When the Things of God Offend

Salt and Light

Several years ago, I wrote a post about the importance of Christ comparing His followers to salt.  It focused on the positive attributes of salt.  You can read it here.

There's also another comparison He made to Christians being the "light of the world" (Matthew 5:14).  But living among the salt and the light, it can be a difficult walk...

If you've read the link above, the benefits of salt are fresh in your mind.  So let's start there.  I'd like to offer another property of this little white speck.  Have you ever done a search for a cleaning method and found the suggestion to use salt?  That's because of its course, rough texture.  It has many sides, none of which are smooth, so it scrubs, scours, and polishes.  It's abrasive.  Remember this word.  It is also used as a rub to tenderize tough cuts of meat.  It's not only adding flavor (see link above), but it's also serving a purpose toward making the meat more enjoyable to eat.  However, in order to do its job, the salt must be massaged into the meat, sometimes with vigor or strength.

Now let's think about light.  How many of you have experienced one or more of the following?  Driving at night and a car coming toward you with their brights on?  Sitting in the dark and someone turns the light on unexpectedly?  Going to the optometrist and they shine that light in your eyes to check your eye health?  I'm sure you're thinking of other examples.  The first word that comes to mind when I think of these situations is harsh.  Even blinding. That light hurts my eyes!

Another example of the negativity of light is when it's being used as a flashlight or a spotlight.  Police officers use lights to assist in finding evidence or people.  Someone hiding in the dark is often found by turning on the lights.  Light has a way of exposing something.  

Given the words I've emphasized, do you see where I'm going with this?

I think there are a lot of Christians who have been labeled "offensive" in their stand for the Gospel when they've simply been being abrasive salt.  They forget that a common usage for salt is to tenderize.  It's the very act of taking something tough and making it tender.  Taking a hard heart and adding some abrasion in order to soften that heart toward God's love.



I think there are people who have been offended by Christians simply because the Light of Truth called out their sin and exposed it.  That harsh and blinding light makes a person want to get back into the darkness.  It's like the person who can't sleep if there's any light in the room.  I'm like that myself.  I can get comfortable and sleep better.  But the problem is that the darkness makes us comfortable with our sins too.  There's no exposure.  There's no harsh light to show us the ugly truth of our choices.  There's no Light of God's Truth to show us we need to repent.

Now let me be very clear - I am not saying that any person should be using the bible or God in any way that is cruel, condemning, hateful, or in any way hurts another person.  No!  That is not the love of Jesus and it is not the point of this post.  The point is that sometimes the things we need to hear for our own growth are painful to hear.  The point is that if someone who genuinely loves you has hurt your feelings with what they've shared with you, it might just be because you know what they've said is true.  There is a difference to being offensive out of malice and being offended because you didn't want to be found out.

The beauty of salt is that it dissolves.  The meat does not come out ruined, but better. It mixes well and brings something new to the table.  So many people are worried about fitting in and being exactly the person their friends or society says they need to be.  The people who are tenderizing you with salt are trying to show you that it's ok to be the person GOD made you to be.

The beauty of light is that it guides.  That warm glow of the lighthouse indicates the shoreline to a storm weary sailor.  A person who may be shining a harsh light on your heart and exposing your choices may be trying to guide you to a better life.  You are unique and special and one of a kind.  And the right Light will reveal that to you.

My prayer for this post is that if you are sharing your heart with someone who thinks you are offensive, you will find encouragement in your struggle to love them.  So long as you are sharing your heart in LOVE, the tenderizer will serve its purpose.

And my prayer is that if you are someone who is offended by someone shedding light on some things you know you need to address, that you will be encouraged by this new point of view.  You are not being bullied or hated or mocked.  You are being loved on and shown that staying in the dark only leads to more darkness.  Wake up!  Don't stay asleep in the comfortable darkness.  Let this Light guide you to the shore of the best life you still have to live.