Salt & Light
- Tami Joy Flick's Musings
- Jul 27
- 6 min read
Salt. Light.
The other morning, I dreamed that I overheard a group of people talk about my husband and me. They were excited that John and I were living in a particular region because of our positive impact. Their words both startled me and brought a smile to my face as I walked by.
To summarize their comments - wherever we had lived, we had made it better.
In the dream, I recognized some of the people, but not all. I felt like the Lord was revealing how our impact went beyond simply our family and friends. Talk about encouraging!
I don’t think that dream was just for us or about us.
After I wrote down the dream, I started thinking about a small section of Jesus’ famous Sermon on the Mount, the portion right after the "Blessed are the..." introduction, where he teaches about how we’re salt and light. Have you ever considered how that applies to our lives specifically? I have in a cosmic, big-picture sense, but never really on a micro level.
Here’s what Jesus teaches in Matthew 5:
13 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 underfoot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Let's talk about salt.
Salt is helpful when it’s salty, but worthless when it loses the very thing that makes it salty. Here’s what a little research revealed - Sodium Chloride’s identity (the chemical compound NaCl) cannot change, but it loses its savor and effectiveness when it’s exposed to moisture or dirt. In fact, salt can become diluted and contaminated because it ends up absorbing other substances from its environment.
Salt’s chemical identity hasn’t changed, but its effectiveness has.
No wonder Jesus says that “unsalty” salt it would be thrown out and trampled underfoot as one would sand or dirt.
What does salt do?*
In 1st century Judea, people would have understood that salt:
Adds flavor (amplifies the food’s natural flavor)
Preserves and cures meat, fish, and vegetables, allowing for longer storage and preventing spoilage (Google AI)
Modern science has figured out that salt also:
Supports nerve and muscle function
Aids hydration
Plays a key role in digestion and electrolyte balance
Not to mention that those who live in the North understand the importance of salt for de-icing our streets and driveways.
How can we tell if Christians have lost their effectiveness as salt?
I recently heard a Bible teacher say that when believers are no longer salty, especially in a society, we see our values and beliefs trampled under foot. As a whole in the West, we’re no longer “turning the world upside down” with our radical preaching, compassion, courage, and miracles. That phrase was the stunning accusation directed against the Apostle Paul and other believers in ancient Thessalonica in Acts 17:6. Those Holy Ghost-filled disciples were shifting the region in real time, and the oppressive religious system and pagan cultures were shuddering and crumbling under its impact.
I don’t need to belabor how our diluted, narcissistic “gospel” is not saving anyone. We know. The effect is all around us.
It’s like we’re accidentally inoculating people to the Truth by giving them just enough of the real thing to make them feel better, but not enough to bring them into transformation. God, forgive us.
Salty living begins with a cross-centric gospel that bids people to come and die - die to self, die to sin. To take up our crosses and follow Jesus. I’m not saying that following Jesus Christ is only supposed to be hard - but we must understand that submitting ourselves to the His Lordship is a glorious dance with our Bridegroom King filled with beauty, persecution, joy, pain, and glory.
How about light?
Natural light benefits the body and mental health. It helps to “regulate our cordial rhythm, improves mood, enhances productivity, and aids in the production of Vitamin D. Additionally, it improves vision, reduces eye strain, and can even be used in light therapy to alleviate symptoms of depression.” (Google AI)
Light is good for us. We get it. Anyone who’s lived through a northern Midwest winter, fraught with its cold temps, limited daylight, and pernicious grey dome, understands how important light is to our souls. On the rare sunny day in the winter, you can immediately see and feel an increase in folks’ happiness.
In Matthew 5, Jesus specifically comments on the impact of the light from a lamp in a dark place. Back then, it would have been most likely a terracotta or Herodian oil lamp. (See below.) Although lighting a small match could cast a warm glow in a pitch black room, a well-placed lamp could illuminate the entire room.
Jesus was encouraging his disciples to bring His light (the light of His glorious gospel) into dark spaces. We are not supposed to conceal it, as if embarrassed by its message. We are supposed to place it on a stand so that people are drawn to its light and can see because of its light.
And let me be clear, if Jesus is truly our Lord and Savior, then THE Light of the World (John 8:12) now lives inside of us, transforming our very being, giving us a brand new collective identity as the “iight of the world.” WE are the light of the world. Sounds so grandiose, but those are Jesus’ very words.
Now that we’ve explored our kingdom identity as salt and light, how do we know if we’re functioning in agreement with our identity as salt and light?
Here’s a simple litmus test I put together for whether or not we are living as salt and light (click below):
Salt & Light Quiz
Are people glad when you walk into a room?
Does the atmosphere of a room change for the better when you enter?
Does your presence and/or service benefit the classroom, company, organization, or church of which you’re a part?
Does your wisdom illuminate decision-making?
Do people seek out your advice?
When people walk into your classroom / office / home, do they experience the shalom [peace] of God?
When people leave your presence, do they leave more encouraged / equipped / empowered than before?
Do people curb their profanity and / or gossip while in your proximity, not because they think you’d judge them, but because they respect your lifestyle?
When there’s a problem that needs to be solved, do people breathe a sigh of relief when you get involved?
Are people confident that you are speaking the truth to them and not simply telling them what they want to hear?
Are you helpful? At home? At school? At work? In the grocery store? On the streets?
Does the caliber (excellence) of the classroom / board room / work space / neighborhood increase when you’re present and contributing?
Do people ask you for help, even if they don’t know you (because they sense you’re safe)?
Are children comfortable in your presence?
Can people watch your life and discern that you love God and love them?
Are you bold in your gospel witness, both in actions and words?
Are people drawn to you even if they’re not sure exactly why?
When you leave and/or graduate from a workplace, school, or church, are people sad to see you go?
Is your word trustworthy?
Does your calming presence help alleviate others’ stress and anxiety?
Do people often ask you to pray for them?
Are you a solutionary?
Do you add value to the lives of those around you, even to strangers?
Are you generous with your time, compassion, and resources?
Do you forgive and bless those who have hurt you?
Are people able to admit wrongdoing to you without fear of condemnation?
Do your words and lifestyle draw people closer to Jesus?
We can’t be afraid of having a gospel witness, neither should we bludgeon people on their heads with our beliefs. However, our communities need the gospel. Our cities need each of us to radiate Jesus’ compassion and truth. Let’s live and preach in such a way that those,
“people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned." (Isaiah 9:2)
May our world finds itself blinking and adjusting its eyes to the radiance of a Bride who is preparing for Her Groom's soon return.
TODAY is the day of salvation. By God’s grace and power we can do this - we must do this.
Salt. Light.
*Check out this great blog that explores the chemistry of Sodium Chloride (NaCl) :
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