"When Christ calls the apostles the salt of the earth, he means, that it is their office to salt the earth: because men have nothing in them but what is tasteless, till they have been seasoned with the salt of heavenly doctrine... The doctrine, which has been entrusted to them, is shown to be so closely connected with a good conscience and a devout and upright life, that the corruption, which might be tolerated in others, would in them be detestable and monstrous." -John Calvin and William Pringle, Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Volume 1. What do you think Christ means when he calls us to "salt of the earth"?

I have an interesting thought: did the ecumenical councils fail? Their purpose was to unify the faith, but after the council of Chalcedon ( council #4), there have been a number of Church splits. The Oriental Orthodox, Coptic, Ethiopian Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Roman Catholic Church, just to name a few. This is a failure to maintain the unity, and since the Church fathers couldn't figure out how not to pour gasoline on a bonfire, they never really succeeded in holding onto the fath. That's my thinking on the topic. What's yours?

Let us know how you would finish the sentence. I'll go first. God wants us to pray because it expresses our faith and trust in Him.

@Russell Mukes asked a question about the early ecumenical councils that had me studying them the last few days. Why I responded to his post saying I think it's a bit of a mixed bag as far as results go, I have to say I really liked one thing about them. I liked that they cared deeply about standing on right doctrine. They would bring hundreds of leaders from all over the world to gather to debate and discuss, and then let the most Biblical teachings win. They would recognize good doctrine and practice and rebuke wrong doctrines and practice. We could use a little more of that in our Protestant churches. It will always be a fallible process this side of eternity. Thus why there were mixed results from the original council's. Yet, I think we need a fresh desire and willingness to hold "firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it" (Titus 1:9). We can disagree on minor issues, but come together to support core doctrines and rebuke doctrines that do not align with Scripture and cause harm to the Church. Not for "doctrines sake", but because when we believe rightly about God, we will be more inclined to live rightly for Him, grow to maturity in Christ and build up the Church.

In the early Church, it was the practice of the early Apostles, like Paul, to appoint church elders in each area where they planted churches. These were the ones who had the responsibility of governing local church affairs and the teaching responsibilities in the church. They couldn't be just anybody in the church. They had to meet certain qualifications that would make them suitable for such a role. 1 Timothy 3:2-7 and Titus 1:6-9 gives us the lists of qualifications for choosing local church elders. "Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil." 1 Timothy 3:2-7 https://www.bible.com/bible/59/1TI.3.2-7 "If anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it." Titus 1:6-9 https://www.bible.com/bible/59/TIT.1.6-9 Here I've combined the passages into one list: 1) Above reproach- means they much live a life that their actions would not be called into question.