"Adding Good Flavour" (Matthew 5:13)

Introduction

Jesus teaches that we are to be “salt”. We know that “salt’ adds flavour – brings a good taste to our food. Salt is the world’s oldest known food additive. Jesus is talking about how our life should add good seasoning! And, it’s not so much that we have the “salt”, but rather that we ARE the “salt”! Jesus also teaches about the context in which we are “salt” …  “You are the salt of the earth”. We are here on earth as “salt”. We were not simply transported to heaven upon our salvation, but rather our lives were re-focussed on earth. Earth, as our living environment, is the place where we express our ‘saltiness’. In other words, we, as God’s people, are central to all of what God is doing in the world.

Being “salt” is relational. Through disciples, God wants to bless others: by bringing them the good news of forgiveness of sin, healing of brokenness, recovery of the lost. Such dynamics as these, are the distinctives of our faith and our messaging. Also through we disciples, God wants to bless others: by bringing help to the poor; releasing those who are oppressed, offering welcome to the homeless; and in so doing painting a picture of the ideals of the Kingdom of God. “Salt” means making an impact on the broadest possible scale. “Salt” is the flavour of Christlikeness.

As we shall discuss, there are other types of good “salt” available to society; yet, if we were to neglect to express our particular distinctive ‘saltiness’, or resist this, our human community would certainly be less flavoursome than it should be. The context from the previous verses in Matthew 5, where persecution and difficulty are seen as normal for the Jesus-follower, means that there is no get-out-clause for being “salt”. We just have to work it out … work out how to remain being ‘tasty’ … in all situations. Probably the greater the challenge that exists around us, the greater the need to be “salt”.

The rest of this verse dramatically portrays the importance of being “salt” … from God’s point of view. If we are NOT being “salt”, then what good are we!? If our relevance to God’s plans lies in our being “salt”, then if we fail in being “salt”, then we are deemed irrelevant (at least in terms of being a channel of God’s blessing)! Salt in the ancient world, because of impurities, could actually lose its saltiness, and thereby become useless – to be thrown out into the street and trampled underfoot.

So the question for today and tomorrow is – how best can we be “salt”? When and through what means do we dispense this “salt”?? I want to base this discussion on being “salt” around a quote I found from Karina Kreminski, who spoke at the recent CCVT summit. She wrote the following words: We bring affirmation to the places that represent the shalom of God; [and] we disrupt and subvert the places that do not. There are times when our community functions pretty well; and there are times when we look at certain places with much horror. Both situations need our “salt”, but in very different ways. This is where we need to discern the difference, and know how best to respond from one day to the next.

Other Brands of Salt

The first part of this quote reads: We bring affirmation to the places that represent the shalom of God. We can define the “shalom” of God as being about wholeness and harmony – the state in which we can live in peace with God, ourselves, everybody else, and everything else (all of creation). Where this sort of dynamic is present, at least in some part, we don’t have to start being “salt” from scratch, but rather affirm the good that is already happening, and then add to it – especially in terms of bringing due attribution to God.

In terms of our living environment, our town, and our neighbourhood – we are not the only ones who can do good. In this way, we could say that we are not the only ones to be able to bring good flavour to the community. There is other “salt” around us in society – a different brand maybe, but still tasty nonetheless? Think of all the good people you know who are contributing strongly to our community. As God has created all humankind in His image, even despite the (conscious and unconscious) fallen nature of each one, there is still the possibility of doing good – out of hearts of real compassion. To deny this, I think, would be an act of arrogance lacking humility. 

There was that time during Jesus’ ministry on earth, when the disciples alerted Jesus to other people in a separate group who were doing miracles in Jesus’ name, and these disciples thought that this should be stopped. Jesus disagreed! John said to [Jesus], “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us”. But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me; whoever is not against us is for us” (Mark 9:38-40). Jesus thought that, if good was being done, no matter by who, then that could only put him in a positive light. Good is simply good! And God is the real source of all good!!

I have been involved in enough projects, toward the betterment of community, with a wide variety of people, to appreciate the capacity of people doing good in a spirit of human solidarity. One could hardly doubt the motives of such effort. Think of the people who selflessly raise money for all sorts of good causes. Graeme often tells me about the sacrifice put in by members of our local football netball committee – for the betterment of club and community.

This ‘salty’ level of serving others is especially seen in times of trauma and tragedy. Think of our local emergency services, and the great work they do. Think of all the training our CFA does on a Monday night (and other times) to prepare to help us all … if fire comes or we have an accident on the road.  Think of our broad-ranging medical services. Think of the Harrietville community coming together after the 2013 fires … to work harmoniously together to better prepare for any future incidents, coming up with a strategy that is now being shared right around the state.

How do we start being “salt” in these sorts of situations or contexts? I believe in at least in two ways:

• Firstly, right in the middle of the action. Involvement, participation, and making contributions. Being part of the CFA. Being a volunteer with VCCEM. Helping at our football netball club. Being involved in advocacy and support for aged or vulnerable people. Volunteering at the Op Shop or Anglicare. Being involved with a myriad of community groups which aim to work above individual agendas toward the community good. When we are involved in, or even lead, such endeavours, we are happy to work with and include all people of goodwill. One of my favourite definitions of churches being involved with community engagement, is – ‘people of good-faith working hand-in-hand with people of good-will’.

• Secondly, this is where, despite not all things being quite right, we can celebrate community! We can wholly enjoy our local Christmas events and markets. This is where we appreciate the hope that exists for the sort of world that we actually (already) pray for … when we pray “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done – on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt 6:10). This sort of “salt”, seen in community-building activity, is something that we can applaud. This is where we can express the joy of the Lord – that unbeknown to many … God is alive and active. And, when we work side-by-side with others in the community, toward good causes, we don’t judge motives, but rather, we just get stuck into it.

Yet, this is where we need to be clear about our distinctive brand of “salt” … that we are to contribute to all the environments in which we gather. We have to be able to see whether we are positively contributing this “salt” or not. We have to be aware about this, rather than just rolling along. This would be that ‘saltiness’ that makes a real difference, and an eternal difference. This is a ‘saltiness’ that goes deeply beyond human solidarity … to the extraordinary love of a purposeful Creator who wants to invest grace into all people. So while we can appreciate and join with whatever type of “salt” is being added to the community table, we have a little extra twist of the salt-shaker to bring.

It is where we are able to get involved and celebrate community, that we can also build relationships with people. In so doing, and in sharing our life, and what (well, really, who) drives us, and where our hope and purpose lies, that we will eventually be able to share the good news of grace and forgiveness, and the transforming power of God … that has made such a dramatic difference for us. This is the brand of “salt” that changes one life at a time, adding even more flavour to life on earth – which of course also has eternal significance.

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Back now to looking broadly, and to the other possibility. We bring affirmation to the places that represent the shalom of God; [and] we disrupt and subvert the places that do not. Where the “shalom” of God is completely absent, we start with our “salt” much further back. This is where there is a complete lack of wholeness and harmony – with very little opportunity to live in any degree of peace.

A Complete Lack of Salt

We would have to say that some situations we witness, often through the media, about certain places, some close, and others far away – suggest a complete lack of ‘shalom’ and therefore absence of “saltiness”. We see violence, injustice, racism, cruelty, greed, power-seeking, darkness of all kinds … prevailing – to the great detriment of community. We shake our heads, we weep, we cry out to God, we repent, we pray. Sometimes we have to close our eyes, and are tempted to give up. Yet the people of God have to be concerned about this, and bring forth “salt”; with many followers of Jesus called directly into situations like this.

This is where God’s people have often had to take on causes and be involved in practical action, way beyond any simple presentation of the Gospel. [And our despair is mitigated because God has not lost interest, has not lessened in love, and is actively calling people to be “salt”.] In certain circumstances, we can focus on how Jesus himself faced off with evil, often seen in the demons who attached themselves to people, and how Jesus set about defeating them. Whereas the church of history can be rightly criticised for its shortcomings and errors, the church has also made undeniably strong contributions to combat poverty, disease and child mortality, and also to promote better health, welfare and education outcomes around the world.

And the church, through its millions of members, still make great contributions to people’s lives everywhere. This is both, and at the same time, in a spirit of human solidarity, and in a true representation of God’s outworking love. Our sincerity about the good news of Jesus is seen and proved in our care for ‘the least of these’ – in giving a cup of cold water to the thirsty. Evangelisation and the promotion of social justice here go hand-in-hand. On the firm basis of many repeating Scriptural themes, many Christians have been motivated toward addressing the needs of the poor and oppressed, supporting widows and orphans; as well as advocating for change toward more just societies.

In this way, “salt” has been seen in the lives and work of people like Eric Liddell, Mother Teresa, William Carey, Father Damien (of Molokai), William Wilberforce and Martin Luther King Jnr – to name just a few. In places where no one else cares, the bearers of “salt” care for those suffering under addiction, for problem gamblers, for homeless refugees; as well as prophetically critique and undermine the forces of evil that place people in these situations.

Conclusion

It would be fair to say that some communities waver from one to the other – from seasoned to tasteless … and sometimes have good flavour in some places, while being completely bland or worse in other areas. Sometimes, we can celebrate and get involved, and, through this, build relationships with people … to good ends. On other occasions, when things don’t look right and need to be redeemed - we will need to take action … that can in time be interpreted as pursuing the good that comes from a loving Creator God. Thus, we will need to be prayerfully discerning … in how our “salt” is spread around.

Where the “shalom” or ‘peace’ of God is already present, or “saltiness” is evident, we can add to it. Where all this is missing, we need to seek to bring change. In either case, we do NOT forget our distinctiveness as the people of God, called in grace through faith, to be a disciple of Jesus, and point to the everlasting love of a great Creator. In this, though we disperse through the avenues and activities of society, we will need to always been seen as those who gather faithfully in the church, the ‘body of Christ’, to worship the One who gives meaning to life, and empowers us in all we do … in being the “salt of the earth”. But this is the subject for next week. 

In summary, where we see things happening that fit well with the character of God, and which are effectively building community, we can embrace this and partner with this, and, as opportunity allows, gently add in our own brand of “salt”. However, on the other hand, where the character of God and the peace of God is missing in large measure, we are charged with the responsibility of bringing all sorts of “salt” to these places. One of the deepest messages of Jesus’ incarnation to the earth, is that nothing is ever too secular … to prevent it from eventually becoming sacred (Madeleine L’Engle). We can, together, celebrate life, redeem the broken spaces, and bless the hurting people, in all of our neighbourhoods. Amen.