are you salt

[IreneM]

We can't live with out salt and we are commanded to be the salt of the earth

Are we ???

Just food for thought

in Christ

IreneM

[Dad Ernie]

Greetings Irene M,

We can't live with out salt  and we are commanded to be the salt of the earth 

Are we  ???

I gather you are referring to:

Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

Matthew 5:14-16 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

My own interpretation of these verses is that to God we are "salt". The world is like a big plate of food before the Lord. WE are sprinkled lightly over the "food" so as to make this world palatable to God so that He does not destroy it for all its evil. You might ask yourself "What are we 'cast out' of and by whom?" My answer would be the "Kingdom of God" and "God".

To the world we are to be the "light". So the first verse refers to our vertical relationship and the next 3 verses are in regards to our horizontal relationships.

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

[IreneM]

salt makes you thirsty are we salt to others so that they are thirsty for the Lord????

or are we weeds crowing that no one wants

In Christ

IreneM

[Guest Obtuse Monkey]

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men."

When salt is thrown onto the ground, nothing can grow there. It kills all crops, life; look at the dead sea.

Salt doesn't lose it's saltiness. However, it's asking if all salt were to no longer be salty, how would you make it salty again? You'd have to use salt, but that's not salty, so it would be impossible. Only God would be able to do something such as that.

We are salt, but my interpretation is that saltiness represents our faith. If we lose faith, God can give us that faith.

By the way, not sure what the above comment about making food palatable was meant to mean. It seems to imply the world is inherently evil, and that we are the only good things. If you could elaborate and explain, I'd appreciate it.

[nebula]

I had a friend in college who took a trip to Israel, and in this trip he and the others learned about Hebrew culture and stuff.

In those days, it turns out, salt was mined from the Dead Sea area (no suprise). But it was cut in blocks and in such a way that it was (often?) dragged on the ground, and thus the outer portion got very dusty. These blocks were sold to individuals, who used them for their food. But since the outer portion was mixed with dust, they had to cut away the salt from the center. After a time, the pure salt was spent and all that remained was the outer portion that was mixed with dust. At this stage, the people considered the block of salt to have "lost its savor."

This is what Jesus was alluding to in this teaching.

[Work in Progress]

I think it's good to remember that salt can also burn too. We are called to live the Gospel out in front of others, so they will know Christ too. But we sometimes have to speak the truth in love - it may burn like salt in a wound at first, but, balanced with Christ's love, that burning is just what many need. It sure is what I needed, and still do at times.

[Catsmeow]

Salt was commonly used as a preservative as well. When salt is no longer available to serve it's purpose to "preserve"...food decays and becomes inedible.

I think there's a spiritual analogy here as well.