Plain Talk Vol.4, No.3, Pg.5 - Cedar Park Church of Christ

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Vol. 4, No. 3
May, 1967

HAMMY CHRISTIANS

When I was a boy we had mixed emotions about the smokehouse. It was a terrible place if you had to take a licking; but the red meat that hung there could take your minds off your troubles. Ham meat -- that was salty and firm -- close grained, and maker of the best red-eye gravy that ever soaked a hot soda biscuit.

Those hams were raw when they were first trimmed, a cord tied in the hock, and after a heavy salting were swung from the rafters to smoke and season out. But with any kind of luck with the weather; the hickory smoke, cool crisp air, and heavy layer of salt did the job. One-half inch of salt -- if you could get that much to stay on -- would penetrate and season five/six inches of ham. That was the nature of the salt. It imparted its flavor to the raw meat.

Now suppose, after the proper time and circumstances, we cut into one of those hams and found it unseasoned. Just suppose we sampled the salt, and found it tasted like raw ham. HAMY SALT -- a revolting development! Useless, worthless, HAMMY SALT that had taken on the flavor of the meat, instead of imparting its flavor to the meat. Such salt would have no value.

But some professed Christians offer this kind of salt to the Lord! In a world sorely in need of the savor of Christ - in which they are placed as "salt of the earth" (Matt. 5:13) they offer nothing distinctive. They mix and mingle with the world, as indeed they must do in everyday life, but the world is none the better for it. In fact, their hypocrisy often blights the very souls they are sent to save.

And should you sample their own character -- disgusting marvel -- this professed salt has taken on the flavor of the world!! HAMMY SALT!! HAMMY CHRISTIANS!! They are thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. (Read Matt. 5:13-16)

How does the Lord feel about the branch that bears no fruit? "He is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned." (Jn.15: 6) He expects His runners to run; (Heb. 12:1) His soldiers to "fight the good fight of faith." (1 Tim. 6:12)

Backsliding begins with little (?) things. We are careless about the regularity of our worship. Then we lose our taste for the worship. We are not vitally concerned about knowing the will of God, so the Bible study is no longer interesting. We are careless with regard to our own soul, so we have no desire to teach others. Even the spiritual welfare of our children is forgotten. We cease to pray -- and don't tell me you continue to pray in private, when you cease to participate in public worship. AND ALL THIS TIME WE ARE GRADUALLY LOSING OUR SALTY CHRISTIAN FLAVOR.

As Christ is pushed out, the world comes pushing in. "Seven other spirits more wicked than himself" enter in, "and the last state of that man is worse than the first." (Matt.12-.45) HAMMY CHRISTIANS -- PLEASE TURN!!!

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When I was a boy we had mixed emotions about the smokehouse. It was a terrible place if you had to take a licking; but the red meat that hung there could take your minds off your troubles. Ham meat -- that was salty and firm -- close grained, and maker of the best red-eye gravy that ever soaked a hot soda biscuit. Those hams were raw when they were first trimmed, a cord tied in the hock, and after a heavy salting were swung from the rafters to smoke and season out. But with any kind of luck with the weather; the hickory smoke, cool crisp air, and heavy layer of salt did the job. One-half inch of salt -- if you could get that much to stay on -- would penetrate and season five/six inches of ham. That was the nature of the salt. It imparted its flavor to the raw meat. Now suppose, after the proper time and circumstances, we cut into one of those hams and found it unseasoned. Just suppose we sampled the salt, and found it tasted like raw ham. HAMY SALT -- a revolting development! Useless, worthless, HAMMY SALT that had taken on the flavor of the meat, instead of imparting its flavor to the meat. Such salt would have no value. But some professed Christians offer this kind of salt to the Lord! In a world sorely in need of the savor of Christ - in which they are placed as "salt of the earth" (Matt. 5:13) they offer nothing distinctive. They mix and mingle with the world, as indeed they must do in everyday life, but the world is none the better for it. In fact, their hypocrisy often blights the very souls they are sent to save.		And should you sample their own character -- disgusting marvel -- this professed salt has taken on the flavor of the world!! HAMMY SALT!! HAMMY CHRISTIANS!! They are thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. (Read Matt. 5:13-16) How does the Lord feel about the branch that bears no fruit? "He is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned." (Jn.15: 6) He expects His runners to run; (Heb. 12:1) His soldiers to "fight the good fight of faith." (1 Tim. 6:12) Backsliding begins with little (?) things. We are careless about the regularity of our worship. Then we lose our taste for the worship. We are not vitally concerned about knowing the will of God, so the Bible study is no longer interesting. We are careless with regard to our own soul, so we have no desire to teach others. Even the spiritual welfare of our children is forgotten. We cease to pray -- and don't tell me you continue to pray in private, when you cease to participate in public worship. AND ALL THIS TIME WE ARE GRADUALLY LOSING OUR SALTY CHRISTIAN FLAVOR. As Christ is pushed out, the world comes pushing in. "Seven other spirits more wicked than himself" enter in, "and the last state of that man is worse than the first." (Matt.12-.45) HAMMY CHRISTIANS -- PLEASE TURN!!! 5 [Previous Article] [Next Article]