In episode 13 of Everyday Welcome Podcast, let’s dig into what it means to “have our speech seasoned with salt.” What does God mean when He tells us to “speak the truth in love?” And how do we do this when we may be afraid of the response of those who hear us?
Who here is a sweet-and-savory lover? When I was a little girl, my grandpa and I used to stand at the kitchen window and eat tomatoes like apples, still warm from the sun and sprinkled with salt as we ate. He also used to put salt on his watermelon, but it took me a lot of years to be willing to try that. Today I love salted caramel, cheese & fruit, honey over blue cheese, and Tajin on papaya or even, yes, watermelon.
Salty and sweet are flavor profiles that play well together, both in the culinary world and in a spiritual-relational aspect.
Salt in food brings out the flavor of other ingredients: it actually makes sweet things sweeter. It also preserves, cleanses, and enriches foods. Did you know you can use it as a natural cleaner to scrub? One of the best ways I’ve found to clean out my stainless steel water bottle is to put a hearty sprinkle of salt in the bottom and scrub away. There’s your tip for today!
Recently, I shared some information about Mormonism and a well-marketed homeschool curriculum that I knew might cause offense to some, and I shared it on social media. I tried to be respectful in my tone, but I thought it was one of those bits of information that were important to share so others could see it. I also knew it could create a bit of a firestorm in the comments, and at first it did. But over the course of our online conversation, one mom and I worked through what could’ve been a divisive position and both listened and spoke, and I think there’s food for thought that was produced for us and for others watching the conversation. In this case, what might have been considered an offense, was played out as an investment in our growth as parents, educators, and a community.
It’s important that we speak the truth, and that we speak it in love. Both are needed. So how do we do that?
First of all, we need to be feasting on truth – eating the words, so to speak – that the Lord gives us to know what is truth.
“The wise of heart is called discerning,
and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.
Good sense is a fountain of life to him who has it,
but the instruction of fools is folly.
The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious
and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
Gracious words are like a honeycomb,
sweetness to the soul and health to the body.” – Proverbs 16:21-24
As we know and love God through His word, our palate is developed for truth, our discernment grows, and our ability to speak truth lovingly is increased.Click To Tweet
“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.” – Psalm 119:103-104
An article from Got Questions says, “As believers, our words should reflect to others the truth of the gospel. They should reveal how this gospel has transformed our lives. Our words should impact our conversations for the better as we bring a different “flavor” to our interactions, build others up, and share as well as defend the gospel.” (Source)
As Christ-followers, we have the job of glorifying Him, of pointing others to Him, with our words. Therefore, our words need to be truth-rooted and love-driven. By necessity, those words will be different from the language of the world.
“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. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” – Matthew 5:13-16
We have to live THE truth, and we also have to speak it.
It’s important to note, our job as Christians is not just “be nice.” All we say should be truthful and should point to Jesus. AND it should be kind – in the eternal sense. In a world where we have elevated niceness to a near-religion (or at least elevated affirmation of all opinions in such a way that we are unwilling to cause disagreement if it might cause offense), it’s important to have a biblical understanding of God’s call for us: truth, and love in the eternally-focused sense, are more important than “nice.”
MacArthur’s New Testament Commentary has this to say about Colossians 4: “To speak with grace means to say what is spiritual, wholesome, fitting, kind, sensitive, purposeful, complementary, gentle, truthful, loving, and thoughtful. Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:29, ‘Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear.’” …and then this: The speech of the new man must also be seasoned… with salt. It is not only to be gracious, but also to have an effect. Salt can sting when rubbed into a wound (cf. Prov. 27:6). It also prevents corruption. Believers’ speech should act as a purifying influence, rescuing conversation from the filth that so often engulfs it. Salt also adds flavor, and the speech of the new man should add charm and wit to conversation. (See here for a free online introduction to Colossians.)
Colossians tells us to, “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” – Colossians 4:5-6
Heather Cofer wrote an excellent article for The Gospel Coalition and this statement jumped out to me (and gave me more insight into the idea of how our words come across to those who do not know Christ!): “As Christians it can be hard to swallow truths that face off with our flesh at any given moment, but we ultimately know that what God’s Word says is right and that we need to obey. However, it’s easy to forget just how repulsive truth can be to those who have yet to have their spiritual eyes opened to the gospel. Not only does it go against their preferences and desires, but it often goes against their lifestyle and the things most dear to them as well. No wonder truth is so offensive.” (source – fantastic article!)
And yet, speaking the truth IS the loving way to interact with those we care about – and God has called us to care and to speak.
When we talk about saying hard things, often we think to ourselves, “but what if it doesn’t go well? What if they get mad? What if they’re offended?” We may assume the person won’t listen to us, so why bother? But 1 Peter 3:14-16 tells us, “But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.”
Jesus told His followers they would experience not just offense, but persecution. And yet, He still said, “follow me.”
When it comes to saying hard things, to speaking the truth from a place of love, I think we’re called to be both sweet AND salty.
In your kitchen this week, try a little honey on your cheese, Tajin on your papaya… maybe even salt on your watermelon. Or come visit our little coffee shop at Camp Bethel and I’ll make you a salted honey tea latte. 😉
Resources:
- Revive Our Hearts – Seasoned With Salt
- Grace To You – Commentary on Colossians 4
- Got Questions – Why do we “Let Our Words Be Seasoned…”
These recipes are on my to-try-list:
- Orange Almond Honey Cake from May I Have That Recipe
- Orange Salted Honey Cake (oh my!) from The Cake Blog
- Chamomile Cake with Salted Honey Buttercream from Veggie Desserts
- Gluten Free Honey Cake from At the Immigrant’s Table
- Salted Honey and Walnut Milk Latte
- Iced Salted Honey Latte from Sweet Phi
As I was studying, I got inspired and made us some pretty scripture artwork. Print it on cardstock and pin it to your cork board or pop it into a frame! Join my email list for updates and download your free printables!
