Tasteless salt smells bad

The Bible says we are to be the salt of the earth:

Matthew 5:13(AMP)

¹³You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste (its strength, its quality), how can its saltness be restored?

Salt is however a very interesting combination. It is a mixture of sodium and chlorine. While sodium is a harmless active element, chlorine is a poisonous gas, but combined together the result is salt.

I cannot imagine eating my food without salt. Salt brings out the flavor of food and even preserves food. But I will definitely not eat my food with chlorine alone, it is not only a poisonous gas, but also smells very bad.

In the same way we can only be salt if we are combined with another element - the Holy Spirit. We cannot be salt on our own. On our own we are almost like chlorine, a poisonous gas that smells very bad and will push people away from God.

The Message translates the same passage as follow:

 ¹³"Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness?

Combined with the Holy Spirit, you are salt, giving people a taste of God’s Kingdom and drawing them into His presence. But alone you are just a bad smell that will poison people’s thoughts about God and push them away from His Kingdom!

I’ll rather taste good than smell bad!

Shalom!

Anina