Salt or a "Moron"?

Scripture:

Matthew 5:13 (ESV) "You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet."

Matthew 5:13 (AMP) You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste (its strength, its quality), how can its saltness be restored? It is not good for anything any longer but to be thrown out and trodden underfoot by men."

Observation:

If a seasoning has no flavor, it has no value. If Christians make no effort to affect the world around them, they are of little value to God. If we are too much like the world, we are worthless. Christians should not blend in with everyone else. Instead, we should affect others positively, just as seasoning brings out the best flavor in food.

Our Lord shows here what the preachers of the Gospel, and what all who profess to follow him, should be; the salt of the earth, to preserve the world from putrefaction and destruction.

But if the salt have lost his savor - That this is possible in the land of Judea, we have proof from Henry Maundrell (1600's theologian), who, describing the Valley of Salt, speaks thus: "Along, on one side of the valley, toward Gibul, there is a small precipice about two men's lengths, occasioned by the continual taking away of the salt; and, in this, you may see how the veins of it lie. I broke a piece of it, of which that part that was exposed to the rain, sun, and air, though it had the sparks and particles of salt, Yet It Had Perfectly Lost Its Savour: the inner part, which was connected to the rock, retained its savor, as I found by proof." See his Trav., 5th edit., last page. A preacher, or private Christian, who has lost the life of Christ, and the witness of his Spirit, out of his soul, may be likened to this salt. He may have the sparks and glittering particles of true wisdom, but without its unction or comfort. Only that which is connected with the rock, the soul that is in union with Christ Jesus by the Holy Spirit, can preserve its savor, and be instrumental of good to others.

To be trodden underfoot - There was a species of salt in Judea, which was generated at the lake Asphaltites, and hence called bituminous salt, easily rendered vapid, and of no other use but to be spread in a part of the temple, to prevent slipping in wet weather. This is probably what our Lord alludes to in this place.

Application:

This verse really challenges me when I study the phrase "lost its taste", or in the KJV is says, "lost its savor". What does that mean? The Greek word is "moraíno" from where we get the word "moron" or "fool". It means "to act foolishly, to prove a person or thing foolish; to make flat and tasteless".

This same Greek word is used in Romans 1:21-22 "For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. (22) Claiming to be wise, they became fools" Again, this word "fools" is "moraino", "acting foolishly" or moronic!

The Bible says in Psalm 14:1 that "the fool has said in his heart there is no God." I have been reading a book about Christian Atheist, people who say they believe in God with their mouths, but in their hearts they really don't, so THAT belief effects their actions. They act as if there is no God in their daily walk in this life. Moronic, and a sad place to be.

Jesus told Christians that we must NOT lose our "savor" or "saltiness" or we would be used for nothing but "asphalt" for people to walk over and drive their carriages, or cars over. Jesus didn't pay the ultimate price for us to be "moronic". He didn't purchase us to act like a fool. He didn't sacrifice His life, body for us to lose our effectiveness, influence and witness for Him.

Too often, we act "moronic" when we get away from our Christian friends. In the USA there are too many people who say they LOVE our God, but hate His church and His people. Why? Because many have become "moronic", living as a fool that believes there is no God, in our hearts. So we have lost our influence and impact.

That must change. We must come running back to Christ and ask Him for forgiveness for being a moron (moronic), and help us to never again lose our "savor" or "saltiness" in our walk with Him. There will have to be some changes made. We may need to change our habits, our friends, our disciplines. But in the end, it will be worth it, and our world will be better off because of it!

Prayer:

"Jesus please forgive me for acting like a moron! Forgive me for allowing my life to lose its effectiveness for You. I am sorry for living, acting, talking like a fool that says there is no God in my heart. I choose today to come running back to You. I want to be SALT and not a MORON. In Jesus name, amen!"