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By Paul Proctor
August 21, 2003
NewsWithViews.com
One of the things I love about older mature Christians is their courage and conviction. They know sin when it stares them in the face and aren�t the least bit afraid to speak out against it when compelled to do so by reason of circumstance or confrontation. Though often troubled and tormented by a youth-driven culture and all of its frivolous fads and capricious ways, they�re not easily influenced or intimidated by it.
However, when Jesus said: �Ye are the salt of the earth�� He wasn�t referring to old folks. He was speaking to His disciples without any reference to age. And if you and I wish to consider ourselves disciples of Christ, we would do well to heed His 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.� � Matthew 5:13
In today�s postmodern church, the term �salt of the earth� is almost always applied to opinionated old folks; senior citizens with, not only a deep and abiding faith in Christ and His Word, but whose �personal experience� of service and dedication to Him span decades of suffering, sacrifice and study resulting in a keen discernment that clearly recognizes good from evil long before the much younger brother or sister does. That�s why old folks are often the first to speak up when good and evil are confused or reversed before the watchful eyes of their children�s children � because they understand all too well the consequences of spiritual ignorance and apathy. They�re drawing, you see, on a myriad of mistakes made and a lifetime of lessons learned. But do we listen?
What a shame it is to see this precious �salt� being carried away to nursing homes; a wisdom wasted behind walls of isolation and obscurity by a wanton world longing to be shed of it like so much garbage. Is it any wonder that globalists, trying to depopulate the planet for �environmental� reasons, are now suggesting involuntary euthanasia as a viable option and a �compassionate� alternative to growing old, unhealthy, unaffordable and �unproductive� in order to protect our �valuable resources� from �useless eaters� and save them for future generations? I suspect it will be considered �our civic duty� one day � maybe even our �Christian duty� to let them put us out of their misery and release �Mother Earth� from the terrible burden our sustained existence poses to �her�. Talk about intolerance� Once euthanasia becomes as justifiable and popular as abortion, it�s only a matter of time before they�ll move both ends of the �productive� age spectrum toward the middle. How efficient of them. Got us coming and going, don�t they?
So, what did Jesus mean by �salt of the earth�? Salt, you see, inhibits the growth of bacteria and fungi and was used for centuries as a preservative before refrigeration was invented. Faithful and obedient Christians, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, inhibit the spread of sin in society by their very presence because they, like their Lord and Savior, have no tolerance for it. They see it for what it is and refuse to dress it up as something else just to pacify participants and win their favor and friendship � calling instead for them to repent. When one considers the terrible �wages of sin�, what could be more kind, compassionate and loving than to invite resentment, rejection and ridicule upon oneself in order to make the truth known to others?
This poses a real problem for today�s �seeker-sensitive�, �purpose-driven�, church growth movement because its founders and promoters teach and preach that sustaining human relationships are the key to �success� in evangelism and church growth. Therefore NOTHING and NO ONE should EVER disrupt or come between them � NOT EVEN GOD�S WORD. Putting scriptural commands and doctrine over human relationships is viewed as legalistic, divisive and therefore evil. They consider one�s objection to another�s sin as being �harsh�, �cold�, �unloving�, �uncompassionate� �hypocritical� and �mean-spirited�, citing 1st Corinthians 13 as their religious rationale � all the while making themselves right at home in the devil�s den, pledging to �love the sinner and hate the sin� � in the interest of �friendship evangelism�, of course � AH, but not without a price!
�Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God� � James 4:4
Matthew Henry, in his concise commentary on Ephesians, chapter 5 wrote this:
�There are many ways of abetting, or taking part in the sins of others; by commendation, counsel, consent, or concealment. And if we share with others in their sins, we must expect to share in their plagues. If we do not reprove the sins of others, we have fellowship with them.�
This is why the Apostle Paul told the Ephesians:
�And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.� � Ephesians 5:11
Of course, today�s wool-bearing wolves throughout pop Christianity differ with God on this issue, teaching instead from the pulpit that one�s tolerance of sin is the true measure of Christian love because it promotes �unity� in the body. The reality is; it breeds corruption in the church. And as Katherine Kersten expressed so well in a recent Wall Street Journal editorial on the newly elected Homosexual Bishop; Our �secular therapeutic culture� is being sold a �new gospel�; a gospel of �inclusion and affirmation� that teaches �Jesus came to make us feel good about ourselves.�
Well, I don�t know about you, but I prefer the old gospel, the Old Rugged Cross, the old King James Bible and ALL the old folks who hold them dear to this day and speak up when transgressions abound because their witness and their wisdom, however awkward, unattractive, unpopular and unpolished they are, is unwavering and unwilling to compromise for anyone or anything at any time. And, like the God that gave them to us � the truth they teach never changes.
�For I am the LORD, I change not�� � Malachi 3:6a
� 2003 Paul Proctor - All Rights Reserved
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Paul Proctor, a rural resident of the Volunteer state and seasoned veteran of the country music industry, retired from showbiz in the late 1990's to dedicate himself to addressing important social issues from a distinctly biblical perspective. As a freelance writer and regular columnist for NewsWithViews.com, he extols the wisdom and truths of scripture through commentary and insight on cultural trends and current events. His articles appear regularly on a variety of news and opinion sites across the internet and in print. Paul may be reached at watchman@usa.com�
�Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God� � James 4:4