lord. The thing that ultimately reached me was Christians being salty. Christians living as Christians ought to live was very attractive to me.

Likewise, Christians who have lost their saltiness can make people turn up their noses at our faith. If you treat your faith like a chore—or if you take it seriously only when it’s convenient for you—people will notice. And they’ll judge your faith to be worthless.

If you live your faith with passion, purpose, and joy, people will also notice. And they’ll start to get thirsty.

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