Throwing Salt in an Open Wound

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Few experiences are more agonizing than having salt come in contact with any sort of cut to the flesh. In fact, the pain of such is so great that it has itself become a metaphor for any type of hurt that can be experienced whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. I find it, then, to be ironic that Jesus declared early in the Sermon on the Mount that New Testament Christians “are the salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13); because as worldly people examine our lives the emotional agony they experience is comparable to throwing salt in an open wound. They feel offended, disrespected, and condemned; notions that are simply unacceptable to the twenty-first century’s social mindset. But why are these feelings experienced in the first place? Because they recognize the moral, upright, and pure lives of Christians that are a reflection of God’s will as an implied condemnation of their lives blemished with sultry sins. Consider briefly the assault on the household of a man named Jason. After Paul and Silas’ three week stay in that home in Thessalonica, Luke records that “the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people” (Acts 17:5). Why such the hostility against an innocent man with whom no legal guilt could be found? Because his life and acceptation of gospel truth was to them as though he were throwing salt in the open wound of their very souls that were blemished by sin. Jason and his family recognized their role as “the salt of the earth” and the worldly minded people simply could not stand the pain. What a marvelous way of impacting those around us though! By allowing our lives to serve as simple sermons of the saving gospel, the world not only can hear it taught but see it displayed. And by such, we too will throw salt into spiritual wounds, opened by the daggers of sin. What, though, is the most effective means by which we can impact those around us by being “the salt of the earth?”

Say what’s right. Our prayer as Christians should always be like David’s; that “the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer” (Psalm 19:14). Knowing our words ultimately reflect what is in our hearts (Matthew 12:34), our foremost desire must be to ingest that which is righteous. If we do not saturate our lives with truth and goodness, our words will never themselves be true and good. But upon that established fact, efforts must be continually made to carefully guard our words. It is amazing how one ill spoken statement can dramatically change the landscape of our lives and the lives of others. We influence people by our words, whether it is in common conversation or in efforts of teaching the gospel. However, if evil and error are reflected by our words then we have essentially joined in to the world rather than standing out from the world. If we are truly going be the salt of the earth to the gaping spiritual wounds of the world, we must be committed to saying what is right.

Do what’s right. Saying what is right will be in vain if our lives, too, do not reflect purity and godliness. Hypocrisy is a death nail to any person’s efforts of evangelism and good will. Worldly minded people want complete control of their own lives. They want to satisfy any lust for pleasure and feel justified in such, absent of any accountability. But if we, as Jeremiah, conclude “that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” (Jeremiah 10:23), it sends a very strong message of reproof to their mindset. It opens their eyes to the fact that there is another way to live. Not a way that is self-centered, but one that is God-centered. And such a realization will enrage a great many people, again because it represents a condemnation of their lifestyles. But it also will be a means of teaching them about that great and better way paved by Jesus Christ (Matthew 7:13-14). Thus if we are seeking to be the salt of the earth to a wounded world, we have to do what is right.

Encourage what’s right. Not only is there the need to directly influence our own lives according to righteousness and thereby indirectly try to influence others, often there is great opportunity present in directly exhorting others to set aside the wrong mindedness with which they have approached life and seek God’s way. Paul always sought to be an example in word and deed of harmony, unity, and faithful living. But at times he saw it necessary to speak up and out for what is right. To the Corinthians he said, “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10). Is that not hitting the nail on the head? Sometimes it is necessary to call a spade a spade. And when done so with the proper mind, heart, and action, a direct call to action can be very effective in serving as the salt of the earth to a weak and withering world.

Pain is never enjoyable, but the old adage is that “whatever does not kill us will only make us stronger.” The world will not and does not appreciate our attempts to display for them lives of righteousness. It hurts inwardly and agonizingly. But ultimately, we know that such efforts are done in hopeful anticipation of a great eternal good that will bless them forever in heaven. If a temporary pain will bring about eternal joy, I do not mind if my life serves as salt to an open wound.

-Andy Brewer

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