Unsalty

I was sad and disheartened when I passed by this little church building and noticed that it was boarded up and abandoned -- DEAD. Yet, all around it were green signs of LIFE and vitality.

I'm afraid this is a reality more and more frequently as the communities around many of our houses of worship blossom and thrive while the number of people attending church services are in decline. More houses of recreation...and less houses of worship.

I realize there are many reasons for this phenomenon in America. We have been the third largest mission field in the world for at least a decade or two now. Wealth, knowledge, spiritual bankruptcy, hedonism, self-centeredness, pride, independence, division, lack of clear spiritual leadership in our homes and very little real discipleship happening in our churches... and the list goes on.

What you see is what Jesus described when the church (Christians) become tasteless (uninteresting, unsavory, weak, stale, unappetizing) and good for nothing (ineffective, no longer making a difference).

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet." ~Jesus (Matthew 5:13)

This picture does not have to repeat itself, but Christian people must be willing to step out of their comfort zones and engage that life which exists outside of the church building. That is your Great Calling, your Great Commandment, and your Great Commission. Otherwise it will result in your congregation's Great Catastrophe.

Salt is tasteless and good for nothing unless it is shaken out. You can't make salt saltier by just putting more of it together. It only does its job when applied outside of the jar. Start making a difference outside the walls of the church building. Let's get some shakin' goin' on.