But...what will they think?

There comes a time when we have the perfect time to acknowledge our faith in Jesus, only to become timid and almost 'embarrassed' to do so simply because our 'social group' would think us 'odd' or reject us because of our 'stand'? There are times we think more about our 'social standing' within the group than we do our opportunity to be light and life in a very, very dark world. The leaders believed, yet their 'fear' of the impact on their 'social standing' as 'leaders' actually caused them to keep silent about Jesus. It is a sad day when we care more about what others think about us than we do about drawing closer to Jesus, allowing him to use us in whatever 'social grouping' we have been placed.

Many people did believe in him, however, including some of the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn’t admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue. For they loved human praise more than the praise of God. Jesus shouted to the crowds, “If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me. For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me. I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark. I will not judge those who hear me but don’t obey me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it.” (John 12:42-47)

To think more about human praise or status than the praise of God is to walk a very slippery slope. We might think our 'status' in Christ will make others uncomfortable, but sometimes we worry more that is a 'bit threatening' to our own social status in the group! Yes, Jesus made people uncomfortable - but that was because they were more concerned with the way they were seen by the masses than they were in drawing closer to him. They didn't want to be identified as sinners in need of a Savior. They didn't want to be 'shy' with their faith, they just didn't really know how to be 'bold' in their beliefs.

The good news is that when Christ died, was raised from the dead, and ascended into heaven, he sent the Holy Spirit to reside within his followers. There is no need to be timid or shy with our faith any longer - for the Spirit of God will not only show us how to live 'above' the crowd's opinion of us but will give us the boldness to actually live consistently without fear of human opinion. There is no 'position' on this earth, or social standing that is better than standing 'in Christ'. So how is it we get all caught up in human opinion of us? I think a little thing called pride gets us all messed up in this matter.

We 'like' being accepted and we 'appreciate' being noticed in a positive manner. Whenever the attention turns from us being liked or appreciated to a place of being a threat or someone others take issue with because of our beliefs, we almost want to hide. The line between being 'bold for Christ' and 'not being a light' in this earth is a very fine line. It is quite easy to cross over it when the opinion of the social group we 'admire' becomes the focus instead of keeping Jesus first in our lives. The more influence we give human opinion in our lives, the less bold we become for Christ. 

Salt isn't savory when it is diluted to the point of only giving a 'hint' of that salty taste. Dilute your 'faith' or 'beliefs' too much and you lose your 'savor' in this world. When we are willing to be salt and light, we are making a determination to live above human opinion because the only 'opinion' that matters to us is that of our Lord! Just sayin!

Be a little salt

Ever wonder why Jesus left his disciples with the idea of being 'salt on this earth'? We don't fully appreciate salt these days because we aren't as accustomed to how it was used during the times Jesus spoke those words. We often have to put ourselves into the culture where the words are being recorded in order to fully comprehend the significance of their meaning. In the days of the disciples, salt was a basic "staple" of life. It was that which acted as "preservation" for everything. It also was the main seasoning of the dishes prepared - although there were other spices, salt was a 'staple'. Perhaps we would do well to look at some of the other functions of salt in order to see what Jesus may have meant when he referred to our lives a salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of the earth.

"Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage." (Matthew 5:13)

Did you know that the taste of salt is one of the basic "tastes" that we can sense? There are four basic "tastes" that the human tongue can interpret - sweetness, bitterness, sourness and saltiness. Take in something that is too salty and you will immediately form a desire for hydration - you want to drink because salt has the function of assisting in the "water-balance" of your body. Too much or too little salt in your diet affects you with dizziness, muscle cramping, neurological problems, and even death. So, having the right "balance" of salt in our system is important to our good health. Yesterday, I worked out in the heat a little too long. Even after showering, I licked my lips a little while later and my immediate taste was that of saltiness. Why? I had been perspiring out all the extra sodium in my system while out in that heat and I think there was a little bit left on my lips! It is one of the easiest 'tastes' to interpret by the human body.

When Jesus spoke of being "salt-seasoning" that brings out the God-flavors of the earth, he was describing the purpose that salt has in being a flavor-enhancer. If you have ever had to restrict your sodium intake for any length of time, you will know how much you can "crave" just a little salty snack! Your body has a use for salt, so when it is restricted too much, it craves it. The same is true in a spiritual sense - if the "saltiness" of our character is not doing the work it is intended to do on this earth, life is dull! According to the "Salt Institute" there are about 14,000 known uses for salt! If we explore just a few, we might see why Jesus tells us not to lose our "savor" on this earth.

1) When added to water on the stove, it functions to allow the water to come to a higher cooking temperature, thus reducing the cooking time required for the food being prepared. Maybe Jesus is challenging us to be salt on this earth because the time is short! The time for his message to 'cook' on this earth is growing short - we need to be salt!

2) When you add two teaspoons of salt to a cup of water, a fresh egg will rise to the top and an older egg will sink to the bottom. This doesn't mean the egg is rotten - just that it is more "mature". Maybe Jesus was challenging us to reveal the spiritual maturity of those we associate with in community. Bring to the surface those who need help in their growth and allow those who are more mature to mentor those who need our assistance.

3) When you don't want freshly cut fruit to lose their natural color, turning brown on the cut edges, you quickly dip them in a salt water bath and drain. Maybe Jesus was reminding us that we have the ability to keep things fresh - allowing the "true colors" of this world to be seen. We rarely think of ourselves as 'keeping fresh' this world, but without the influence of Christ in this world, it would quickly become a rotten and putrid place to dwell.

4) When you want to keep a "cured" cast iron skillet clean, but not damage the "curing process", you clean it by rubbing salt on the pan's surface to remove the excess grease. This is one of the uses that the earlier pioneers had for salt. Maybe Jesus was giving us the wisdom to be able to touch lives without damaging them! There are a whole lot of damaging influences in our world today - to be one that allows the 'curing process' to continue is a good thing.

5) When you add salt to your wash-water, it functions to brighten your colors. Maybe Jesus was showing us that we actually bring "new life" to old things just by being "salt". Just a few ideas on the ways that we might be "salt" on this earth - bringing out the God-flavor and spark of life for all to enjoy! Just sayin!

Shades of grey and black

Light - most think of this as the opposite of darkness.  I'd like us to think of it as something which makes things visible.  The absence of light means things which might otherwise be known are now hidden, appearing only as shadows or "darker" images in our path.  It is light which makes things "appear" - things once only shadows, or for which we only had a slight awareness.  When we stop to consider this a little, no wonder God says to his children, "You're here to be light"!  We are here on this earth, right now in the moment we are living and breathing at this very instance, to be the one who begins to bring awareness of what appears only as shadows, or has been previously hidden from the view of those who are without light.  If you have ever been to a candle-lighting event of some sort, it is usually a very dimly lit room and then one-by-one each candle is lit.  How?  One candle lights the other, and another, and so on until all candles are glowing.  The room begins to illuminate with the glow of the multitude of candles.  One candle had the potential to give full illumination to others who would receive its light!

Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16 MSG)

One candle - that is all God ever asks us to be.  One candle in a very dark world.  One candle in a world where shadows and forms are understood as "present", but for which there is no real revelation of their magnitude until their is illumination.  One candle bringing the hues of magnificent color into an otherwise very dull world.  Jesus speaks these words to a country-side of onlookers - those curious about the light he seems to emanate from his life. His challenge to his disciples, and those in the crowd willing to have the light illuminate their lives, is to become light unto the world.  As scripture says, "No one puts the light under a bushel", but rather it is put on display in a prominent place in order to allow the light to have its furthest reach.  In the days he said these words, candle and oil-lamp light were the only forms of light within the walls of the home.  Maybe the glow from a fire burning would be another form, but in general, lamp-light was pretty dim.  In order to get the maximum "reach" to the light it gave off, it was placed on a stand or high atop a shelf.

Maximum reach - this is what Jesus desires of his kids.  He wants us to bring out the "God-colors" in others.  In other words, he wants our tiny light to be that which assists another in being "alt" themselves. We don't actually "do" the lighting of another's "candle", but we provide the means by which they have the access to the "flame" by which their own "wick" may be lit!  Look again at the passage - Jesus is saying two things in context here - I have made you to be salt which brings "savor" to this world, and I have placed you in a prominent place to bring illumination to a dark world.  Both are important concepts - one speaks of that which helps us to savor and enjoy the presence of God, the other is that which invites us to experience his fullness and revelation.  One might think salt has but one or two uses - to preserve foods and to give them a little flavor.  

Did you ever stop to consider salt having more than 14,000 uses?  When Jesus compares us with salt, he is speaking of the versatility of a life lived with him - we bring more than just savor!  We act as "cleaning agents" for lives darkened by sin - God using us to help "stained lives" become fresh and new again.  Salt drives away bugs - those things which only act as "pests", bringing unwanted bother and spreading disease in our lives.  Salt is also an excellent anti-infective, which is why so many dentists will have a patient gargle with a salt-water mix after gum surgery.  A couple teaspoons of salt in a cup of water will allow you to know if an egg is still good - the fresh ones sink to the bottom, the bad ones float on the top!  In comparing us to salt, Jesus is only point out the versatility of allowing him to use us in the many ways we might be influential in this world.

In comparing us to light, he is pointing out the "reach" we might have if we allow him to put our light on display - something for which light was intended in the first place.  We become agents of illumination - but also provide the very means by which another might catch fire themselves.  Color is only possible to see when there is illumination - apart from light, color is nothing more than shades of grey and black!  Don't believe me?  Go in a dark room, close the door and allow your eyes to adjust a few moments.  Now, look around - what you see is shades of dullness!  Your only way to see color is to have light - we are made to be "color-illuminators" - to bring about the revealing of the intensity and wonder of God's magnificence to a world who can only see shades of grey and black!

The request to each of us is to be "generous with our lives" - to be open to being used as God intended for us to be used - as salt and light.  We could possess all this light for our own enjoyment, but one candle only burns so bright!  A roomful of burning candles brings an intensity of illumination which far outshines the light of one candle!  God expects us to pass on the light, so this world become illuminated with his magnificence!  Just sayin!

Sermon Lessons: Character

¹³"Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage."

(Matthew 5:13)

^22-24Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don't act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like.

(James 1:22-24)

In the days of the pioneers, salt was a basic "staple" of life.  It was that which acted as "preservation" for everything.  It also was the main seasoning of the dishes prepared.  Perhaps we would do well to look at some of the other functions of salt in order to see what Jesus may have meant when he referred to sour lives a salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of the earth.

Did you know that the "salt-taste" is one of the basic "tastes" that we can sense?  There are four basic "tastes" that the human tongue can interpret - sweetness, bitterness, sourness and saltiness.  Take in something that is too salty and you will immediately form a desire for hydration - you want to drink because salt has the function of assisting in the "water-balance" of your body. Too much or too little salt in your diet affects you with dizziness, muscle cramping, neurological problems, and even death.  So, having the right "balance" of salt in our system is important to our good health.

When Jesus spoke of being "salt-seasoning" that brings out the God-flavors of the earth, he was describing the purpose that salt has in being a flavor-enhancer.  If you have ever had to restrict your sodium intake for any length of time, you will know how much you can "crave" just a little salty snack!  Your body has a use for salt, so when it is restricted too much, it craves it.  The same is true in a spiritual sense - if the "saltiness" of our character is not doing its work on this earth, life is dull!

According to the "Salt Institute" there are about 14,000 known uses for salt!  If we explore just a few, we might see why Jesus tells us not to lose our "savor" on this earth.

1)  When added to water on the stove, it functions to allow the water to come to a higher cooking temperature, thus reducing the cooking time required for the food being prepared.  Maybe Jesus is challenging us to be salt on this earth because the time is short!

2)  When you add two teaspoons of salt to a cup of water, a fresh egg will rise to the top and an older egg will sink to the bottom.  This doesn't mean the egg is rotten - just that it is more "mature".  Maybe Jesus was challenging us to reveal the spiritual maturity of those we associate with in community.

3)  When you don't want freshly cut fruit to lose its color, turning brown on the cut edges, you quickly dip them in a salt water bath and drain.  Maybe Jesus was reminding us that we have the ability to keep things fresh - allowing the "true colors" of this world to be seen.

4)  When you want to keep a "cured" cast iron skillet clean, but not damage its "curing process", you clean it by rubbing salt on the pan's surface to remove the excess grease.  This is one of the uses that the pioneers had for salt.  Maybe Jesus was giving us the wisdom to be able to touch lives without damaging them!

5)  When you add salt to your wash-water, it functions to brighten your colors. Maybe Jesus was showing us that we actually bring "new life" to old things just by being "salt".

Just a few ideas on the ways that we might be "salt" on this earth - bringing out the God-flavor for all to enjoy!