Salt of the Earth

Bill Bryson has written a new book entitled At Home: A Short History of Private Life. In it he has a section on the importance of vitamins and minerals for the human body, telling how, in recent history, scientists discovered them and their crucial role in our well-being. Of all the minerals, he tells us, salt is the most vital. This is quite strange given the fact that salt is sodium chloride, and that both of these are on their own quite dangerous. But whereas pepper and other spices enhance the food we eat, salt is essential for life. Yet all we need is 200 milligrams a day, a few shakes from the salt cellar, though we actually take in far more than we need. But, as Bryson tells the story, it was not so in the distant past before processed foods hit the shops and much earlier than that, when human beings first began to settle down in agricultural communities. Then people began to suffer from the lack of salt and had to start finding it to supplement their diet and went to extraordinary lengths to do so. Yet, as Bryson observes, “One of the mysteries of history is how they needed to do so because the absence of salt awakes no craving. It makes you feel bad and eventually it kills you… but at no point would a human being think: `Gosh, I could sure do with some salt… Yet getting salt into the diet is one of the most profound urges in nature and it is a universal one.” (185) A much lesser mystery is that I read what Bryson had to say about salt as I was preparing this meditation on Jesus’ words “You are the salt of the earth.” And this made me think again about the meaning of Jesus’ words and why he did not say we are the chili pepper of the earth.

But who did Jesus have in mind when he said “You are the salt of the earth.” Recorded in Matthew’s gospel, the saying comes immediately after the Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus is speaking directly to his inner circle of disciples, those whom he had called and who had set out to follow him. He had just said to them that those are truly blessed who are the “poor in spirit,” those “who mourn,” “who hunger and thirst for righteousness,” “are merciful,” “pure in heart,” “peacemakers,” and “those who are persecuted for righteousness, sake.” These are his disciples, and they are the salt of the earth. In other words, the “salt of the earth” are those who faithfully follow Jesus here and now in this world.

As a man of his times Jesus would not have known all the scientific facts about salt such as we find in Bill Bryson’s book, or on google.com., but he clearly recognized the importance of salt for human well-being. And it is with this in mind that he tells his disciples, who were very few in number – a few grains in a mountain of sand as it were -- and not numbered amongst the great, that they were “the salt of the earth.” In other words, even though the world, its rulers and all its multitudes might not recognize or acknowledge the importance of his handful followers, their presence in the world was essential for the well-being of human life. Jesus saying has often been understood as simply adding flavour to life, or preserving life. But, if we take Bryson seriously, those who follow Jesus not only add flavour like pepper and spices or preserve life like salt preserved food on old sailing boats. They are indispensable to life on earth! Through their testimony as peacemakers, as workers for justice, as people of compassion, as witness to Jesus, they help make life possible.

But wait a minute, does this mean that only Christians are the “salt of the earth,” or even that all Christians are automatically “salt of the earth”? Cynics might go further and say that while there may be some Christians who are “salt of the earth,” too much salt, as Bryson reminds us, is not good for us! Or, to put it differently, too much religion and piety is dangerous for human well-being! Of course, there are many examples that give credence and ammunition for such assertions, and I for one would not want to defend what is indefensible in the history of the church. Much salt has lost its saltiness (though scientists will tells us that salt cannot do so!), so critics of Christianity understandably say that such Christians may be so concerned about heaven, like some leading politicians, that they are “of no earthly use.” But imagine a world in which there were no communities of disciples scattered in virtually every corner who are engaged in serving those in need? Imagine the complete absence of churches in towns, suburbs and villages, or in rural areas where they are often the only support structures which people have in dealing with HIV and AIDS, or getting an education, or being supported in many others ways. And, yes, of course, we also know many people who make no claim to be Christian or religious, but as compassionate, caring people who work tirelessly for human well-being, embody Jesus’ teaching in a way that too many Christians don’t. They, too, I have no doubt, are “salt of the earth.”

Our niece, Laura Steel, has recently returned from England where she lived for the past ten years. A jeweler by training and a Christian by commitment she has worked for some time in NGO’s helping poor people in Malaysia making and marketing jewelry in order to make a living. She is now living in our flat in Cape Town and has made it look rather nice with her artistic flourishes. When we were there last weekend we found a quaint salt and pepper set on the kitchen table, but then discovered that the salt cellar was only there for display! Is that not how the church is sometimes – on display but empty of salt! The Christian community does not exist to decorate the neighbourhood but to give it flavour, to preserve its life, and above all else to help people discover and receive life in its fullness. Thank God for those who we know who for us are “the salt of the earth.”

(John W. de Gruchy is Emeritus Professor of Christian Studies, University of Cape Town and Extraordinary Professor at the University of Stellenbosch. This is a weekly meditation given at the Eucharist service at Volmoed Christian Community Centre, Hermanus.)