Book Review: Pass the Salt: Biblical Integrity Today (Kameel Majdali), published by Sovereign World, 2000.

Subtitled ‘How to Live a Life of Relevance without Compromise’, this excellent book on integrity for modern Christians is very timely. The Western press has made it their business to highlight the failings of high-profile Christians. Unfortunately followers of Jesus cannot lay claim to any kind of moral superiority, anymore. Psychologists tell us Christians seem to cheat just about as much as others do. And when we invite people ‘not to look at us, but look at Jesus’ it all sounds a bit hollow to modern skeptics. If Jesus is real, and his power is real, why aren’t Christians real?

Kameel’s book underlines the moral failings of both secular and religious institutions – from Watergate, the Clinton scandals, political expediencies, to the skullduggeries of Christian leaders. Using plenty of Scripture texts and examples (half of them from the KJV, and most of the rest from the NKJV unfortunately) he urges us to be ‘salt’ and ‘light’, living lives of truth and love (in that order), to be accountable to someone, and open/transparent with God and others.

A warning in passing: if you have problems with notions of biblical inerrancy, and/or with sexist and archaic language, (as do probably most evangelicals, but not fundamentalists) this book may not be for you. (Re archaic and sexist language: there’s an interesting juxtaposition on page 20 with the KJV phrase ‘all things to all men’ with a call – on the next line! – to ‘contextualize the gospel’!!!).

Kameel faces issues of ‘Christians in the dark’ – and in the church – but a chapter could be added on the subtle challenges to integrity faced by people in politics and business every day. What is a national leader to do when the only alternatives seem to be prevarication or risking the lives of soldiers in wartime? What is a Christian executive supposed to do with hyperboles to describe a product which may be ‘normal advertising jargon’ but is really ‘over the top’ in terms of strict truthfulness? Advertisers make a big deal of sometimes offering ‘more for the same price’ – but what about when the product is smaller or leaner for the same price? (Why are matches skinnier? Why do I need more Milo these days to taste anything? Why does bathroom soap seem to last only half the time? Why are Minties smaller? And why do the welsh plugs in my car’s engine pack up just out of warranty?)

But all that said, I would readily give this book to a new, thoughtful Christian, who wanted to be utterly committed to Christ. It’s also good for groups: each chapter is followed by Study Questions, Issues for Reading and Reflection, and Endnotes. The studies on biblical characters like Joseph, Samson and Nathaniel are excellent, and I would challenge anyone not to be humbled by the ‘Integrity Inventory’ in chapter 6 – which may in itself be worth the price of the book. If you score ‘0’ ‘you are on a par with Christ himself; 1500 or more makes you ‘the devil incarnate’!

Rowland Croucher March 2002