SAVORLESS SALT

In 1903, John Monro Gibson (1838-1921), a British pastor commented on Jesus’ words, “ Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men” in Matthew 5:13 as follows:

“It is true that there is no longer the sharp distinction between Christians and the world which there was in the days when it cost something to confess Christ. There are now so many Christians in name who are not so in reality. Christianity is meant to conserve, in a society all that is good, and to restrain the rottening influence of all that is evil. “Of what use,” Jesus asks, “is tasteless salt? It is fit only to be cast out and trodden under foot of men. “Equally useless is the so called Christian who has nothing in character or life to distinguish him from the world; who, though he may be honest and truthful and sober, a very respectable citizen of the earthly kingdom, has none of the characteristic marks of the kingdom of heaven, none of the savor of the beatitudes about him.”

The above would be fitting material for every Christian ear and every church bulletin in America. It is a reminder, an admonition, that is more applicable, more urgently necessary than it was when DR. Monro wrote this nearly a century ago.