Salt in a Wound

It seems in time of abundance, understanding of the healing power of salt has been lost.

These days, most references to “salt in a wound” are meant something is taken as an insult. It's the sting at contact and nothing more.

After reading Salt: A World History several years ago, there's a reference to soldiers dying during the Civil War because they did not have salt for their wounds. They had nothing to arrest and stop the spread of infection.

It was a fascinating read about when salt was a rarity instead of a commodity for most of world history.

Jesus told his followers, “You are the salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13). I've often heard this preached describing salt as a seasoning—make things taste better—or as a preservative—make sure things don't rot. I've not heard it really taught as a healing agent.

Jesus went on to say, “but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men” (Matthew 5:13) and “Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another” (Mark 9:50).

Clearly God likes flavor. “Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good” (Psalm 34:8).

The question I've had, though, is How does salt lose it's flavor? I've never know the literal mineral salt to do that.

What if that's referring to us? What if He means, we're the salt, we're there, but we're not being that seasoning, that flavor. We're not willing to enter the wounds of others because we don't want to be the reason they feel the sting of the Gospel.

To be “the fragrance of Christ” means doing so “among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life” (2 Corinthians 2:15-16).

The world is hurting. People have suffered many wounds. They don't just need a hug, as helpful and appreciated as those may be. People need healing. The first steps of healing can be quite painful, but they are necessary nonetheless. True peacemaking doesn't pretend problems aren't there, but instead deals with them.