Have you ever heard the story of how Lake Peigneur at Jefferson Island in Louisiana came to be? It’s all about the power and preservation of salt. Forty-four years ago, a salt mine was struck unintentionally, triggering a catastrophic collapse. Lake Peigneur is known to be the largest sinkhole of its kind in the United States. When the salt mine was struck more than 1,500 feet below ground, and could no longer hold up the barrier or preserve, the lake rushed in, draining it. It’s pretty remarkable that salt was holding up so much. This was once a small, peaceful lake; now it’s a whirlpool because someone underestimated the power of the salt structure beneath it.
Salt is not just for flavoring, as some may think. It has more than one hundred uses, one of which is to preserve stability. Salt is used for purification, healing, and covenants, among other things. However, misused or compromised salt can cause collapse, like the cracked dome beneath Jefferson Island. As Kingdom citizens, we are called the “salt of the earth.” This means we’re called to preserve truth, uphold standards, and flavor with grace by maintaining integrity under pressure. When we don’t live lives rooted in Christ’s teaching, we risk some major collapse taking place on the earth. This question isn’t about food, it’s about purpose.
Yesterday, while I was at the gym, one of my friends made a comment that alarmed me. As she spoke of the gym manager, she said, “He must be Mormon, because only those people are that kind.” Without being able to see the person in every situation life could offer to monitor his response, after knowing him for a short while, she labeled him as a particular “faith” or class/group of people. I was baffled by her statement. I’ve learned the truth about “impressions” and how vital our impressions can be toward others when we speak and act. Jesus wanted to address this in this question that we’re considering today. The moment we lose our “saltiness” as believers, we’re good for nothing in the earth.
Jesus was trying to point out that our reputation, our name, will last much longer than we will; we must do everything we can to make that count. Salt doesn’t typically lose flavor unless mixed with other substances that dilute it. In a culture like this, it’s easy to lose ourselves in the compromise to be like everyone else. The follower of Christ has a distinct flavor that should resonate only with the things Jesus taught. Things like speaking the truth in love, conviction with compassion, and courage without cruelty bring about the peace and unity of those around us.
This question is tough to answer. After the salt mine at Jefferson Island, Louisiana, was struck and the lake drained in, nothing could be done to stop it. We’ve got what we get, and we can’t have a fit. We must choose not to erode the name “follower of Christ.” For when the world begins to see us as a people who are judgmental, angry, or just like the world, we dilute the kingdom’s power toward those who perceive us, then they don’t make comments like my dear friend made about people who wear the title “Believer and Follower of Jesus.” But the name becomes synonymous with everyone they know who doesn’t know Jesus.
Here are some thoughts for your consideration:
To be salt of the earth and not lose our saltiness, we must:
Continually:
Live with integrity,
Speak truth with grace,
Confront decay with holiness,
Bring peace without passivity.
Spiritually, morally, relationally, we must do all we can to uphold the kingdom’s standard by living the lifestyle we were called to!
Reference Scriptures: Matt: 5:13; Mk 9:50, Lk 14:34-35
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