“You are the salt of the earth…” (Matthew 5:13)
Life can be very flavorful. It can be very beautiful. But—as we discussed in some of our worships Sunday, we still live in a world that is dark and not so pretty. There’s good and plenty and kindness and helpfulness, but there is also prejudice and anger and conceit and judgment. God always wins out in the end—no doubt—but along the way, it’s not always so nice.
Lutheran theology doesn’t pull any punches. We tell it like it is. When you get right down to it, there’s very little gray area in the decisions and faith stances that we make and take every day. Critics think that we’re too liberal; others think we’re not liberal enough. Some adhere closely to our social statements about living the Christian life, while others walk away from them. No matter where you stand, we are all called to be salty Christians. That “salt” can add some wonderful flavor to our existence; it can also be somewhat gritty – and — a bit unhealthy!
The challenge these days, I believe, is that change is a part of every aspect of our existence. I’m not opposed to change. It’s the most constant thing in today’s society, so we must get used to it (if we’re not already). When my family and I moved here almost 20 years ago, there were no cell phones (that I was aware of); there were no personal computers readily available anywhere; No I-phones, I-pads, no “cloud” or voice-activated e-mailing; there was no such thing as texting or none of those electronic notebooks that we are so accustomed to today. There were no “self-braking” cars that stop when you approach another object in your path; there weren’t automobiles who could recognize you in your approach to the car that automatically starts your engine for you. The world is full of changes, and we are called to be open to what God and the world has in store for us each day. Sometimes what we experience is seasoned in a way that we feel good about the change; sometimes what we experience can be so that it is unhealthy for the greater good – too much salt, doctors readily say, is not good for you!
Everything in moderation. After my heart episode, I found that salt cannot be as important in my diet as it once was. Nowadays I’ve discovered that a little salt is needed. Sometimes we have to take a stand on what we see as God’s will (compared to what is the will of the world). As Lent approaches, what things can we work on together to bring the right amount of salt into this existence? Realize that the salt we bring will be too salty for some and not enough for others. Everyone needs to learn moderation – that life is a give and take, that is, often we must stand firm and other times swallow our pride and try to gather all the prayers we can to help us deal with the changes that come very naturally in this life.
This Epiphany season, be salt, light; be the kind of person God calls us to be—kind and compassionate. Salt burns when it gets into wounds; light often exposes things we would rather not be exposed. Through our confessional nature, let salt be a blessing, a flavor that can be used to better God’s Kingdom here on this earth!
Remember that God loves you and so do we!
Pastor Jim