How the church of Christ lost its “saltiness” and how it can be made “salty” again

Photo by Jason Tuinstra on Unsplash

When the Christ said that the church of Christ is the “light of the world” and the “salt of the Earth,” I take it to mean that we are the gentle, kind, loving conscience of humanity.

For example, when humanity gobbles up consumerism at all costs, we show and tell a better way with grace and humility. When humanity takes it for granted that he is most blessed who can buy as much as he wants, the church of Christ quietly acts on the belief that “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts of the Apostles 20:35).

The biblical pattern is that the church of Christ is the best “light” and “salt” when it is in the minority, when it is not in power.

We need to remember that the “light” of which the Christ spoke was a flicker in vast darkness. “Salt” is just a particle on whatever food it preserves.

Over the years–at least the years in my lifetime–I think the church of Christ covered its light with a bushel basket and lost its saltiness. If we are the conscience of humanity, we “seared” that conscience (1 Timothy 4:2).

How?

First, we mistook being judge and jury for being light and salt. We would rather find fault and fix blame than gently, kindly, meekly come alongside and guide humanity in the Way of the Christ–the way of love.

Second, we mistook a rigid morality for the life of the Spirit of God. For many Christians on my own branch of the Christian family tree, everything in the world comes down to sexuality. We think that by speaking out and trying to stop things like gay marriage and sex outside of marriage, we are living as “light” and “salt.” “Majoring in minors” makes us guilty of the same charge the Christ brought against the most decent, moral, upright people of his day: “You tithe mint, dill, and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith” (Gospel of Matthew 23:23).

Third, we mistook cultural, economic, political, and social power for the best means for being “light” and “salt.” When we seek these things, we are deceived and lost. The more power we seek, the less salty we become and the more our light dims. The pursuit of power always costs Christians the essence of Christianity, which is found at the place of no power–the cross of our Christ.

The power to accuse, convict, judge, and punish appeals to the sinful nature. I have seen far too many Christians dress up their own sinful nature and try to pass it off as “standing up for what is right.” They take delight in pointing out the sins of the world. They take pleasure in the power to enforce their “morality” on others.

These Christians are not in the way of the Christ; they are not living by the Spirit. They are neither “light” nor “salt.”

Being light and salt starts with becoming very small within ourselves and saying about our fellow human beings: “But for the grace of God, there go I.”

If we truly love humanity as our Christ loves humanity, being the conscience of humanity is not a role we should seek or want for ourselves. However, it is a role we should accept with humility and meekness. It is a role we should handle with care and much prayer.

Sometimes, I wonder if the church of Christ in America can be saved. Jesus Christ himself asked: “How can [salt] be made salty again?” (Gospel of Matthew 5:13).

Are we too far gone in our addiction to rule-keeping and rule-enforcement?

Are we too far gone in our obsession with every kind of power?

Are we too far gone in our pre-occupation with our own moral superiority?

At least our own faith shows us the pattern for being made new again, but it is neither an easy nor pleasant one.

To be raised to life, we first must die. This is the Way of our Christ.

Is the church of Christ in America willing to die to itself so that God might raise it to new life?

Are we willing to die to moral superiority and political power so that God may make us salty again and our Christ may relight our lamp?

Grace and peace.