Brothers and Sisters,

At the sermon this past week, the pastor was preaching on the gospel of John and how Jesus is the Bread of Life. He then made perhaps one of the most resonating statements that I've heard this year. He said, "We need the Bread of Life to satisfy. We live in a Cotton Candy Culture..."

The statement was breathtaking. While it's a catchy statement, the thing I'm interested in is how that maps out to the current situations people find themselves in and how we look at a society that is rotting:

In summary, a little about cotton candy in general and then I'll investigate some of the extrapolations you can get from that. Cotton Candy is sugar and air. There's some color and other minor stuff mixed in, but it's basically sugar.

Yes, I know that it's a quick summary of cotton candy, but the rest will be noted in the actual note to follow. First, then, is that it's straight processes sugar. I don't think anyone would disagree that it's bad for you, particularly in as large of quantities as people have it. Diabetes is on the rise in America (the numbers aren't important) and there's many other disorders that having too much sugar can influence (including possible links to ADHD). So, why would someone have sugar if it's not good for them? What benefit do they gain? The easy explanation is that there's a sugar-rush that's both enjoyable and awakening. However, with all other drugs, it also addicts the user to it. So, basically, we have an addictive relationship with something that's damaging and un-beneficial. This relates to the culture because the things that are put forward as goals to strive toward (be it money, food, nice house, good friends, sex, spirituality, etc...) can all be good as long as they're not sought after as a goal. That is, as long as they're part of a life worshiping God, all of them can be good. But if you 'refine' life down to JUST seeking after one (or any number) of them without keeping God in perspective, then they start to degrade, addict and rot your life, just like an overabundance of sugar destroys the body.

That leads into the second point. We, Christians, are to be the Salt of the Earth. I recently wrote another note about many of the things that seems to mean. One of the most important notes is that salt and sugar look alike but they taste and act very different. There's no way to look at a real Christian (not saying that those wearing "WWJD" and crosses aren't Christians, but it's not a mark of a Christian. I can't find any disciples wearing them, they didn't need them) and tell offhand that they are a follower of Jesus on the outside. But, how they act and how their lives affect other people is the mark of a true Christian. We're to counter the sugary culture that surrounds us. That's not easy but it's absolutely essential. I don't blame the culture for their evil, I blame us for not living it out better and a salting the culture around us (judgment must start with the family of God). We have the revelation of God and it's our job to teach it to other people that are interested in learning of it. It's our love for other people and our holy lives (combined, can't have one without the other) that will attract those Jesus has called to himself in the first place. Salt and Sugar are opposites, even though they look like.

Third, the cotton candy is inflated. Or, put another way, it looks like there's more there than there actually is. It's sold looking huge and turns out the actual mass is smaller than your hand. That's consumerism at its best. Why do you buy a new car? Because it looks amazing. Why buy the new shirt? Because you can't live without it. Why aren't you satisfied with your cellphone? Because the others look SO GOOD. However, even though it's inflated, it deflates as soon as it hits the taste buds. Or, put another way, it looks good before we sample it. This is perhaps the ultimate cotton candy culture. Movies, advertisements, cartoons, TV shows... these all make THINGS look so good, no matter what it is. Walk with circumspection, God calls us to holy and self-controlled lives. Why get something new (and spend money you could spend elsewhere for His glory) when you know it's going to disappoint you? [Now, as a counter-point, I'm mainly talking about unnecessary buying. Obviously you need clothes, shoes, etc.. but the impulse or "upgrade" buying is what I'm talking about]

Finally, we've talked about how this culture is bad for you, how it's opposite the Christian worldview and how it's inflated to make it look SO GOOD... until you actually sample it. Does this sound at all familiar. All of these are also traits of sin. Sin is inherently bad for you but it looks SO GOOD before you have it (Eve saw the fruit and that it was pleasant to the eye). Once you have it, you want more because it's addicting. However, in the end, you're left with sugar-disorders, pain at having wasted your life and wishes you would have eaten other things. Sin also leaves you with nothing but bitterness and longing for the high again. Also, obviously, sin is opposite the Christian life. You can only live "in the flesh" or "in the spirit" and, one you've become a Christian so you have a new nature, there's a constant war between the two. We're called to live holy lives in a culture of sin. Let us walk with understanding and awareness of what we face. However, never forget that we do not war against flesh and blood but against dark powers. If not for God's intervention, we would be lost. Let us persevere and claim the victory.

In conclusion, we live in the Cotton Candy Culture. It's modeled on sin and making sin look SO GOOD so that we spend our lives seeking things that will harm us. Brothers and Sisters, let us turn our backs on this destructive pattern and walk with all holiness. Jesus is coming back to judge the righteous and the unrighteous. Which camp are you in if you're honestly not bothered to bury your talents, your time and your life in a sugary mess? Jesus called us to be salt, which stings but preserves. He never suggested we should be sugar, which speeds up the decay process. Let us walk after our Lord who saved from sin. Let us not run after it, no matter who makes it look good.

I recently heard a sermon from a certain Pastor Legge from Ireland. (linked here- http://www.preachtheword.com/index.php) He made some amazing points about the section from the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus says, "You are the Salt of the Earth." I do not attempt to suggest these original ideas are mine, however I've added some more explaination to them. The passages in question are in Matthew 5:13-16, if you desire to read along and "search the scriptures" to make sure I'm quoting and explaining as I should.

In explaining the passage, there was a number of things that were noteworthy:

1. We are the Salt of the World- Salt affects what's around it and not the other way around. Salt must be rubbed into the meat for it to be useful. We are called to be "in the world but not of the world" to affect the world by being present. This is why the monastic worldview that many Christians hold sub-consciously is patently wrong. If salt is holding itself apart to keep itself pure, it succeeds. But it also is rendered useless as the meat rots.

Jesus is also putting forward (according to Rev. Legge) the point that his disciples *alone* are the Salt of the World. We are commanded by our Lord to affect those around us by being holy in an unholy world. This is not easy. If it were, it would be worth nothing. But, no matter how easy or hard, that's what we're to do if we have the courage before God to call ourselves Christians.


2. A Man Not Worth His Salt- This expression (now nearing being archaic) comes from the practice around the Roman times of paying Soldiers with salt. It was such a rare and precious commodity that men were reimbursed for risking their lives with it. Therefore, a man "not worth his salt" is a man not worthy of his pay.

We also get our word "salary" from "salt money", from this payment. This brings the concept into our modern world of computers and monorails. Even with all that, we still get 'salt money'. *laughs* No particular reason for this point, I just thought it was very interesting. (I'm an English major, what more could you expect?)


3. Salt's Communion- We're to be Salt of the World. Salt does not serve by itself nor is it a single grain of salt that we put on our food. There's always one or two grains with it, at least. Now, in addition to putting forward the obvious (and time-worn) argument that we should attend Church so that we will be able to grow and have communion with the other salt, I'll add that we should have strong Christian friends to hold us accountable. We're to preserve the world, no be disillusioned by contact with it. Sin creeps in a foot in the door at a time; we must be vigilant and, if any has ever played paintball, airsoft or a first person shooter, you know you need someone to watch your back.


4. Salt in the Old Testament- Salt was the sign of a holy relationship with God. With salt, there was no decay. It's an image of God's influence in human interactions, preventing decay in our relationships, our families, our governments and in law. We see all these decaying around us as Christians and we shake our heads. What do we do about them?

There are sins of commission and sins of omission. Sins of commission do things like steal, lie, etc... you have to DO something you shouldn't. Sins of omission, on the other hand, are the less talked about (because they're not able to be put into a legalistic framework, like our church's usually have. That's another topic tho.) of the two. Sins of omission are NOT doing something you're supposed to do, helping the sick, protecting the powerless, etc... Which are we? Do we work in this culture to save it from its own corruption or do we do like Jonah did and "sit outside the city". Jesus went into the city and "wept over it". Which master will we emulate?


5. What can we do?- Who do we know from the Bible that was Salt in their worlds? It wasn't just easy like we might think. Joseph was in the middle of Ancient Egypt, the very mecca of false-god worship. Daniel was in the land of Babylon, many gods were worshiped there. Esther was the Queen of Persia (of 300 fame). All these people of God were examples of Holy Living in the midst of great darkness and unholiness. In times like these that we find ourselves in, light shines more brightly in the midst of deepening darkness. (both moral and economic)


6. We are Salt, not Sugar- What could the two possibly have in common? Well, in their very refined state, both are white granules. I've gotten them confused on a number of occasions, to my chagrin (try salt in your tea one day). But, there's another, deeper connection. We're called to be salty in this world, but Christians seems to think they're supposed to be sugar. Be sweet to those around you no matter what their morality. For those that have done bio experiments, sugar speeds up the decomposition process. We're called to be salt, not sugar. It'll make other people mad around us. Their consciences are stung, which means we're salty. Do not be brash... salt works well enough without scraping it on an open wound. We're to be gentle, not brash. Why bring the Way of God into disrepute by being angry or acting superior? You must both have gentleness AND truth, not one while lacking the other. Don't be We're God's Children, be dignified.

7. Why not Raptured?- Did you ever wonder why you weren't instantly raptured when you were saved? It's because we're to be salt. We're to be WITNESSES of Jesus to a dead and rotting world. God has seen fit to keep us here, we best move like we actually believe it or we tread on God's grace. That's a dangerous place to be.


8. Salt Flavors- What shall we say about the taste of salt? Anyone who has tasted it can quickly identify it again. It's got a biting, well, salty taste to it. It adds spice. Christianity and holy living add that same spice to life. We're often depicted as the dull and old ones. Just for example, how many hot couples have you seen on TV that're young and hot and thrashing about in passion? That's how you're supposed to have a good sex life, right? Wrong. According to a survey linked here- (http://www.healthyplace.com/sex/good-sex/why-committed-couples-have-better-sex/menu-id-66/), "97% of people in committed/married relationships are happy with their sex lives." Wait? Sex with the same person every week? Isn't that boring? That's what pornographers and adulterers would have you believe. If I might point out, they gain from that view as well (in all fairness, we gain from this one). But no, the rules that Christ explained for us keep us away from the dangers of this life and let us live it with less fear. Salt adds flavor to our lives in a world where everyone else goes numb with pleasure-seeking.


9. Salt's holiness- Salt is "set apart". In its current form of purification, there's very little chance of our salt becoming useless. However, in ancient times, salt could be mixed with other chemicals, diluted with water, mixed with earth or other contaminants. If any of these happened, the salt could become useless. That's another trait of salt, it only really has one use. If grapes are on your table, they can be enjoyed for refreshment. If they're rotten, you can make wine. If too damaged for that, vinegar. If too far gone for that, they can at least be used as fertilizer. Salt, if not salty, is USELESS. Brothers and Sisters, we face an anti-Christian culture because we have surrendered our holy saltiness and, rightly, they have no use for us. Maintain your holiness and your difference. Stay in close-walking with your fellow Christians and avoid the wolves. We must live holy lives in a very unholy environment. Persevere.


10. Who's to blame- So then, my dear brothers and sisters: in conclusion on this topic. Before you say a word about the world and its moral degradation. Before we complain about evil philosophies and shocking declarations. Before we dare judge other people that have no knowledge of Truth. We must look at ourselves. If the world is not salty, it is our fault. We are the Salt of the Earth and if we're not doing our job, you see the kind of disintegration that radiates from the world. Brothers and Sisters, this is our mission, our quest. Let us do it faithfully until our Lord returns.