Michele and I have had the privilege of sharing the Gospel in "closed" countries a few times over the years. In these contexts, it is sometimes only legal to talk about "religion" if the listener first asks questions about it. So, our challenge was to ‘steer’ the conversation in such a way that they would ask questions of a spiritual nature.
This is where salt comes in. An old saying is, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink." While this is true, you CAN feed him salt until he is thirsty and, because it makes one thirsty, salt became an analogy for the type of questions we would ask. Our goal was to phrase "salty" conversation that would create a 'thirst' for more information in the listener, therefore opening the door of legality for us to be able to freely share Christ with them. This strategy has been very successful.
Whether we are a missionary, an employer, an employee, or a student, there is a correlation between this illustration, the words of Jesus (in Matthew 5) and our daily work. Are we 'salty' enough (in our attitude toward our work, the quality of our product and how we interact with our peers, superiors and subordinates), that we create a 'thirst' in others to know more about why we are the way we are?
Jesus said “YOU" (that's us; me AND you) "are the salt of the earth.” So act like it…be salty! Spice up your work place, school, gym, etc! Live and work so that everyone you meet thirsts for Christ!
But, can we be TOO salty?
A while back, Michele and I went out for dinner at a very nice Mexican restaurant downtown. After finishing a wonderful meal, we ordered 'flan' for dessert. Flan is a sweet, custard ‘pie’, topped with a light caramel sauce. It's the perfect complement to a big, spicy meal and we were eager to enjoy!
When Michele took the first bite, her face twisted and she urgently excused herself to the restroom. I tried a bite of the flan and instantly understood her reaction. It seems that whoever had made the dessert used salt instead of sugar. The result was a concoction so putrid that its taste turned our stomachs and ruined everything good about the meal (and almost the rest of the evening!)
Salt is a remarkable thing! When used for what its intended and in the proper quantity, it adds flavor, preserves and disinfects. Salt is indeed, a miracle of God's Creation for its valuable and simple usefulness. But, that same element, when used in excess, or misused, becomes a deadly, acidic poison that embitters and corrodes.
I am reminded of a church group where we used to live; they would go to one of the busiest intersections in town and literally scream (using bullhorns!) messages of “God’s wrath” and the “coming judgment” at the drivers as they sat waiting for the light to change. Yeah…that’s too salty for sure! But most of us aren’t out on the corner with a bullhorn so, how salty is too salty?
A sprinkle of salt on French fries enhances the flavor of the potato. But, if we dump a fist full of salt on them, they’d be ruined! Likewise, if we live out our walk, ‘sprinkling’ the Spirit carefully throughout our days, we enhance all we do and say. But, if we go around bragging about our “Christian” lifestyle (for example; making sure everyone knows that we NEVER listen the “that” kind of music), or arrogantly telling anyone unfortunate enough to be within earshot, that they are going to Hell if they _____ (fill in the blank)…..well, we’ll have pretty much the same effect as dumping all that salt on the fries, or screaming through a bullhorn: We will repel people from Christ, not attract them to Him.
Let’s ‘sprinkle’, not ‘dump’, our salt on the earth! And always, ALWAYS sprinkle with love.
Dear Lord, in your Grace and Sovereignty, make us that salty and teach us how to sprinkle the salt of your loving Spirit throughout our day, in a way that brings glory to you and invokes a thirst for you within the hearts of those around us, without allowing us to pridefully dump salt on anyone. To your glory and in your Name. Amen
PDS - July 18, 2011
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