ARE YOU GOING OR BEING?

This morning's post is very simple, but quite profound.  Many of us.....even those who know better......think of the "church" as a building.  However, it's NOT!  God never intended for it to be, either!  Would He have sent His Son to die on the cross for a building?  No!  Absolutely not!  Jesus died on the cross for YOU and for ME!  If you are part of God's family - one of His children - then YOU are the church!!  A quote from our preacher Sunday morning reminded us, "Don't allow the church to be a building any more!" 

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 1 Corinthians 12:27

When you look at it that way, it puts a little more importance on being a member of His church, doesn't it?  You're not just "attending" and "sitting on a pew"....checking it off of your to-do list.  YOU are an ACTIVE part of HIS family!

Recently a missionary spoke to us about being the salt and light of the world.  He reminded us that it says "You ARE the salt!" and "You ARE the light!".  The thing is, if you are a Christian, you have made a commitment to God and to Christ to be the salt and light.  

So are you being salt that hasn't lost its flavor?  

Are you being light that is bright or dim?  

As part of the CHURCH, what kind of member are you?  

If everyone was just like you, what kind of church would it be?

Are you just "going to church" or are you "being the church?

Pass the Salt, Please

"Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."

Colossians 4:6

Paul used the expression “seasoned with salt”? Why? Salt is important to us and was even in Bible times. In fact, the Latin word for salt means the same thing as the Latin word for salary. Salt was a very valuable commodity back then. In Bible times salt was used as seasoning, but in other ways, as well.

I read this quote about salt: "Salt is what makes things bad when it isn’t in them. " Isn't that true? I am not very good at making pies, so don’t do it often, but several times when I’ve made a pie or cobbler, I’ve forgotten to put the salt in the pastry dough. I forget because I don’t always use it in recipes when it calls for it. But in the pie crust, without the salt, the crust just tastes bland. In fact, it makes the whole pie not as sweet. Salt used just right in some desserts actually make the dessert taste sweeter.

As Christians, we are to be salt to the world. We are to give things "flavor". What we do, what we say, how we live - everything is done because of Christ living in us. Salt flavors food by dissolving into it. The flavor permeates throughout the food and affects the entire thing. We can be salt by letting our "flavor" permeate throughout the world around us - whether it be in our family, in our job, in the church...throughout all of our relationships.

Think about being "salt" in how we use our words. When we belong to Christ, our words can be and should be wholesome and tasteful rather than bland and dull. Our words can have just the right about of seasoning to brighten someone’s day - encourage them rather than discourage them or bring them down. We won't use our words to gossip or hurt others, but use them for good.

Jesus spoke of salt loosing it’s flavor.

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men." Matthew 5:13

If we, as Christians, loose our "saltiness", it means that we are no longer living for Jesus, but rather living as the world lives. It means we are not "Shining Like Stars" in the universe (Philippians 2:14-15), but that our lights have gone dim - or maybe even out completely.

So, go ahead! "Pass the Salt" to everyone you meet - today and every day!