Salt: Good or Bad?

Salt is an essential nutrient and the amount of salt in the diet influences health.  Too much salt can raise blood pressure and may increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes in susceptible populations.  On the other hand, a low-salt diet may cause serious health consequences and higher overall mortality, especially in the presence of certain chronic health conditions and lifestyle factors.

So is salt good or bad?  It's not that simple, is it?  For example, the salt that an athlete needs to prevent dehydration is the salt that some experts believe play a significant role in many health problems, such as high blood pressure.

God calls us to be salt in a bland, dark society.  Matthew 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth.  But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?   It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot."

However, salt is now considered so bad that international health organisations have made calls to reduce salt content in edibles.  Likewise with churches today, instead of heeding Paul's call as written in Romans chapter 12, not to conform to the pattern of the world, we are now compromising to the culture and expectation of the world.

Are Christians doing what Christians need to do?

Are we salt that flavors food?

Are we living our faith?

What happen often times is that Christians live in this cozy bubble, and we do not know any non Christians.  How then can we truly be the salt of the world?

Romans 12:1-2 "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Discipline

Disciplining our child is one of the most important things as a parent or caregiver, can do.  Remember the words of the world's wisest man, Solomon?  "He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him." (Proverbs 13:24 NIV)

Children need to be disciplined but never belittle them as it can really be damaging to a child's self esteem.  And only use the cane when absolutely necessary.

The Bible recorded that a home cannot be happy without children but at the same time parents are to bring their children to the Lord at an early age.  Matthew 19:13-14.  Parents are to discipline, teach, nurture, and "train up a child in the way he should go" knowing that "when he is old, he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6)

Psalm 127:3-5 reminded us that Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him.  Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth.   Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.  They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enermies in the gate.

Discipline is vitally important as it teaches children the concept of right and wrong.  They are also taught to respect authorities like teachers, parents, pastors and even authorities of the law.

Besides teaching them good social skills, it also develop good habits.  They learn that there are boundaries that must not be crossed, such as poor eating habits, poor personal hygiene, and the more deadly traps of drugs, alcohol and sex.

Even as we love our children we should also teach them to obey God and the laws of the country.  Humility is a choice, not a state of being.  True humility relates to two basic choice we make.   The first is a choice to recognize that all we are and all we accomplish is due only to the fact that Someone else has made it possible for us to succeed.  Secondly, true humility chooses to humble its will in submission to a higher moral authority. - Joe Stowell