Matthew 5:13
"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men."
What is the role of a Christian in society? How does the call to be 'the salt of the earth' relate to World Vision's work with communities?
Salt was very valuable in New Testament times. It was a flavour enhancer, a preservative, a fertiliser, a medicine, used in religious rituals and a means of paying wages ('salt' is the origin of the word 'salary').
Salt's role as a preservative prevents food from rotting. The Christian, called to be the salt of the earth, is the means whereby the earth doesn't putrefy completely. We Christians have a responsibility to influence society – but how? Simply by being Christian, we influence society automatically – by living the kind of life Christ wanted us to, by spreading the gospel, by caring about the poor and fighting for justice. In short, by having an impact on the world.
As Christians, we are all called to influence the environment around us for the better – that's the salt again. Then we are called to bring light – the problem is that too many Christians want to bring enlightenment before they have influenced the environment.
As a seasoning or preservative, salt has to be put right into the food: it's no good if it sits on the side. So it is with World Vision's work with communities – we have to be right in there with the people, not sitting on the edge.
And to do its job, salt must be used in exactly the right quantities. Too little, and the salt has no effect on the food you're flavouring. Too much, and the dish is ruined. Again, what a great parallel to our work: We need just the right amount of impact in communities. Too little, and we are ineffective, too much and we swamp them.
In John 17:13-19, Jesus prays for his Disciples. His prayer is very much concerned with the impact the world will have on them, as well as the impact they will have on the world. It's noteworthy that Jesus prays, in verse 15, “not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.” We are called to stick with it, to be that salt even when it hurts – just as salt on a wound hurts before it heals. |
