Salt provides a good example. In our culture salt has been a villain for a long time. We are all told to “cut down on salt. Salt is bad for you. Salt does not really make things taste better, you are just used to it. Salt causes high blood pressure, etc.” In some restaurants it is almost impossible to get something worth eating because of this mantra. When you buy things in the grocery store you have to read the labels because so many things are made without salt.
On the other hand, most literate people are familiar with the concept of being the salt of the earth. This concept comes from the words of Jesus as He talked to His followers.
(Matthew 5:13 KJV) Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.If you are under 30 you may not realize this was meant as a positive statement about salt. It is another example of how our modern culture can change our understanding of things. To the Christian, being the salt of the earth is a good thing. To the pagan who fears salt, it would be a bad thing. Another verse make this even more clear,
(Luke 14:34 KJV) Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?That is pretty clear, but of course, all things in moderation.
To be continued...
homo unius libri
I need to avoid salt and sugar, but I have the opposite problem around here from what you experience. Things are so salty that I can barely choke them down, OR they're loaded with sugar (or MSG, or high-fructose corn syrup, or, or, or, etc.).
ReplyDeleteI concede it is a problem for some. I also concede that much of what we like is what we are used to. My wife can't have MSG, but she also can't have any kind of chili or hot spice. I can't even make chili when she is in the house. If salt killed people all the time I would have been dead long ago, but that does not take away that you react differently.
DeleteAt the same time, I would starve to death if my income depended on my ability to work on a phone the way you do. And I make my living talking. Go figure.
Grace and peace.