THE
CHURCH IS SALT AND LIGHT
By Rev.
Jesse E. Williams, Sr.
Pastor New
Life Calvary Church, 981 Wilbraham Road, Springfield, MA
Salt is a
preservative. Salt preserves that to which it is added from putrefaction or
rotting. The Earth is rotting in sin and death because human beings born
and living in darkness are corrupt, unholy, and unaware of the truth of
God. True believers preserve the world from complete putrefaction. True
believers and followers of Jesus Christ are given the following two
responsibilities: To be spiritual salt and light.
In all three of the synoptic gospels,
Jesus tells his disciples, "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has
lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for
anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot." (Matthew 5:13-14,
Mark 9:50, Luke 4:34)
Jesus blesses the church to be the salt
of the earth, to keep the truth preserved seasoning the earth and light for
illuminating the world from darkness. To be salt and light means that the true
followers of Jesus Christ have to be different from the world and through this
difference impact the world. Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new
creation. Old things are passed away;
behold, all things are become new.
The world must not impact the church, but
the church must impact the world for darkness and light cannot mix. However,
the church must have contact to have an influence and to be effective in the
earth and in the world. So Jesus tells the church, “Let your light so shine
before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is
in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)
He has set his church apart to live holy lives in the word and he has given it the great responsibility of being the salt of the earth and the light of the world. We are the preserving force, for salt does no good in a warehouse on Sunday morning. Salt is to be used not too much and not too little. God knows just how much is needed and will place you where He sees the need for a little love and compassion. n