“Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavour, how do you make it salty again? Flavourless salt is good neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown away.” (Luke 14:34-35)

Chemists will tell you that it is virtually impossible for sodium chloride to become unstable and lose its saltiness.

However, in Jesus’ day, salt came in different grades and various degrees of purity. The impurities could be so overwhelming that they could render the salt flavourless. Thus, salt could literally lose its saltiness.

When that happened, it was of absolutely no use for anything, not even the manure pile. There was no other alternative left except for it to be completely discarded.

Jesus uses salt as a metaphor of the way in which we as his followers influence culture.

Prior to the practice of refrigeration, salt was used as a preservative. It was also used as an antiseptic, for example, to rub on newborn babies. (Ezekiel 16:4)

In other words, salt that retained its saltiness would make a tangible difference to the meat or fish to which it was applied. It would prevent them from rotting.

Similarly, Jesus declares that when the witness of his disciples is as it ought to be, then it is bound to impact those with whom we come in contact in a noticeable way.

However, when our witness is contaminated by internal impurities or corrupted by outside influences, then it loses its ability to effect any change in others, amen?

George Barna reports that based on surveys conducted by his organization, less than 20% of self-declared “born-again” Christians hold a biblical worldview.

There is virtually no difference between Christians and non-Christians in matters of sexual expression outside of marriage, divorce rates, to name a couple of areas.

On more than occasion, we have heard stories of a visitor to a church service who discovers that a co-worker is a member of that church and remarks: “I would’ve never guessed that you went to church, (first name)!” Ouch!

It could be the language we use, the way we treat co-workers, our response to suffering, our unwillingness to take an unpopular stand, our use of drugs and/or alcohol or moral relativism that shies away from absolute truth.

Such tainted witness ain’t worth its, er, salt.

It does nothing to prevent the moral rot of culture. Chuck it out!

That’s what Jesus seems to be saying.

So, here is a question for you. Have you checked your saltiness level lately?

Would your witness be described as one that makes a difference to those around you?

If yes, praise God!

If no or not sure, surely this is a good time to get rid of the contaminants and pollutants that have corrupted your witness and become salty again.

After all, who wants to end up being simply dismissed or discarded?