It's okay to be a little salty.

Merriam Webster describes the adjective salty, as "seasoned with" or "containing salt", which in turn adds flavor to something. As long as something isn't OVERsalted, salt mostly sounds pretty good, right? I myself find great comfort in a nice pat of SALTED butter on crispy whole wheat toast with over-medium eggs. Maybe some bacon. For sure some coffee. Mm-mm good.

But Merriam also describes salty as feeling or showing resentment towards a person or situation.

Or as Urban Dictionary puts it, being upset over something little. Now salty sounds just petty.

But the Bible talks about being salty in a more encouraging context.

Matthew 5.13-16 (NIV)

"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. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven."

As Christians, we are called to be a little salty. It is a great thing! Salt acts as a preservative to keep something from becoming spoiled. As The Church, our purpose is to go out into the world and keep it "from spoiling" by being Christ-like. To add flavor. To be different and stand out. We are called not to conform to this world (Romans 12.2), but to also become a light in its darkness. We can't be that light on our own. When we give our lives to him, his light lives inside us, and is then RADIATED through us by our actions. In John 8.12 (NIV) Jesus says, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." It isn't Jesus' intention to be a part of us, as we still live our lives by covering him up with our actions, words, lifestyle choices, or friendships. It is like the children's bible song, "Hide it under a bushel? NO! I'm gonna let it shine!". We have to PUT OUR LIGHT ON A STAND PEOPLE by living out his light everyday!

When Jesus talks salt, he talks about demonstrating his love, kindness, goodness to everyone.When we keep his word in our hearts, study it, meditate on it, talk about it, demonstrate it in our actions daily, we become that salt and light Jesus is talking about. So go ahead. Get out there, shine that light, and be a little salty.