A SALTY CHRISTIAN
Lediya Jacob
The sublime philosophy of ‘salt’ in Christianity sure marks neutrality even at extremities. The directionality of a well-balanced man is the dynamics of the salt catalyst, speeding up the action to reach the equilibrium state. An extra sweetness or an unflavored life is always balanced by adding the right proportion of salt into it. “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is neither fit for the soil nor for the manure pile, it is thrown out.”- Luke: 14. 34- 35. “Have salt among yourselves and be at peace with each other.”- Mark: 9. 50.
The acronym SALT stands for Sink, Absorb and Lift from Trials and Tribulations.
1. SINK
As the salt sinks in water, so is a believer sink in God’s handiwork. They dissolve completely in His hands and might turn invisible, but definitely well seasoned and flavored. The absence of salt in the Word of God ferments into sour teachings like the Pharisees and Sadducees. “How is it you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of Pharisees and Sadducees. Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”- Matthew: 16. 11-12.
2. ABSORB
The salt absorbs water and gives away the salt into the water by the process of exosmosis which is a mixed metaphor and complex symbolism of the divine intervention. In the tears of prayer, the liquid of problems is highly miscible and gets imbibed. It brings a thirst for the Lord. The salt is also a culinary masterpiece in any preservatives. It inhibits the growth of molds and bacteria, preserving it for a longer time, and so is a believer in this world. “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 underfoot.”- Matthew: 5. 13.
3. LIFT
The higher the concentration of salt, the denser the water becomes, helping anybody to float with ease. The salt itself sinks, but lifts and ensures others float over the problems. It also lifts the prayers and offerings to the Lord. Let the prayers be seasoned with the salt of tears and offerings with the salt of sweat. “Season all your grain offerings with the salt. Do not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offerings; add salt to all your offerings.”- Leviticus: 2. 13.
4. TRIALS and TRIBULATIONS
The wounds and pains caused by the trials and tribulations are treated and healed by the action of salt. It eases the stress and relieves the pain. “Everyone will be salted with fire.”- Mark: 9. 49.
On a small note, obey the SALT in our life. Quite often, many of us are blind to the ocean of invisible salt like a Peter but tempted over the visible salted. The famous theologian and teacher, John Piper teach the quality of salt as, “People don’t enjoy salt. They enjoy salted. We are the salt of the earth. We do not exist for ourselves.” In essence, my brothers and sisters, we shall affix the salinity in us and capitalize the Salty Christian rather than being a Salted Christian.
