Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you might answer each one. (Col 4:5-6)
When Paul penned this letter, Christians living in a Roman controlled world were thought to be many things. Many thought them to be atheists because they did not worship any of the many gods the Roman’s did.
Some thought them unpatriotic because they would not burn incense to the emperor. Still others accused them of cannibalism because they heard they “ate flesh and drank blood” of the Lord they worshipped. While some whispered the “love feasts” they were celebrating were really orgies.
Christians were certainly misunderstood, mischaracterized, and falsely accused then. We still are today.
Yet Paul didn’t write, “defend yourselves” but cautioned them to walk in wisdom toward outsiders, redeeming the time, carefully answering others with their speech full of grace but seasoned with salt.
What exactly does that mean?
Well, while Paul has spent much of this letter giving instructions about how to live the Christian life, he does not limit that to a private personal matter or even to one’s own family.
Our faith is meant to be lived carefully, wisely, and well OUT IN PUBLIC among those who believe AND among those who do not.
We are to interact wisely with those who falsely accuse us, those who don’t like us, and those who just don’t understand us.
The thing is, we need to be prepared with some understanding of just who we are dealing with and where they are coming from. We need to be in the world…just not of it.
Our goal is not to be right or win arguments, our goal is to point others to truth so they may come to know the Lord if they are not believers or walk closer to Him if they are.
We are to do this wisely, with grace, and “seasoned with salt”.
Salt brings out the flavor in our food and makes it more pleasant.
And when it comes to sharing truth, we need to keep this in mind.
We are to speak truth but add a little salt! Share truth and explain biblical truth is meant for the good of those who apply it.
We want others to know what we are telling them about is for their good.
Yes, the Bible calls some things wrong and we need to call wrong things wrong , but we also need to communicate that’s because God is for our good and has a MUCH better way.
Let’s lovingly, wisely, graciously approach our discussions with others with this in mind
Kim Jaggers Ministry 