Salty Christianity

http://www.believingstudy.com/articles/31/1/Salty-Christianity/Page1.html

Gary Hall

I was raised as a Roman Catholic and intended to become a priest after I left school, but the Lord had other plans for me. In 1973, at the age of 17, I came to know the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour at the headquarters of the Liverpool City Mission. This immediately caused problems regarding my family. My mother and father were against what they called my "change of religion". The situation came to a climax when I arrive home one evening from a Christian friend's house only to be met by my father on the doorstep with the words, "You don't live here anymore". So at the age of 18 I would have been homeless but for the kindness of friends. One cannot rely on the goodness of others for too long, so I decided to move into a local boarding house. What I saw and experienced there cannot be written here. Eventually, after spending time living rough and in the Salvation Army hostel, I found my own apartment. I had fallen away from the Lord for two years at this time. My thoughts went back to my childhood desire to become a Roman Catholic priest. I made enquiries and found that the only real option for me was to become a monk in the Franciscan Order. The Saturday before I was due to leave for the monastery in Guildford, Surrey, I pleaded with the Lord, asking, "Lord, is it your will that I should become a monk like St. Francis?" That evening I attended a tent meeting in a local park. A preacher from Northern Ireland, Derrick Bingham, was teaching from the book of Nehemiah. During the service the preacher turned to my direction (there were about 500 people present) and said, God does not want you to become a monk like St. Francis of Assisi." Here was my answer from the Lord. From that moment I made a complete break from the Catholic Church and have come to see it as the biggest cult that this world knows. In 1979 I joined a church, The Mission, in the neighbourhood where I was living. From the moment I walked through the door of that small building I knew that I was home. The godly lifestyle and inspired teaching of Pastor Charles Bolton (promoted to glory 12 December 2003) and his wife brought me back to my first love for Christ. The church had no young people, but I never once felt that I was out of place. These people obviously loved the Lord. In my desire to reach others with the Gospel of Jesus Christ I began to give leaflets out in Liverpool City Centre. Many a Saturday afternoon was spent witnessing to those willing to stop and listen. On one Saturday in late Autumn 1979 I was approached by a girl with an Irish accent. She asked if I was a Christian and where the church I attended was located. The next morning the same girl was found at The Mission. To cut a short story shorter, six months later on March 29 1980, we were married by Pastor Bolton at The Mission. Margaret, my wife, also comes from a Catholic background, but was soundly converted to Christ and from the errors of Rome whilst visiting relatives in New York in the summer of 1979. (You may find her personal testimony one day on these pages.) In 1986 Pastor Bolton retired from the ministry at The Mission. The leadership of the church was handed over to me. To be very honest I did not fully understand what this would entail, but the Lord has been good and has led me each step of the way. Through the Lord's power we have been used to reach many hundreds of people, though our fellowship is actually small in number. In 1988 we changed the name of the church to Living Word. I am convinced that God is about to pour out His Spirit in revival one last time before the Return of the Lord Jesus Christ (see my article on Revival on this site). This revival will not come via the charismatic movement, it will not come from Toronto or Pensacola, it will not come from the ecumenical movement or the so-called Churches Together - these movements are bankrupt of the truth and the Spirit of God. This final revival will come as a result of the true believers in Christ Jesus getting right with Him. The revival will include a return to the Authorised King James Bible. My great desire is to see people coming to know Jesus as Saviour and Lord, to see backsliders returning, and to see the church of Christ revived. Though I have many failings I love the Lord Jesus Christ with all of my heart. I am willing to serve Him wherever and whenever He sees fit. The word of God is the delight of my life for I'm still amazed after all these years just how fresh and new The Holy Bible is each day!

By Gary Hall

Published on 10/12/2007

As Christians we are always to have our speech seasoned with "salt", “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man” (Colossians 4:6), which infers that our words must be inline with God’s word. Our speech ought to be free from pride, gossip, foolishness, bitterness and uncleanness. This analogy of Paul comes directly from the teachings of Jesus.

Salty Christianity

Introduction

As Christians we are always to have our speech seasoned with "salt", “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man” (Colossians 4:6), which infers that our words must be inline with God’s word. Our speech ought to be free from pride, gossip, foolishness, bitterness and uncleanness. This analogy of Paul comes directly from the teachings of Jesus.

The Salt of the earth

“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men”

(Matthew 5:13).

Whereas Paul uses salt in connection with our speech, Jesus is referring to the godly nature and character of the believer. The grace of God should be evident in the believer’s life in all he says, thinks and does, so that the world knows that he belongs to Christ.

Salt is used in preservation and seasoning, but if its strength fails, it is no good but to be used as grit on icy roads in winter. Jesus said, “Ye are the salt of the earth”, so if the church is being trodden under the feet of men today it means that it has lost the power and the grace of God some time in the past. Individual Christians are to be “the salt of the earth” but many no longer portray Christ in their lives, instead they have become worldly in nature and character. As salt hinders the spread of corruption, so the believer ought to bring the preserving power of righteousness into the world by being “Poor in spirit … meek … merciful … pure in heart … peacemakers” (Matthew 5:3-9).

We cannot re-salt the salt, meaning that revival cannot come by trying to use worldly means to bring about a change in the church and society. Social activities and entertainment will accomplish nothing for God, but instead destroys the true nature of Christianity, and presents the church as powerless to the unsaved. The church must return to God to receive the power to get the job done.

We are called to be the "salt of the earth," not merely a "church-goer." It does not take much to be a church-goer, but it does take commitment and endurance to be a disciple of Christ. It has been the true disciple of Christ that has made a difference in the world in the past. They were not special people; instead they were living the normal Christian life. God seasoned whole nations and societies with them because they sought to live according to His word. The normal Christian life is not warming a church pew, but is as described by Jesus, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

Salt is "salt" because it is "salty." Table salt has no value apart from its character. Another substance may look, feel and smell like salt, but if it does not have the character of salt it is useless. Christians may do some things that true disciples do, but if they are not by nature and in character "God's salt," they will be of no use to Him.

Christians are to be as distinctive as salt. It is not enough to be different from the other religions or denominations. Unless they make a positive contribution as "salt," they are fit only to be thrown out and walked on. Salt is useful, not because of what it is unlike, but because of its positive contribution. The world might find our words distasteful, but just like salt, they are needed.

Salt must penetrate to work. It does no good in a box on the shelf. Christians have penetrated their individual worlds of medicine, business, education, and social problems in the past. If we are to serve our intended purpose as "salty" disciples we must be ready to do the same. It is not enough to prepare a beautiful box, properly labelled "salt," then suppose its purpose is fulfilled by pointing with pride to the box. Each of us must use the gift of grace to benefit the church and bring the message of salvation to the world. Each individual is important in God's sight. Every disciple is "salt." He has a part in God's plan and his life has significance.

If we are to be the “salt of the earth” then we must be obedient and united. “For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another” (Mark 9:49-50).

To be obedient requires self-discipline. Jesus’ teaching here is based upon Leviticus 2:13, where it is used as an emblem of a covenant between God and His people. It was a reminder to them that they must never violate that covenant. This is what the apostle Paul was referring to in Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” How can we be mightily used of God if we live worldly and Christless lives? How will the world know the blessings of salvation if believers cannot live godly lives amongst each other? “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35). This is a weakness in today's church. Too many are more concerned with convenience, luxury and self-indulgence than in being "salted" with self-discipline and unity.

“Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear”

(Luke 14:34-35). Luke uses this saying of Jesus to show the need of forsaking all to follow Him, “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:33). But bad salt is worthless and has to be thrown out, so too are false disciples who follow Christ for ungodly reasons and do not take up the cross of self-discipline, “And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:27). Salt in Bible days often had impurities in it, such as earth, stones and other matter, that would rob the salt of its flavour. It had to be pure and kept pure to be of any long-term value. The cross of self-discipline enables us to remove all that contaminates and makes us fit for God’s purpose.

Conclusion

The Christian is by nature "salt" in a sinful and perishing world. He is able, through Christ, to bring salvation and seasoning to the lost. This requires self-discipline on his part. In view of these things, he ought to count the cost in advance and clearly understand what discipleship means; otherwise he will be finally discarded by the Lord as unseasoned salt. Unless there is constant and radical self-judgement, the child of God will fail to achieve the purpose for which God saved him. What is this “salt”? It is the grace of God filling our every thought, word and deed. It is living a Christlike life in a fallen world. It is being holy and godly in every situation inside and outside the church building.

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