From the Heart of the Pastor

Jesus says, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven,” (Matthew 5: 13-16).  Jesus is calling for a boldness and deliberateness in our Christian living.  Salt is not subtle.  Light is not secret.  Jesus specifically uses this very familiar imagery to convey the way he expects his followers to make his truth, love, righteousness, and salvation known to the world.

This is not new to most of us.  We have known for years that as Christians we are to be salt and light, but what does that mean?  What does that look like?  It certainly does not mean that believers should be overbearing and obnoxious in their relationships.  Light illuminates the darkness, therefore we should be a source of Christ’s warmth and love in an otherwise cold world.  We should also be a source of Christ’s truth willing to expose error when necessary.  Remember, as we are faithful to reflect Christ’s light, God gets all the glory.  Likewise, salt is a spice.  Salt is certainly good for flavoring and otherwise bland dish, but we should also remember that salt is an irritant.  Yes, Christians should always be a sweet flavor in the lives of everyone we see.  We should pleasant aroma in the world.  Nevertheless, we should not be ignorant of the fact that the message we bring is an irritant to sin.  If you are truly being salt and light, don’t expect to be loved by the world.  You will irritate the sensibilities of this evil age.  That’s OK, we are not called to please the world, but to please our savior.  “For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life and who is adequate for these things?” (2 Corinthians 2: 15-16)
 
In Christ,
​
Blain Craig