THE SALT HAS LOST ITS SAVOR
By Dr. Chuck Baldwin
"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." (Matt. 5:13 KJV)
On this the 29th anniversary of the infamous Roe v Wade Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion on demand, it is necessary that we examine the "saltiness" of America's Christian population. When Christ said that His people were "the salt of the earth," what did He mean?
Among other things, salt is a preservative. It resists the rot and deterioration of perishable items. That is precisely what Christians are supposed to do: they should resist the rot and deterioration of a perishing society - but they are not doing it.
How can a nation that has a church on every corner tolerate the legal murder of over 40 million innocent, unborn babies? How can it condone and even promote unnatural sexual perversion? How can it allow its Christian heritage to be expunged? How can it sit back while its entertainment mediums become cesspools of moral filth? How can it allow its educational institutions to become evangelists of atheistic evolution, moral relativism and socialist propaganda? The answer is, the salt has lost its savor.
The impotent influence of modern Christianity can be clearly seen by examining current social statistics. A recent CNS News report dated January 21 said, "Born-again Christians are just as likely to get divorced as anybody else in American society, and the vast majority of those identifying themselves as divorced and born-again actually got their divorces after converting to Christianity, according to a new book called The Divorce Reality." Statistics relating to other social ills are equally disturbing.
According to published reports, "Seventy-six percent of child prostitutes are from church-going families." George Barna's research has uncovered the fact, that in virtually every discernable category of moral and social behavior, there is no distinguishable difference between America's church-going and nonchurch-going public. None. Statistically, Christians and non-Christians are equally dishonest, equally immoral, equally selfish, equally greedy, and equally indifferent. Again, the salt has lost its savor.
When the character of resistance leaves God's people, tyranny and oppression cannot be far behind. This is what Christ meant when He said that such believers are "good for nothing, but to be cast out, and trodden under the foot of men." It would seem such is the condition of many professing believers today. For all practical purposes, they are good-for-nothing.
Good-for-nothing preachers refuse to call sin by its first name and teach their people what God says about abortion, homosexuality, or anything else that might be considered controversial or politically incorrect. Good-for-nothing church members never protest the evil of abortion or lift a finger against any act of indecency or perversity. Good-for-nothing businessmen continue.
Chuck Baldwin graduated from La Porte High School in 1971, attended Midwestern Baptist College in Pontiac, Michigan for two years. He then married and moved to Lynchburg, Virginia. He enrolled in the Thomas Road Bible Institute (now known as the Liberty Bible Institute at Liberty Univ.) and graduated with his Bible Diploma. He then earned his Bachelor of Theology and Master of Theology degrees from Christian Bible College in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Chuck received his first Doctor of Divinity degree from Christian Bible College. He received his second Doctor of Divinity degree from Trinity Baptist College in Jacksonville, Florida.
Founder-Pastor Crossroads Baptist Church, Pensacola, Florida. Dr. Baldwin and his wife met with four others on June 22, 1975, for the first meeting of the Crossroad Baptist Church. The church was organized in September of that year. Six acres of prime property were purchased in 1978. Since then the church has gone through five building programs. In 1985 the church was recognized by President Ronald Reagan for its unusual growth and influence.
Dr. Baldwin is the host of a lively, hard-hitting radio talk show called, "Chuck Baldwin Live." This is a daily, one hour long call-in show in which Dr. Baldwin addresses current event topics from a conservative Christian point of view.
Chuck has authored two books. The first is entitled "Subjects Seldom Spoken On". The second, "This Is The Life," is a verse-by-verse exposition of the Epistles of John. Numerous theological booklets have also been written by Dr. Baldwin, including the popular, "Let's Look at Legalism." Through his radio program Dr. Baldwin has edited and produced "The Freedom Documents." This volume contains over fifty of the most important and influential documents of American history. Chuck also writes daily editorials that are sent to thousands of subscribers electronically. These editorial opinions are carried by several newspapers around the country.