Xtreme Parable

In our family's busy, fast-paced life I find one of the best times to talk to my kids is when we are driving. At least they can't jump out of the car and escape if they don't like what they hear.

I felt a discussion or devo on Jesus' parable of salt and light would be appropriate. So on a recent drive time spiritual talk, I reminded them of Matthew 5:13-14:

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

My two teens seemed to grasp the importance of being salt and light in the world. We all agreed that light was meant to shine in darkness and too much salt is not very tasty on food. If all believers hid in churches they wouldn't be doing the job that Jesus had for them. In Bible times salt was used to preserve food so Jesus might well have meant that it is important to be people that influence in an unbelieving world.

Then my Mommy concern kicked in. I reminded them that we have to be careful when we venture into the dark--the world--or places that might easily influence us rather than us as believers influence them. It is not good to lose our saltiness.

My son got it. "It's like bungee jumping, Mom. You take a risk but you wouldn't jump without the bungee cord to keep you anchored to the platform." He knew that if you didn't stay anchored in truth--God's Word and Christian fellowship and accountability you would plunge to a painful end.

I think my teen was quite eloquent. If Jesus walked on earth today rather than 2000 years ago, he might use bungee jumping in one of his parables. I can just imagine Christ smiling or even chuckling as he listened to my son explain Matthew's parable with his own xtreme interpretation.

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