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In recent decades there have been a lot of bad reports about salt – that it is not good for your health. We all know that a diet that is high in sodium chloride can result in hypertension, obesity, and heart disease. Some of us have probably had to cut down on our salt intake because of this. But in the ancient world salt was highly valued by men. The Roman historian Pliny said, "Nothing is more useful than salt and sunshine." Do you know that the word ‘salary’ actually comes from the Roman word ‘salarium’ which means ‘money given to a Roman soldier to buy salt’?

Salt was in demand in ancient times primarily because of its use in food preparation and cooking. And just as food is flat and tasteless without salt, so our Lord tells us that, without a "salty" quality, a follower of His is an "insipid disciple." "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…" (Matthew 5:13). Let us learn two things that are true of such a person:

"…but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted?" The word ‘savour’ here means ‘taste’ or ‘flavour.’ Salt is a seasoning which brings out the natural flavour of food. Do you know that the word ‘salad’ is derived from salt? This is because the earliest form of salad dressing was simply adding salt to vegetables. The words ‘sauce’ and ‘salami’ are also derived from the Latin word for salt.

In the same way that salt provides good flavour to your food, we as Christians should provide a good influence upon the world. Our lives should make a difference in the lives of the people we come into close contact with, to influence them for the better. The impact of our life on them should in some way help to bring them nearer to the knowledge of truth, and closer to God. Salt also makes people thirsty. Our lives should create a desire in the people we meet for the Water of life (John 4:10; 7:38).

We have heard testimonies of how a community was wonderfully transformed by the presence of just one Christian who loved the Lord. Such was the testimony of a missionary by the name of John Geddie, who came to an island in Melanesia known today at Vanuatu. After he died, a tablet was placed in the church he planted with these words:"In memory of John Geddie, D.D., born in Scotland, 1815, minister in Prince Edward Island seven years, Missionary sent from Nova Scotia to Aneiteum for twenty-four years. When he landed in 1848, there were no Christians here, and when he left in 1872 there were no heathen."

Besides being a seasoning, salt is also used as a preservative. E.g. salted fish, salted vegetables (kiam chye). The Egyptians soaked dead bodies in salt for days in the process of mummifying them. It retards decay and kills infection. Salt is actually a very good antiseptic, and was used by physicians in ancient times to keep wounds from getting infected. That is why we have the expression "to rub salt into a wound."

In the same way that salt counteracts decay and infection, Christians should live in a way that will counteract the rottenness of sin in our world. Many vices of ancient times have been outlawed primarily because of Christians who campaigned against them. For example, William Wilberforce (1759-1833) strenuously campaigned for the abolition of slavery in the 19th century and the Emancipation Bill abolishing slavery in England became law only one month after Wilberforce died.

In our day, Christians need to provide society with such an influence against immorality. The gay movement is trying hard to make their lifestyle accepted and promoted in Singapore. They are trying to make our city state a key holiday destination for homosexual tourists. And gays in Thailand are worried that they may lose plenty of pink dollars if Singapore overtakes them as the gay capital of Asia. Many are trying hard to have section 377A of the penal code repealed because it criminalises homosexual acts. They claim that their sexual orientation is inborn, and that it is harmful to suppress such inborn inclinations. Contrary to what has been propagated in the media however, science has not established any link between homosexuality and genetics (See http://www.narth.com/docs/istheregene.html).

If homosexuality is legalised, it will be done at the expense of our moral values. There may also be serious social and economic repercussions, as the family unit is redefined and more public funds are spent to deal with a possible increase in HIV infections. Our main concern however should always be the spiritual repercussions that such legalisation will have. According to Proverbs 14:34, "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people." History is replete with examples of civilisations that have declined because of moral decadence. The Scriptures reveal that, "Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire." (Jude 7)

Should Christians do nothing and just allow the gay movement to push their agenda through by default? There are times when we need to speak up in a public forum to resist the tide of evil. If we do nothing to be like salt, exert a seasoning effect upon the world we live in for good or to be a preservative of the world against the corrupting influences of sin, we end up not only forfeiting our moral influence, but we would also have failed in our witness. This brings us to the latter part of Matthew 5:13…

"It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot of men." Strictly speaking, there is no way that salt can lose its saltiness. Sodium chloride will always have the properties of sodium chloride. Therefore when something that is supposed to be salt is not salty at all, it cannot be real salt. It is just sand, which has no purpose other than to be trodden underfoot.

What this means is that a Christian whose life is not a good influence may not be a disciple of Christ but merely a pretender. Like white sand, he may resemble the real thing but lack the quality of saltiness. And he should ask himself if he is truly saved or not.

Dear Reader, these words that we have studied from Matthew 5:13 should be taken as a warning and an opportunity for self-examination. If you are convicted that you have lost your savour and become an insipid disciple, please do something about it. Do what you need to do to regain the savour you have lost! Confess any sins that have drained away your spiritual vitality, and ask for the Holy Spirit’s power to be a fruit-bearing Christian. Only then can you make a difference for Christ in this world.

2 Corinthians 2:14-15 – "Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish."

May the Lord help us to be His savoury disciples, and not insipid disciples. —CS

1) From Rev Dr Patrick Tan, Ebenezer B-P Church, Melbourne: Congratulations and God’s richest blessings on your 57th Anniversary (Habakkuk 3:17-10).

2) From Rev & Mrs Edward Paauwe, BPCWA, Perth: Praise the Lord for Life Church’s 57th Anniversary. May God’s richest blessings be upon you as you serve Him faithfully. May the Lord use you mightily for His glory and His Kingdom (Philippians 1:2-6).