Jesus' followers as salt.
“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.”
“What
could they do in so large a province as the
whole earth? Nothing,
if they were to work by force of arms and dint of sword; but, being
to work silent as salt, one handful of that salt would diffuse its
savour far and wide...”
The teaching of the Gospel is
salt.
Could
it be that the Church is despised in the western world because, to a
large extent we have lost our saltiness?
In
Scripture, salt is used
for, seasoning food
seasoning
sacrifices
ratifying covenants
and strengthening new-born infants.
Elisha used salt to purify the water in a well at Jericho.
“Salt
sôlt (מלח,
melaḥ;
ἄλας,
hálas,
ἄλς,
háls):
Common salt is considered by most authorities as an essential
ingredient of our food. Most people intentionally season their
cooking with more or less salt for the sake of palatability. Others
depend upon the small quantities which naturally exist in water and
many foods to furnish the necessary amount of salt for the body. Men
and animals alike instinctively seek for this substance to supplement
or improve their regular diet. The ancients appreciated the value of
salt for seasoning food.
So necessary was it that they dignified it by making it a requisite
part of sacrifices. A 'covenant of salt' is mentioned.
This custom of pledging friendship or confirming a compact by eating
food containing salt is still retained among Arabic-speaking people.
The Arabic word for 'salt' and for a 'compact' or 'treaty' is the
same. Doughty in his travels in Arabia appealed more than once to the
superstitious belief of the Arabs in the 'salt covenant,' to save his
life. Once an Arab has received in his tent even his worst enemy and
has eaten salt (food) with him, he is bound to protect his guest as
long as he remains.
Salt
was used not only as a food, but as an antiseptic in medicine.
Newborn babes were bathed and salted, a custom still prevailing. The
Arabs of the desert consider it so necessary, that in the absence of
salt they bathe infants in camels' urine.”
“Do
not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God
transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you
will be able to know the will of God---what is good and is pleasing
to him and is perfect.”
I
have referred to several English translations of the Bible in writing
this which is made easy by e-sword,
a free downloadable program. For further information I recommend
reading the Bible.
© Ken
Glasgow 2010 Last edited 14 March 2021
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Muslims Order Christians to Leave Village.