Salt, Light, or trash?

In a small section in Matthew 5, Jesus challenges his current and future followers to live as salt and light. What actually is he challenging his followers to do? These two terms have been used in sermons and lessons and talks over the past 2,000 years in a variety of ways and applications of how followers of Christ should live. However we define them in our daily lives as Christians we must not do one thing, forget them and neglect them to practice them.

If ever there was a point in history when the world needed salt and light, today is that day. Define these two words and what Jesus meant by them how you may, but do not do the worst thing of all, overlook them. Please figure them out and work them into your daily life.

John Stott said this in his book, Human Rights and Human Wrongs,

...Christians are fundamentally different from non Christians, or ought to be. Both images set the two communities apart. The world is dark, Jesus implied, but you are to be its light. The world is decaying, but you are to be its salt and hinder its decay.


The words 'ought to be' kind of jumped out at me when I read this passage. Christians ought be be different. Wow, that's putting it nicely. Are Christians different in their lifestyles, morals, and choices? Each Christian must answer that on his or her own, no one else can answer.

To go even further with this, what impact are we Christians making individually and collectively in our communities, states, and countries? Is our impact even being noticed?

Recently our new President was quoted as saying that a large part of our economic problem was caused by greed and corruption. So much truth was packed into this small statement of his. Everyday it seems we are hearing examples of corrupt dealings and greedy actions pulled off in secret. Would it be correct to say the United States needs more salt and light in dealing with the current economic holocaust? Or more exact in saying we need more people who are of the salt and light persuasion?

My question for each Christian is this, what are you doing to truly be salt and light in your community, state, country, and world? Are we making others thirsty for what Christ has or have we gone bland and tasteless, needing to be thrown out as Jesus says in Matthew 5?