Author: Fr. Ron Pogue

Jesus said, "Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it?  Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another." (Mk. 9:50)  Commenting on this passage, Robert Schuller once said, "Christians need to be just salty enough to make others thirsty."

The point of this passage and of Dr. Schuller's commentary is that a relationship with Jesus Christ provides a quality of spirit for us that we can't get anywhere else,  that causes other people to know something profound has happened to us, and draws others to the source.  Something about Jesus has rubbed off on us and it is obvious.  Not obnoxious, but obvious.  One might describe it as something so desirable and valuable that we'd go out of our way to find it and spend any amount to obtain it. When we have it, it adds flavor to our lives and the lives of those around us.  When it is not there, something is missing.

Because of our faith, we bring an important ingredient to the world and to the culture in which we live.  Instead of simply being consumers, we are called and gifted to be contributors.  We influence the way things are instead of simply "going along to get along."  Our life in Christ makes us salty and our saltiness gives flavor wherever we go.

I've known some salty Christians in my life.  My grandfather was one of them.  In his retirement, he made several trips to the corner store every day to buy groceries.  He walked.  When I was visiting my grandparents, he would usually invite me to go along.  I enjoyed those walks but wondered why he didn't just get organized, make a list, and get the shopping done in one trip.  Then, one day a friend who lived on my grandparents' street told me at school that she always looked forward to seeing my grandfather because he would stop and talk.  She said he always took an interest in her and made her feel happy.  His multiple walks to the corner store were not arranged for practicality, but for fulfilling his calling to touch the lives of people along the way.  My grandfather was a salty Christian!  I hope I can be as salty as he was.

How salty are you?