“Chicken” Chow Mien!
My wife has been a vegetarian for some time, well for longer than I can remember.
Therefore, when on a recent shopping trip to Morrison’s, I was surprised to see her casually putting a Chicken Chow Mien Pot Noodle into the basket (she’s pregnant hence the sudden desire for these unexciting snacks).
“Is that vegetarian?!” I asked, thinking that she had taken leave of her senses. Needless to say I was amazed to see her point out the ‘suitable for vegetarians’ logo on the side of the pot! What is the world coming too!!!!
The same is also true of most beef flavoured crisps; all of them suitable for vegetarians! What‘s that all about?!
As Christians it is important that we make sure that we do not run the risk of becoming the spiritual equivalent to beef flavoured crisps.
"Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavours of this earth.” Matt 5:13
The followers of ‘The Way’ were first called Christians in Antioch. It wasn’t meant as a complimentary name initially but it was attributed because people saw Jesus Christ in this group of people.
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus…” Phil 2:5
Jesus was evident in all of them; in the way they spoke, reacted, carried out their business, cared for each other and in raising their kids. They were different; people could spot them a mile off. Even if they were timid ‘back row’ believers they were easily noticeable on the street. And it wasn’t just in this one city either. Look at Stephen, the first Christian martyr Can you possibly guess what was his role in the church? Pastor? Evangelist perhaps? What about prophet? An apostle maybe? No, he was a steward; he was the ‘guy on the door’ but Christ was shining in his life.
How does this happen? We have two key elements to our faith; the first is that we acknowledge the Fatherhood of God (easy to do, most people you meet will ‘believe’ in God), and then we must follow Christ (our Christian faith is based on discipleship, a decision to die to self and follow Christ – this demands commitment). When this happens we are no longer ‘world friendly’, becoming counter-culture; not fitting neatly into their mould. A breath of fresh air; God air. As a result we either anger [or frustrate] them because we challenge their views just by being, or we will see them melt as they find their hunger for something more than this life being satisfied in Christ’s presence in our lives.
Christianity that does not involve discipleship [following Christ], living by His rules (where we do His will and not ours) will keep us from being ineffective, or the Christian equivalent of beef flavoured crisps for vegetarians!
“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1: 5-8
Therefore, when on a recent shopping trip to Morrison’s, I was surprised to see her casually putting a Chicken Chow Mien Pot Noodle into the basket (she’s pregnant hence the sudden desire for these unexciting snacks).
“Is that vegetarian?!” I asked, thinking that she had taken leave of her senses. Needless to say I was amazed to see her point out the ‘suitable for vegetarians’ logo on the side of the pot! What is the world coming too!!!!
The same is also true of most beef flavoured crisps; all of them suitable for vegetarians! What‘s that all about?!
As Christians it is important that we make sure that we do not run the risk of becoming the spiritual equivalent to beef flavoured crisps.
"Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavours of this earth.” Matt 5:13
The followers of ‘The Way’ were first called Christians in Antioch. It wasn’t meant as a complimentary name initially but it was attributed because people saw Jesus Christ in this group of people.“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus…” Phil 2:5
Jesus was evident in all of them; in the way they spoke, reacted, carried out their business, cared for each other and in raising their kids. They were different; people could spot them a mile off. Even if they were timid ‘back row’ believers they were easily noticeable on the street. And it wasn’t just in this one city either. Look at Stephen, the first Christian martyr Can you possibly guess what was his role in the church? Pastor? Evangelist perhaps? What about prophet? An apostle maybe? No, he was a steward; he was the ‘guy on the door’ but Christ was shining in his life.
How does this happen? We have two key elements to our faith; the first is that we acknowledge the Fatherhood of God (easy to do, most people you meet will ‘believe’ in God), and then we must follow Christ (our Christian faith is based on discipleship, a decision to die to self and follow Christ – this demands commitment). When this happens we are no longer ‘world friendly’, becoming counter-culture; not fitting neatly into their mould. A breath of fresh air; God air. As a result we either anger [or frustrate] them because we challenge their views just by being, or we will see them melt as they find their hunger for something more than this life being satisfied in Christ’s presence in our lives.
Christianity that does not involve discipleship [following Christ], living by His rules (where we do His will and not ours) will keep us from being ineffective, or the Christian equivalent of beef flavoured crisps for vegetarians!
“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1: 5-8
posted by Andrew at 8:54 pm
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