作盐 Salt

Just over 25 years ago, the Susan B. Anthony silver dollar was introduced in the United States. The intent was to develop a more durable currency. The problem was that the silver dollar could easily be mistaken for a quarter. Legally it was worth a dollar, but people considered it a nuisance because of its size.

The same thing can happen when an unbelieving world sees the lives of believers as no different from their own. If there’s nothing distinctive about our lives as Christians--other than going to church on Sundays--then the Christian faith is meaningless and ineffective.

But Jesus saw his followers as being distinct. He even called them “the salt of the earth.” Before the days of refrigeration, salt was the most common means of preserving meat and other perishable foods. Salt has a way of slowing down the process of spoiling. Christians are to have that same kind of effect in this world. Our presence is to slow down the corrosive, spoiling effects of sin. But this only happens when Christians get out of the saltshaker and penetrate their communities.

Salt also adds flavor. It makes food tastier and more pleasing. Similarly, the presence of a believer should add zest, joy, and zip to a home, a workplace, or a community. When a Christian is added to the mix, that place ought to become more pleasant and inviting.

刚刚在二十五年前，美国引进一种新的硬币，叫Susan B. Anthony银币。当时的用意，是要发展一种较耐用的货币。可是，问题是这种银币很容易与面值二角五分的银币混淆。这种银币的法定面值是一美元，但碍于它的体积而不受人欢迎。

若不信的世人看见信徒的生命和他们没有分别，上述情况也会同样发生。要是我们基督徒除了在星期日去教会外，根本和其他人没有甚么明显的分别，那么，基督徒的信仰便毫无意义和作用了。

可是，耶稣认为跟随祂的人是与众不同的，祂甚至称他们为「世上的盐」。在尚未发明冷藏方法之前，用盐来保存肉类和其它容易变坏的食物，是最常见的做法。盐有防腐作用，基督徒也要对这世界产生同样的防腐作用。我们的出现，是要延缓罪所造成的侵蚀和损害。但唯有当基督徒冲出盐瓶，进入社区，才能产生这种功效。

　盐亦有调味作用，可以令食物更美味可口。同样，基督徒的出现，是要为家庭、办公室或社区带来热情、喜乐和活力。一个有基督徒加入的地方，理当更加愉快和吸引人。