Christians Influencing Society.

Mark 9:50, Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another. Matthew 5:13-16

Jesus is still in ‘his own city’ Capurnaum, and he has been teaching his disciples some very important basics regarding his kingdom, and of course, his church. Now we come to another little block of didactic material in the narrative. A Christian must be an influence on the ungodly world. But before we can speak about ourselves as salt there is something that we must note as to how that salt must be applied…

1. Christians are Not to be Shy about Eternity! V42-49

Our verse, is that follows a long section in which Jesus speaks three times about hell in pretty graphic terms. Now let’s be clear, the person speaking here is Jesus, the loving saviour, and he is speaking in love. What kind of love is it that would refuse or neglect to warn sinners of the dangers of eternity without Christ There is a saviour, and there is a way to have our sins forgiven, and there is no excuse whatsoever for not warning our friends and neighbours, even when the refuse that message and don’t want t hear it.

2. Christians are to be ‘Salty’ People. Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it?

It’s here that our attention must turn, for a moment or two to Matthew’s Gospel, to allow Scripture to explain Scripture. Matthew 5:13-16. Whether we realise it or not. our example leaves an impression on others. What did Jesus teach about our influence on the world and on the people of the world?

1. The Characteristics of Salt. In order to know how this characteristic should typify the Christian, we need to know a little about salt itself. Salt is a substance which enhances flavour, and food would be bland without it! Salt also preserves food. Job 6:6 There is no doubt that Christians are to be just like salt!

• We are to be flavoursome!
• We are to be ‘preservers!’ Matthew 21:12-13
• We are to STING when needed.
• We are to be balanced like salt!

So, one of the relationships that w e are to have with the world around us, is to make this world palatable to God, by preserving it from evil. Though we be few in number, with God WE ARE IN THE MAJORITY! We CAN be an influence in the world! BUT NOTE:-

1. The possible IMPURITY of Salt! Jesus said that it is possible for salt to lose its savour. Pure salt actually never loses its flavour. Salt can only go bad when it becomes impure, when it is mixed with some other substance.

3. We Can’t be Preservatives for the World, if We Ourselves are not being Preserved. Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.

What possibility is there of being a good influence in the world, if the local church is seen as a place of division and even hatred for each other? So Jesus tells us that we are to have salt in ourselves. Just as we are the salt to preserve the world, and to make it flavoursome before God, so also we ourselves need to be preserved, to be a sweet savour unto God. The only way that this can happen is for us to have the Holy Spirit indwelling us, sanctifying us, and convicting us of sin, and preserving us for God. And it is that indwelling presence of God, that sanctifying power, that makes us willing and able to live within the church in peace with other believers.

© Bob McEvoy