My husband and I teach our church's membership class.  We had a new class last night.

I really love teaching this class for a number of reasons.  One of them is that it gives me a chance to get to know some of the newer people in our congregation.  In a church that has nearly 3000 in attendance every weekend, I'm always thrilled for a way to get familiar with a few more faces in the crowd!

But by far the main reason why I love teaching this class is that I am totally 100% sold out on the local church.  Somebody (I confess I don't know who!) once said, "The church is the hope of the world."  Oh, how deeply I believe this!

Jesus commanded His church to be salt and light in this world.  (See Matthew 5:13.)  Now, I'm sure most people see the point of the light analogy.  We're to be light in a sin-darkened world.  But, the analogy of being salt is so rich, it deserves digging into.

Why would Jesus command us to be salt?  Well, let's take a look at some of the qualities of salt.

First, salt is a preservative.  As Christians, when we live lives that are morally upright, upholding godly values, we are adding a preservative to a world decaying with sin.  Christians are preserving a little taste of what life could have been or should have been before the fall.  Not that our lives are perfect, mind you.  I'm not so naive.  But we are models of the lifestyle God intended for mankind to have: honest, wholesome, hardworking, righteous, obedient lifestyles.

Salt also has a healing quality.  Christians can share the love of Jesus with those who are hurting around us.  As we reflect the love and compassion of Christ, we can help to heal the wounds of those who are sin-sick and hopeless and helpless.  We can offer loving concern, binding up the wounds, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, of those who are damaged and wounded by the harsh realities of a world gone out of control.

Another characteristic of salt is that it causes or increases thirst.  As people around us see Jesus shining in us and through us, they should be attracted to what is different in us.  They should want what we've got, and then we can direct them to Jesus who is the Living Water that can cause them to never thirst again.

And, of course, salt adds flavor.  Do you realize how many people are worn out and just plain tired?  The sinful lifestyle that might once have seemed so exciting to them has been revealed for what it is: bland and lifeless.  Yet, Jesus promised His followers not just an ordinary life, but abundant life (John 4:4)!

I get so excited when I realize that God chose to use us, imperfect as we are, to be the light and salt in the world.  He doesn't have any plan B.  We're it.  So, we'd better get busy being salt and light.

And, the church, when we're doing it right, becomes not just a single flame of light, but a beacon shining brightly on a hillside, lighting up the world all around, offering hope and help to all.

Yes, the church is the hope of the world!

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