Are You a "Salty" Christian?

The next time you are at your kitchen table, face to face with the salt and pepper shakers, evaluate your life. Salt brings many great benefits to those things with which it comes into contact. Pepper is hot and it burns. Which are you?

Salt is a vital nutrient for life. Without it, our bodies would shut down for lack of proper nutrition. For the Christian, being salt is important. Jesus used it as a metaphor for our responsibility to the world around us.

Why would a Christian want to be "salty?"

1. Salt makes you thirsty. Did youever see the episode of Seinfeld that continually poked fun at the line, "These pretzels are making me thirsty?" While the humor of this was in the delivery of the line, it reminds us of the fact that the salt on pretzels makes you thirsty, no matter how you say it.

We were created with a need for a relationship with God, just as we were created with a need for water. Believe it or not, our day to day actions and attitudes can promote a thirst for God. Something as simple as how you react to a slow grocery line or a driver that cuts you off in traffic speaks volumes.

In John 7:37, Jesus says, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink." The sports drink Gatorade markets itself as "the thirst quencher." I think Jesus' drink brand of drink is even better than Gatorade! He says He will give "streams of living water will flow from within him." Imagine, never being thirsty again. Talk about a thirst quencher!

2. Salt gives flavor. I've always considered myself a bit of a salt-aholic. Oftentimes I find myself shaking the salt shaker above my food before I've even tried it. Why? I like the flavor salt brings to my food and, frankly, I just like the taste of salt. Even if I can't see the salt on my food, I know it is there. It has a lot of influence on the taste of things.

We are either being influenced or influencing others. Just like salt does in food, bring out the best in those around you. Encourage a positive attitude. Your life speaks loudly. Paul wrote some very complimentary words to the Thessalonians that any Christian would hope could be said about them: "The news of your faith in God is out. We don't even have to say anything anymore-you're the message!" (1 Thes. 1:8, MSG)

A word of caution: a little bit of salt goes a long way. Being pushy in your faith will get you nowhere. But loving those around you and showing by the way you live your life that God has made a difference in your life is what adds the most flavor.

3. Salt preserves. Salt preserves foods by creating a hostile environment for certain microorganisms to grow. This preservation protects the food from inevitable rot and decay that would come. God offers this same protection. Psalm 5: 11 says, "But let all who take refuge in you be glad." Living a life that demonstrates a confidence and security in God's protection gets the attention of others. It makes them question the peace they see in your life.

4. Salt heals. Salt in a wound can help the healing process. Of course, salt would not be the first choice of many because it stings. But pain is part of the healing process. When I had stitches, they actually hurt worse a couple of days after receiving them. Why? The healing process can be painful. It is necessary, however. The New Testament is full of Jesus healing both the physically and spiritually sick. Nothing has changed today.

Salt doesn't do any good if you just leave it in the box. Neither is a Christian that just sits around on the sidelines. But when we get out among the world, we can truly make a difference. We can influence others with our actions and attitudes. We can become "salty" Christians.