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Answer
Jesus utilized the concepts of salt and light on various occasions to describe the role of His disciples in the world. An instance can be found in Matthew 5:13: “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.” Salt served two purposes in the Middle East during the first century. Due to the absence of refrigeration, salt was employed to preserve food, particularly meat, which would spoil rapidly in the desert climate. Followers of Christ act as preservatives to society, safeguarding it from the inherent evil present in the culture of ungodly individuals whose unregenerate natures are tainted by sin (Psalm 14:3;Romans 8:8).
Furthermore, salt was utilized then, as it is now, as a flavor enhancer. Just as salt enriches the taste of the food it seasons, Christ’s followers are distinguished as those who “enhance” the quality of life in this world. Christians, guided by the Holy Spirit and obedient to Christ, will inevitably impact the world positively, similar to how salt positively affects the taste of seasoned food. In situations of conflict, we are to promote peace; in times of sadness, we are to serve as Christ’s ministers, healing wounds, and in the face of hatred, we are to demonstrate God’s love in Christ, responding with kindness to hostility «But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. », (Matthew 5:14-16; NASB). The idea here is similar—the presence of light in darkness is something that is unmistakable. The presence of Christians in the world must be like a light in the darkness, not only in the sense that the truth of God’s Word brings light to the darkened hearts of sinful man (John 1:1-10), but also in the sense that our good deeds must be evident for all to see. And indeed, our deeds will be evident if they are performed in accordance with the other principles that Jesus mentions in this passage, such as the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-11. Notice especially that the concern is not that Christians would stand out for their own sake, but that those who look on might “glorify your Father who is in heaven” (v. 16, KJV).
In view of these verses, what sorts of things can hinder or prevent the Christian from fulfilling his or her role as salt and light in the world? The passage clearly states that the difference between the Christian and the world must be preserved; therefore, any choice on our part that blurs the distinction between us and the rest of the world is a step in the wrong direction. This can happen either through a choice to accept the ways of the world for the sake of comfort or convenience or to contravene the law of obedience to Christ.
Mark 9:50 suggests that saltiness can be lost specifi
Essentially, a lack of peace among individuals can hinder their role as salt and light in the world. This stems from the directive to “have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other.” In Luke 14:34-35, the metaphor of salt is once again referenced, this time in the context of obedient discipleship to Jesus Christ. The loss of saltiness occurs when Christians fail to daily take up their cross and follow Christ wholeheartedly.
It appears that the function of Christians as salt and light in the world may be obstructed or thwarted by any decision to compromise or settle for what is more convenient or comfortable, rather than what is truly optimal and pleasing to the Lord. Furthermore, the designation of salt and light is a natural outcome of a Christian’s humble obedience to Christ’s commandments. It is when we deviate from the Spirit-led lifestyle of authentic discipleship that the lines between ourselves and the rest of the world become blurred, impeding our testimony. Only by staying focused on Christ and obeying Him can we expect to remain as salt and light in the world.
