FEATURE
Called to
SALTINESS “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its flavour, 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
I
—by Dr Pearl Kupe
n Matthew 5, what is commonly known as The Sermon on the Mount, Yeshua sets out a profile of God’s people. He completes this profile by stating that a true Kingdom Citizen is called to be salt and light. Let us examine the properties of salt:
the society, most of us in the Body of Christ would prefer to stay at home and complain about the level of corruption and decay. Let the Ekklesia walk in its salt mandate and be encouraged to stand against moral decay and immorality in the land.
Salt makes a difference
Salt brings and facilitates healing
Salt is designed to make a difference and change the flavour of Salt has been used in a medical sense and continues to be used a particular dish. It is designed to influence the taste in a positive to cleanse wounds and as a means of promoting healing. It is unmanner. The question we must ask ourselves is whether or not the fortunate that, in many cases, the Ekklesia seem to have become a Church is having a positive influence on our societies, communities, club that houses individuals who would want to be entertained by and the world we live in. We will not make a difference by simply Gospel music, instead of coming to worship the Lord. Many do not attending church, wearing our traditional Sunday best, and assemble to hear the uncompromised preaching of God’s Word, singing hymns with an affected “holy but rather to be tickled by catchy, eloquent demeanour”. The question we must ask is speeches. Let the Ekklesia rise up in this whether the Church is facilitating Kingdom season and allow itself to be used by God Let the Church rise up transformation and culture in workplaces, to bring healing in society. Let the Church in this season and allow hospitals, schools, prisons, offices, homes, be used as instruments to facilitate God’s itself to be used by God to and communities at large. If not, then we healing on a physical, emotional, and bring change in society. cannot be said to be ‘salty’! spiritual level. Let us become ‘ministers of reconciliation’ who will not only reconcile people to Christ, but also be used to faciliSalt is influential An inherent feature of salt is that it can be in food, without taking tate reconciliation in the Body of Christ and society at large. on the nature of the food. It can change colour, but it never changes its substance. In the Body of Christ today, we see many Salt the nations! individuals and ministries taking on worldly protocols, standards, In 2022 and beyond, let the Church and Body of Yeshua be mannerisms, and behaviours. We do things the way they are challenged to salt the nations! The mandate given to us in done in the world, yet the Bible cautions us, “though we are in the Matthew 28:19 is to teach and disciple nations. We have been world, we must not become like them”. Romans 12:2 says, “Do not planted purposefully by God and are called to be agents conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed of change. Salt is one of the best by the renewing of your mind.” As members of the Body of Christ, change agents you can find. It brings we are called to bring godly influence and change without transformation, but does not allow its being changed by worldly procedures or ungodly worldviews, inherent properties to be affected. mindsets, or mentalities.
Salt prevents decay and rot For centuries, salt has been used as a means of preventing decay. In the days before refrigerators were invented, salt was widely used to ensure against rot. Many of the communities we live in are plagued by corruption and other types of immoral and ungodly behaviour. Instead of rising up against ungodliness in 80 JOY! MAGAZINE
DR PEARL KUPE is an attorney and consultant to world leaders and international organisations. She is the international president of the Global Forum for Women Entrepreneurs. Email pearl.kupe@gmail.com or visit pearlkupe.co.za or follow her Facebook page, Kingdom Transformer Pearl Kupe
