The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1954-09-25
BY RALPH ROGERS

Living Witnesses. Mat. s:l3 . Is.
Acts 4:l4 Is, o. . Q, u Cor.
5:14 70
It's a good thing to take an &C.
casional inventory, a self-examina-
ton of ones Christian experience.
There is no better yard stick, 10
more accurate mirror, to note the
beauty or blemishes of Christian
character, than through the Ser
mon on the Mount. As Living
Witnesses we find in today's les
son, not the defects and short
comings Of our neighbor, but those
Of ourselves.
Sait 10 Coed
One good lady on a saltless diet
was asked if she enjoyed her food.
She stated that it didn't taste good,
that she had no appetite. Food
without salt is tasteless, lacks the
tang and taste which we like. Salt
makes food appetizing, desirable,
attractive.
Salt has conviction and power. It
effects whatever it touches. It can
be destructive or constructive, de-
pending on where it is used. Liv-
ing In 4 salty atmosphere we find
that it can destroy the tenders of
cars and tends to corrode metals.
1t is thus destructive. On the other
hand it is a preservative. Our fore
fathers used it to preserve fish and
meats. The Christian uses it to pre-
serve the truth - remains faith
flu. to such convictions as he may
find in life. Such truth has mira
culous power.
1t has been remarked that far
too many Christians lack the salt
of conviction. We can become en-
thusiastic about athletics, 4 ball
game, a game of canasta, or an
extended vacation. When it comes
to our religious faith, we're as
meek and mild and apologize as
SO many mice. We lack the fire,
courage, enthusiasm and convic-
ton which is as necessary in re-
Igion as In any endeayor for sue
cess.
Salt not only Is \ prsservative,
gives tang and taste to food and
to life, but Is considered as pre-
cious as a mans life. From this
we get the title, ''the sat Of the
earth" Jesus used this compli-
mentary term in speaking to his
followers. The group might be
small and consist of poor, common
folk, but such 4 group with the
salt and tang of sincere conviction
can witness effectively for Christ.
Ten such righteous men can save
a city. Gen. 1922.
William M. Thompson, in his
"The Land and the Book" tells
of a merchant in Sidon who bought
quantities Of salt and hid them in
houses on the hill to keep from
paying taxes. The houses had earth
for floors and the salt soon lost its
sadness. It was then used to make
the hard surface on the roads. In
the same manner the Christian
either uses his sadness to witness
for Christ, to redeem the world, Or
else the world robs him of his
Christianity. Dwight L. Moody
wrote in a friends Bible, "This
Book viii keep you from your sins,
or your sins will keep you from
this Book"
We Are The Light
Jesus also likened his disciples
to light. Perhaps he had just pom
dered the darkness of the night
when the shadows of evil played
mercilessly upon the innocent.
When the sun pushed back the
darkness, dawn brought the light
of day when the forces of evil
scampered for cover. Jesus is the
light of the world and his light
shines through his disciples.
Looking into the mirror of this
Sermon, we try to find oursef. We
may be carrying our light in the
MONDAY sun when it does little
good. 1t is like the talented man
or woman radiating enthusiasm
and interest in worldly things, but
shedding little or no light on the