Believers Are The Salt Of The Earth

"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 by men."  Matthew 5:13 (NIV)

After Jesus taught the beatitudes in His Sermon on The Mount, the Apostle Matthew records that Jesus continued and taught His disciples that they were the salt of the earth.  Salt is useful as a preservative and a flavor enhancer, without those qualities it is basically useless.  They were to preserve the Christian beliefs, behavior, and way of living here on earth.  If they did not provide the world with the flavor of the teachings of Christ, then they were no longer good for anything.  

In the times before refrigeration, salt was used to preserve meat.  Most bacteria could not grow in a salty environment.  In a corrupt and sinful world, believers are the "salt" which God uses to preserve the teachings of Christ by their words and actions.  Jesus said that salt was good. (Mark 9:50 and Luke 14:34)  He also said that believers should season their conversation with salt. (Colossians 4:6)  Our speech should be graceful and it should preserve and reflect Christ-like behavior.  We are to spread The Word of God throughout the world.  If we allow the pursuit sinful pleasure to silence us, then we loose our effectiveness for The Lord.  Just as salt which is contaminated with worldly minerals can loose its effectiveness and become useless.  The believer who is contaminated with worldly influences is no longer good for anything.  Perfection is not required, believers still sin, but like King David they pray, confess, repent, and they persevere.  He who begins to work for The Lord, and then longs for his previous sinful lifestyle, is not fit for the kingdom of God. (Luke 9:62)