While Christians are not challenged to become salty – their saltiness is a gift of Jesus’ presence – they are challenged to stay salty, that is, they are challenged to be what they are – real Christians. There are pressures around us not to be too Christian, not to take our religion too seriously, and to relax the war with what is despicable in and among ourselves and with what is unjust or vicious in the community. Though we are salt, there is constant pressure to be insipid salt. (F. Dale Bruner, The Christbook, Matthew 1-12)