I learned a lot from my Momma. To this day I hear her say, “Make up your bed; tie your shoes; eat your vegetables; did you brush your teeth?” But the all-time number one lesson was “Mind your tongue, young lady!” along with “If you can’t say something good about someone, don’t say anything at all!” Oh, momma … the world sure needs to hear you now.
I can’t recall a time in my decades-long history on this earth where there has been so much division, hatred, and violence. After I learned the definition of “sarcasm,” derived from the Greek verb “sarkazein” which literally means “to tear flesh like a dog” or “to gnash the teeth,” I see it as a reality today. So much damage our sarcastic, bitter, hateful rhetoric achieves. So many of us fill our lives and senses with the venom, labeling, and blaming of others. On the contrary, speech can be used for so much good, encouragement and uplifting. Why don’t we use the good instead of the evil? The bottom line is how we control what comes out of our mouths … it’s in direct proportion with what we feed into our minds and hearts.
A History of Political Violence in America
This past week has brought violence to the forefront. Political violence has long been a tragic part of our nation’s story. Beginning with Abraham Lincoln in 1865, four of our presidents have been assassinated. Gov. George Wallace survived a shooting in 1972; President Gerald Ford escaped uninjured from two attempts on his life in 1975; Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981 but survived. Rachel Kleinfeld of the Carnegie Endowment for Peace states, “America has a long history of episodic political violence,” from violence against Catholics and immigrants in the early 1800s, to abolitionist and slave fights in the 1850s, the Civil War, and civil rights conflicts in the 1950s and 1960s. From 1963 to 1968, assassins killed Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., and both John F. and Robert Kennedy.
Searching for Peace and Hope
When will this insanity end? I think there are many who want it to, but don’t know how to stop it. Record numbers of citizens are heading to church to pray … many for the first time. Record numbers are attending vigils. There may be countless millions wondering if voting someone else into office will help … or whether voting at all will do any good. At the end of the day, sadly, countless numbers are still glued to our cell phones, social media and instant news feeds. Jesus said: “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again? It is good for nothing anymore, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp, and put it under the peck-measure, but on the lamp stand; and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13-16)
Salt of the Earth: Preserving Influence
What did Jesus mean with all this? Does your life make a difference? If so, what kind of difference? Jesus makes it clear that we are to make a difference in lives of others and in this world. Just as salt makes a difference. Many ancient societies understood the value of salt better than we do today. Many Roman soldiers received their pay in salt, which was very valuable. So, when Jesus said “You are the salt of the earth” people understood it was something very special and valuable. What did Jesus mean? I think he was speaking to Christians, like salt, are to be a preserving influence in society. The issue was the saltiness of the salt. If it loses its saltiness, it may as well be thrown out. The presence of Christians in the world can make all the difference.
Light of the World: Visible Influence
What about our light? Then he also said, “You are the light of the world”. While salt is a hidden but powerful influence, light is a visible and revealing influence. We are called to make a visible impact on the world around us. Our faith in God is to be open and seen by others, not hidden away. Our light should shine, not to boast or reveal how good we are, but to bring glory to God our Heavenly Father.
Believers are to influence others to turn to Him. When we turn our lives over to the care of Jesus, something very powerful happens. He has saved us, forgiven us of our sins, changed our hearts, given us a new hope, put his love in our hearts, given us joy, and set our feet on the unshakeable rock.
Living as Salt and Light Today
I ask you, does your life make a difference to others … to the public eye? Are you salt and light in this world, just like Jesus spoke about? It’s easy … all you have to do is ask.
About the Author
Debby Efurd is co-founder of Cary John Efurd Ministries of Pittsburg, TX. She has been a contributor to Bound for Life and written numerous articles published in LifeNews, Christian Post and the Baptist Standard, and is the author of Go Tell It! Debby can be contacted at caryjohnefurdinistries@gmail.com. Visit her at the Second Mile blog at https://debbyefurd.com.
Tagged: American history, Christians in culture, Jesus
