9-7-25 “Salt That Loses Its Flavor”

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“Salt That Loses Its Flavor”

I want to start with something funny I found on the internet: A little boy told his mom he wanted to save up for a bike. He proudly announced, “I’ve already got three dollars and eighty-seven cents. How much more do I need?” His mom said, “About $96 more.” The boy sighed, “Well, I guess I’ll buy a gumball instead.”

A few weeks ago, I saw the Grantsburg church sign. It read, “If you don’t climb the mountain, you can’t get the view.” That sign made me think of our faith journey. As Christians, we have already begun the journey toward the Promised Land. But if we don’t complete the journey, we can’t expect to enter it. It’s like the boy who gave up on the bike and settled for a gumball.

Our faith journey is lifelong. As the apostle Paul writes in 2 Timothy 4:7–8 (NRSV):
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day—and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”

God judges our faith at the end of the journey. That’s why we must keep climbing the mountain until we reach the view.

Today, Jesus talks about discipleship. Discipleship isn’t completed by taking a class or attending a Bible study. It’s a lifelong journey, shaped by how we live.

Let’s zoom in on today’s scripture. One day, Jesus was walking along the road, followed by a huge crowd. People were excited—He healed the sick, told amazing stories, and fed thousands with just a few loaves of bread. Who wouldn’t want to follow someone like that?

I know the new generation follows superstars—athletes, singers, and movie stars. But if Jesus were here today, everyone would follow Him like a big fan. Yet being a fan is very different from being a disciple.

I’m on Facebook—how many of you use Facebook, Instagram, or some other platform? If so, you know how many followers you have. But followers aren’t disciples. For example, our parish Facebook page has 284 followers, but many of them don’t attend our churches—some may not even be Christian.

Jesus noticed that many of His followers were just fans, like Facebook followers checking in online. Then He stopped, turned, and shocked the crowd with these words:
“Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26).

Wait—what? Isn’t this the same Jesus who said, “Love one another as I have loved you”? What does He mean? Does Jesus really want us to hate our families and our lives? Of course not. In Hebrew idiom, the word “hate” can mean to “love less” or to set a lower priority. Jesus isn’t calling us to despise our families; He’s calling us to give Him our highest loyalty—even above family and life itself. In other words, Jesus was saying: “If you want to follow Me, you must love Me more than anything else. You must carry your cross.”

Now, that must have shocked the crowd. Carrying a cross wasn’t a metaphor to them—it was the ultimate punishment for criminals. It meant pain, shame, and even death.

Then Jesus gave two examples. First, He said, “Imagine you want to build a tower.” Back then, towers were costly stone projects. You wouldn’t start without checking your budget. If you ran out halfway, people would laugh at the half-finished tower. Second, He said, “Think about a king going to war.” Before rushing in, the king asks: “Do I have enough soldiers to win, or should I make peace?”

Jesus was saying: “It’s the same with following Me. Don’t just get caught up in the excitement. Count the cost. Being My disciple means giving Me first place in your life—even above everything you own.” So, the question remains: are we just fans of Jesus, or are we His true followers?

To drive the point home, Jesus used a simple but powerful image: salt.
“Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored?” (Luke 14:34).

Salt in the ancient world wasn’t just for flavor. It preserved food, healed wounds, and enhanced taste. In the same way, our faith is meant to preserve God’s values, bring life, and flavor the world with Christ’s love.

But salt can lose its saltiness if it’s diluted, contaminated, or left unused. Likewise, disciples lose their distinctiveness when they compromise values, blend into the world, or practice faith superficially. Jesus warns: “It is no longer useful and is thrown out.”

Let me give you an example. When my sister-in-law first learned to cook, she didn’t know how to use salt. She would cook without seasoning and just put salt on the table. Every dish was bland. Later, she became a good cook—because she wanted to love and care for her husband well. That’s love.

In our spiritual lives, salt is like obedience, love, joy, hope, and peace. Without these, life is bland and meaningless.  People around us may see us, but they won’t “taste” the difference of God’s kingdom in us.

Think of our church’s influence in the community. Are we bold in standing for justice, mercy, and truth? Or do we blend in, avoiding conflict and losing our distinctiveness?

Losing our saltiness doesn’t just affect us—it diminishes God’s impact in the world. Our faith must be active—through obedience, prayer, service, and love. People should taste Christ in us. Our lives should reflect integrity, compassion, courage, and hope.

Jesus calls His disciples to be salty—not bland, not neutral. To be salt is to live a faith that preserves, heals, and flavors the world with His love.

So, ask yourself: Am I salty for Christ? Or have I lost my distinctiveness?
Let us live with boldness, love, and faithfulness—so that we may be true salt for the kingdom, bringing life, flavor, and hope wherever we go.

Thanks be to God. Amen.