Recently replying to a tweet by rapper @ZubyMusic, who reckoned the Western World would be “screwed without Christianity”, the media magnate Elon Musk agreed saying, “You’re probably right.”

Zuby was likening the removal of Christianity from western culture to "removing the foundations of a building but pridefully expecting it to remain standing forever ... All while enemies both inside and outside are trying to knock the building over."

Salt and Light is how Jesus described the critical influence of his teaching and purpose beyond his death and resurrection.

He tells us humans who are willing to listen, learn and live Jesus’ Way, that we have vital seasoning and preserving roles in society, bringing out the ‘God-colours’ and ‘God-tastes’ in a world which can be very dark and tasteless.

Zuby and Elon Musk suspect Christianity’s morality and spirituality are necessary for the surviving and thriving of our World. Jesus is sure of it!

Primarily the revelation that each of us is unconditionally loved, beyond compare, by God who shows his human face in Jesus Christ, not least in The Golden Rule, “Love others as you love yourself.”

This is some of the wonderful Light which Jesus can diffract in and through us in the blessing of others, when we let God’s Spirit inspire and influence our daily living. 

Noteworthy is the way both salt and light dissolve and merge unnoticed in their serving activity. They don’t draw attention to themselves, rather they encourage and enlighten the appreciation of great tastes, enduring faithful and loving legacies, and the multicoloured dimensions of the beautiful life.

This includes times of deep sorrow, grief, and lament, as the rainbow colours of light illustrate shining through tears and raindrops.

As hymn writer G Matheson described God’s loving light in Christ, “O Joy that seekest me through pain, I cannot close my heart to thee. I trace the rainbow through the rain, and feel the promise is not vain, that morn shall tearless be.”

The beautiful snowdrops springing up from dark soil illustrates well the role that light has in drawing green stems, buds and blooms up to beautify our world. And so, as night and morning get brighter and crocuses and daffodils follow the snowdrops, let’s open our hearts, minds and souls to God’s transforming Love and Hope. 

Here's how the Message version of Jesus words: Salt and Light (Matthew 5:13-16 / MSG)

“Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavours of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.

“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colours in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill.

"If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in Heaven.”