The Use of Salt

Introduction

Salt is the most common and basic seasonings available. It enhances the flavor of bland food and it is also used as a preservative. In this article, we’ll look at the uses of the word, ‘salt’, and its connection to Christians.

Salt of the Earth

Webster’s dictionary defines the phrase, ‘Salt of the earth’ this way; An individual or group considered to embody the noblest human qualities. I’m sure you’ve heard this phrase before to mean the ‘backbone of an organization’; the ones who keeps things going but prefer not to take any of the credit. Another saying is, ‘They are the cogs in a well-oiled machine’.

Christians are considered as the salt of the earth by Jesus in his sermon on the mount. He says in Mt. 5:13, “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. Looking at the first part, he refers to those who follow him as the salt of the earth; the ones who keep things afloat in the world and prevents the putrefying and deterioration of worldliness to overtake everything.

Someone once said that the world would be a better place if we got rid of religion. Let’s see what the scriptures say about that. In Genesis 6:11-12, The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. There was a lack of ‘salt’ or religion in the world and God destroyed the wickedness with the great flood (vs. 13).

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

In the days of Isaiah the prophet, Why should you be stricken again? You will revolt more and more. The whole head is sick, And the whole heart faints. From the sole of the foot even to the head, There is no soundness in it, But wounds and bruises and putrefying sores; They have not been closed or bound up, Or soothed with ointment.  (Isa. 1:5-6)

In the day of Paul the apostle, And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 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, 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.  (Eph. 2:1-3)

Without salt in the world, or religion, the wickedness would overpower everything and there would be no hope for humanity. This is why Christians need to be an example to the rest; to follow in the footsteps of Jesus and encourage others to do the same.

Seasoned with Salt

The Apostle Paul writes in Col. 4:6, “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” Here Paul talks about your speech being seasoned with salt. As we have already discussed, salt is a flavor enhancer. What Paul is telling Christians that when you talk make each word count. Don’t talk for talking’s sake or just to hear the sound of your voice. Remember what Jesus said in Mt. 12:36, “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.”

The opposite of this is what we call, ‘salty language’. This is foul language that flows forth as freely as any other type of speech. Too much salt ruins a good meal and too much of bad language ruins a person. As Paul writes in Eph. 4:29, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” If we are to be judged by our speech, then we need to watch what we say.

https://a-wedding-in-paradise.com/salt-ceremony/

The Salt Covenant

In the Old Testament there was what was called, ‘The Salt Covenant’. It is discussed in Num. 18:19, “All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer to the LORD, I have given to you and your sons and daughters with you as an ordinance forever; it is a covenant of salt forever before the LORD with you and your descendants with you.”  Since salt is a preservative, it is used between two people to make a pact with one another; “preserve the relationship” for a set time. God required salt to be used in sacrifices (Lev. 2:13) as a “preservative” for a covenant with Him and His people.

Unflavored Salt

Going back to Jesus’ statement in Mt. 5:13, he states that if salt loses it flavor, it is good for nothing. If a Christian loses his ‘flavor’, and becomes like world; he is good for nothing, will be tossed out, and trampled underfoot. In other words, he will be thrown into the fires of Hell on the Day of Judgment.

Conclusion

Christians need to be flavored with salt; nothing fancy to draw unwanted attention and utilize their uniqueness to set the example for others. As common as a seasoning salt is, so should a Christian be.