A non-aqueous electrolyte for stabilizing the active surface of a lithium anode and a lithium battery using the non-aqueous electrolyte are provided. The non-aqueous electrolyte contains an organic solvent and a halogenated organic metal salt of formula (1) below: ##STR00001## where M is one of Si, Sn, Pb, and Ge; R.sub.1 is one of F, Cl, Br, and I; R.sub.2 is a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.1-C.sub.20 alkyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group; and R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are independently selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, I, a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.1-C.sub.20 alkyl group, and a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group.