25 Jul 2017

I’ll Take A Bite Of That

by | posted in: Church, Culture | 15,006

There is a reason we follow recipes, to make something that is good and palatable, and also mostly because certain ingredients do not mix. One may change the type of cheese, or use almond milk instead of cow milk in a recipe. Because some ingredients may be different, they do not ruin the final product. It just gives it a different flavor. However, you may not replace the flower in pancakes with baking soda, because you would not end up with pancakes.

In the same way we must ensure we do not mix in outside worship of idols with the true worship of God. “Well”, one might add, “I only worship God”. Yes, by everything you understand you would believe that, but here lies my point. The worship of idols can sneak into the worship of God without it being obvious to us. Idols don’t always look like little brass statues that you can place on the mantle, though some of them might stick on the car window.

An idol that stands out is easily defeated, but one that slowly works its way in becomes natural and part of a culture. The mixing of idol worship and the worship of God may not seem distasteful to us, but is grossly unpalatable to God. This is where we come to the story of Balaam and Balak. In the book of numbers we find Balak, who was king over Moab, in fear of the Jews. He sends after Balaam knowing that “he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed”(Numbers 22:6). However, God warns Balaam to only speak what he is told. This does not go over well with Balak since Balaam ends up blessing Israel three times. Chapter 24 ends with Balaam telling what was to happen in the days to come and then vs. 25 of chapter 24 says “Then Balaam arose and departed and returned to his place, and Balak also went his way”.

The next chapter begins with the Israelites playing the harlot with the daughters of Moab, feasting on food sacrificed to idols and bowing to them as well. So the question is what happened? Here was a mighty nation moving along and following God’s plan and all of sudden they are joined to Baal of Peor. We find the rest of the story of Balak and Balaam in Revelation 2:12-17.

Balaam could not curse the people; however at some point he taught Balak how to trip them up. The verse says to place a “stumbling block” in front of them. Balak placed food sacrificed to idols in front of them to eat and enticed them to commit acts of immorality. This false worship and immorality led to Numbers chapter 25 in which the Lord became angry with Israel.

So why did Israel not reject the food and worship of Baal? Simply put, the food looked good and the women were pretty. “And if all I have to do is bow, then I get hot food and hot ladies… I mean this is their culture and I want to be seen as relevant, besides I still observe the Sabbath”. These things don’t seem so wrong, at least after the 3rd and 4th time. The word for “stumbling block” could also mean “snare”. Those that hunt and fish know you don’t catch prey if the bait doesn’t look enticing and the snare or stumbling block is visible. One trips over the “block” because their eyes are focused somewhere else; they don’t see it for what it is.

So what does this mean for us? We are smart people and we have access to more information than a bunch of folks running around in the desert. But knowledge is not as valuable as wisdom. Knowledge knows what it is we do, and where we go, and where we spend our time and money. Wisdom tells us why we do it. Godly wisdom is the key in understanding which items in our lives are idols and which are true worship and which ones need to be prayed about further.

So now we come to the Church in America, which is more accurately the American Church. So what is it, you might ask, that I am getting at? That the idols have crept into the church, which means there are those of us that worship things other than or along with God. The problem is the idols are different for each of us. (James 1:14) We can worship our sexuality, our “cause” be it pro or anti this and that, or even our politics. A person running for office often becomes our savior if we are not careful. “He/she will fix everything, if we can just get them elected.” We can even begin to praise our government, singing its praises in a worship service. We sacrifice our Saturdays to give honor to our favorite sports teams, and spend our weekday nights at ball parks in service to sports.

Now is it wrong to be pro or anti this and that? Is it wrong to want good leaders? Is it wrong to watch sports and let your kids play them? Depends on what you are searching for. You see the problem is not with the meat. All things are made clean and we know that there are no other gods. However, our desire to have those “meats” drives us to compromise and worship the idols that are associated with them. There is nothing wrong with a child playing baseball; it is when the game becomes the desire of our heart, or when we praise our nation as though it is our savior. It is when we miss where the meat comes from that we are led astray. We believe that the idol provides the meat we desire, whether it be peace, justice, happiness, or protection. These things are to be sought from God. Dead idols can do nothing for us.

This brings us back to us, the church. When we are enticed by the things of the world, we must be careful that they do not become the object of our affection. Because when they do, we will mix them in our true worship. The idols will compete with our worship of God and if not thrown down we will bow our knee to them and give Sunday lip service to the one true God.

15006 Responses

  1. lamodamex
    | Reply

    Когда я решила обновить гардероб и приобрести новую спортивную одежду, я обратилась к онлайн-магазину Ламода спорт. Я уже давно слышала о их качественной продукции и разнообразии моделей, поэтому решила посетить их официальный сайт.
    На сайте Ламода спорт меня встретила удобная навигация и яркий дизайн. Я сразу же обратила внимание на разделы с женской, мужской и детской спортивной одеждой, а также на раздел с аксессуарами. Все товары были представлены с подробными описаниями и фотографиями, что помогло мне легко выбрать то, что мне нужно.
    Я приобрела несколько новых тренировочных костюмов, спортивных брюк и футболок. Я была приятно удивлена качеством тканей и пошивом, а также стильным дизайном каждой вещи. Благодаря Ламода спорт я теперь чувствую себя комфортно и уверенно на тренировках.
    Кроме того, на сайте Ламода спорт я обнаружила раздел с акциями и скидками. Это позволило мне сэкономить немного денег и приобрести еще больше моделей спортивной одежды. Я также подписалась на их телеграм-канал, чтобы быть в курсе всех новостей и акций.
    В общем, я осталась очень довольна своей покупкой в Ламода спорт. Я рекомендую этот магазин всем, кто ценит качество, стиль и удобство в спортивной одежде. Посетите их официальный сайт https://t.me/s/lamoda_promokody1 и убедитесь сами!

  3. memek
    | Reply

    Hi there colleagues, its impressive piece of writing concerning educationand entirely explained, keep it up
    all the time.

  4. Santiago
    | Reply

    The Department also agrees with the commenter who mentioned that this provision is dependable with the theory fundamental present § 106.8 wherein recipients have extensive been expected to have “prompt and equitable” grievance methods for handling sex discrimination complaints. The Department’s past steerage did not particularly deliver equally get-togethers the prospect to know about an investigation and take part in these types of an investigation, when the investigation could lead to the imposition of disciplinary sanctions against the respondent and the provision of treatments. Comments: One commenter suggested including prevention and community educational programming as a attainable option colleges can employ as 1 of the therapies provided subsequent a formal complaint, as effectively as including a necessity of educational outreach and prevention programming somewhere else within just the ultimate restrictions. With respect to therapies, the remaining polices need a recipient to supply treatments to a complainant wherever a respondent has been found accountable, and notes that this kind of remedies may well include the form of individualized providers non-exhaustively mentioned in the § 106.30 definition of “supportive actions.” Whether or not the commenter’s knowledge of prevention and group training programming would be section of an proper treatment for a complainant, designed to restore or protect the complainant’s equivalent access to education, is a reality-precise subject to be deemed by the receiver.

  5. pronerve 6
    | Reply

    This is really interesting, You are a very skilled blogger.
    I’ve joined your rss feed and look forward
    to seeking more of your excellent post. Also,
    I’ve shared your website in my social networks!

    Stop by my homepage; pronerve 6

  6. watch free online Pornos
    | Reply

    As costume phenomenon, the Sex Pistols have been maybe more necessary than some other British musician, because they attacked and wounded the British puritanism like none different phenomenon (not even the ’68) managed to achieve. Even couples use sex dolls to spicy up their relationships. 2016-08-30 Why use a Genealogy Program? Why does Robert Spencer, a Christian conservative, support Hirsi Ali? Why ought to we admit ANY Muslim immigrants? NEW PAPER, added 8/3/21, Why Are DC Police Active on January 6 Committing Suicide? NEW PAPER, added 1/27/19, The Khashoggi Hoax. PAPER Update, added 9/10/20, The Cutting-edge in Physics Propaganda. Jimmy needed to point out a clip from their Elite Eight Victory, however CBS wouldn’t enable it, so they re-created one utilizing an Atari 2600 basketball recreation. Cooks Source infringement controversy – This publication drew backlash after it committed copyright infringement by using an online article with out permission for industrial purposes. Have I proved that Islamic extremism is driven by Islam itself? With actual dates, intercourse-relationships, mates with benefits and different types of companionship, you and your accomplice have some form of commitments and expectations, whereas there aren’t any strings attached with love dolls. Is there an intelligible actuality here?

  7. free sex dvd
    | Reply

    Consent is the vital concept in S/M and bondage relationships. S/M and bondage are intensive sexual playgrounds exactly where classic notions these kinds of as “Sex is intercourse” can be dropped, and sex engage in can consist of pursuits with reduced chance of exchanging body fluids. Sex Addict – by Karla Dean – Sex is most effective when held in the family members, or at least which is what Karla thinks. There is a table of all the factors listed here, with when they have been launched and no matter whether they are continue to in use, so protected things can be picked from this – ones that will perform in browsers from at minimum HTML 3.2 onward up to now. Now a career should be pleasurable, funky, flexible and large-compensated right before younger people will even give it a go. I have arrive to detest this Puritan function ethic, where by one particular have to grimly endure paying out their working day accomplishing one thing they dislike since of the angle that “any job is far better than none.” Bugger that philosophy – technologies was supposed to free of charge people from these types of a joyless existence. One pattern of this calendar year that is in plague proportions now is the instead odd one particular of coloring books for grownups – there are these kinds of books everywhere it appears, and supposedly presents anxiety relief.

  8. www.497259.xyz
    | Reply

    Oct 2, 2023: Dropping this quote right
    here in order that subsequent time I attempt
    to hung it down I’ll discover it on my own site and not need to
    go to GoodReads: “She … I’ve 7 of the latter thus far however they are not readily accessible right here except in a specialist bookshop (she seems to have fallen out of trend) and are nearly $20 each only for the paperback edition! Oct 3, 2021: Excuse me I will likely be over here flailing as a result of I simply realized there is a licensed Star Trek TNG/X-Men crossover novel. Rainbow parties have been coated on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2003, and became the subject of a juvenile novel known as Rainbow Party. Love Letters Between a Certain Late Nobleman and the Famous Mr. Wilson was printed in 1723 in England, and is presumed by some modern students to be a novel. Some scholars argue that the term “homosexuality” is problematic when utilized to historical cultures since, for example, neither Greeks or Romans possessed anyone word covering the same semantic vary as the fashionable idea of “homosexuality”.

  9. broker para opciones binarias
    | Reply

    El comercio de opciones binarias es una modalidad de trading en la que los inversores apuestan si el valor de un activo subira o bajara. Plataformas como Quotex ofrecen herramientas avanzadas para el trading de opciones binarias. Con estrategias adecuadas, es posible mejorar las predicciones en el trading de opciones binarias. El comercio de opciones binarias se ha vuelto popular en paises como Mexico y globalmente.
    comercio de opciones binarias que es comercio de opciones binarias .

  10. free.on.line.porn
    | Reply

    The term “unicorn searching” arrives from, similar with the famous creature, how uncommon a bisexual woman ready to be a part of an existing pair is, as properly as their problems, which can contain relational exclusivity (contrary to open relationships with other persons), equivalent attraction to the two companions or desire in only obtaining team sexual intercourse. While there she thinks that home is remaining damaged into and arrives to notice it is only Dan’s teenage son Julian and his girlfriend Sasha who have arrived unannounced. In fact, compulsive sexual habits goes beyond desire, and it is a difficult fact for numerous persons who live with it. Unicorn looking is composed of two people in a partnership, commonly a heterosexual few of a person and a woman, trying to find a bisexual female for the marriage, both to join a threesome or to kind a polyamorous marriage. Its use could possibly have started in the nineteen seventies by swinger communities of the time to describe bisexual females available to have a threesome with a heterosexual couple. In a triad, principles are normally agreed on all associates, while in unicorn polyamory, it is assumed that the few can make the principles, though the unicorn has to adhere to them.

  11. ero-video
    | Reply

    The necessities are distinct and much more stringent for providing alcoholic beverages than they are for serving any other beverage, which is why your neighbors can open up a lemonade stand on the garden but not a margarita stand – until they are on the lookout for a run-in with the police. Proponents of the Nordic Model see all sexual intercourse work as exploitative and hazardous and look for to facilitate a supportive exit out of the field for any individual concerned in the selling of sexual intercourse. How does either model defend people today from negative actors like pimps and traffickers? I haven’t seen any feedback like that. Koresh and his followers were identified to fireplace assault weapons and machineguns, and Block experienced witnessed what he thought to be a .50- or .52-caliber weapon mounted on a bipod, as very well as several dozen rifles, like AK-47s and AR-15s–quite a few of which he believed ended up entirely automatic. Well i feel. I’d want to go with another person who could be was intrigued in engaging a little a lot more Maybe even as a couple due to the fact it did seem to be like men and women have been a very little far more intrigued in heading working with couples.

  16. data reparasjo
    | Reply

    Utmerket stykke! Din grundige oppsummering er sterkt verdsatt. Jeg ser nå saken fra en annen vinkel takket være dine innsiktsfulle kommentarer. Du gjorde dine poeng veldig tydelige med eksemplene du inkluderte. Jeg er takknemlig for at du skrev dette.

  24. quotex referidos
    | Reply

    El comercio de opciones binarias es una forma de inversion en la que los inversores predicen si el valor de un activo subira o bajara. Brokers como Quotex ofrecen herramientas avanzadas para el trading de opciones binarias. Con estrategias adecuadas, es posible mejorar las predicciones en el trading de opciones binarias. El comercio de opciones binarias se ha vuelto una opcion atractiva en paises como Mexico y globalmente.
    iniciar sesion quotex broker quotex .

  31. webcam sex chat
    | Reply

    Common themes tend to be repeated unwelcome sui-bait from instance workers in opposition to people, creating or spreading dox supplies towards other users,be aware 1 unapologetic bigotry, uncensored shock content, and an entire lack of moderation. An alternative choice is to make use of some text-processing tools to seek out entries which might be common between Tier-zero and another trusted instance’s blocklist. I don’t add entries to my retractions list after i take away useless instances, or when an admin on a eliminated instance prefers to not be included in it (some want to remain much less distinguished). Unlike tier0.csv, the generated lists don’t have important manual curation. A one-off person motion taken out of context, without any sign of workers endorsement, isn’t sufficient to end up on one of these lists because it’s not indicative of an instance’s moderation policies. From sizzling flushes to temper swings and insomnia, it’s honest to say that going by means of the menopause will be troublesome for many ladies. You’ll be able to interact by sending webmentions or by visiting a syndicated copy of this put up. You may see this claim made in many outlets. See the hyperlinks beneath. See the “trust but verify” section for for more info. 971.17 is terminated or expires, or the person efficiently completes the sentence or probation, whichever is relevant, the individual is no longer required to comply with the reporting requirements under this part.

  32. free orn videos
    | Reply

    You may identify all of the provinces and place them in the proper spot on one of those puzzle maps, but you might not remember all the capitals. You would be laborious pressed to call the capitals or the leaders of all of the nations of Europe. With this group, Davis accomplished the rest of what turned Seven Steps to Heaven (1963) and recorded the dwell albums Miles Davis in Europe (1964), My Funny Valentine (1965), and 4 & More (1966). The quintet played essentially the identical bebop tunes and requirements that Davis’s previous bands had performed, but they approached them with structural and rhythmic freedom and occasionally breakneck pace. You are more all in favour of what Bernard Landry is doing than in what’s going on within the U.S. You realize that 10-yr-old boy within the department retailer being dragged into the dressing room by a girl stage-whispering, “I do not care if you do not like it you’re going to wear it as a result of I mentioned so”?

  33. Stephanie
    | Reply

    In a 25-10 vote, the Congress of Oaxaca repealed the
    state’s ban on same-sex marriage, permitting such unions to take place immediately.
    26 October: The Congress of Tamaulipas passes a bill legalizing same-intercourse marriage in a 23-12 vote.
    18 October: The Parliament of Slovenia passes a law codifying the Constitutional Court’s determination to
    legalize same-intercourse marriage and adoption in a 51-24
    vote. The Congress was given an extra 180 day interval to change legal
    guidelines to reflect the constitutional change. 6 April:
    The Congress of Jalisco passes a bill to codify equal marriage into legislation, bringing
    the state Civil Code into conformity with the 2016 Supreme Court ruling.

    9 July: Same-sex marriage turns into authorized in Slovenia, a
    day after the Constitutional Court published its June ruling that
    the statutory definition of marriage as a residing community
    of a husband and a spouse is unconstitutional.
    Sixteen June: A constitutional amendment to repeal the unenforced ban in opposition to similar-intercourse marriage in Baja California is approved with
    18 legislators in favor, four opposed and 1 abstention. 31 January:
    Slovenia’s legislation implementing identical sex marriage after the 9 July Constitutional Court judgment turns into efficient.
    17 March: A Sapporo District Court in Japan rules that the nation’s failure to legalize same-sex marriage
    is ‘unconstitutional’.

  38. men cumming in pussy
    | Reply

    Most empirical research present that folks of all genders and sexual identities expertise the usage of intercourse toys predominantly positively. They show that folks of all genders and all sexual identities use intercourse toys during solo intercourse (masturbation) and – considerably much less frequently – during partner sex. Scripts are typically learned through a process often known as socialization, which teaches folks to behave in accordance with social norms. They can also enable people with disabilities to have extra sexual self-determination. Government open-records requests might be boring. The Internet has made an vital contribution to the popularization of sex toys, since data searches about and the purchase of sex toys can now be carried out discreetly on-line. A 2006 study conducted by the Greenpeace Netherlands office discovered excessive degree of phthalates in seven out of eight plastic sex toys examined. The 2 walked out of the library at 11:36. Cautiously, fearing the shooters’ return, 10 injured and 29 uninjured survivors began to evacuate the library by way of the north emergency exit door, which led to the sidewalk adjoining to the west entrance.

  40. MPOBIG
    | Reply

    Hey there! This is my first comment here so I just wanted to
    give a quick shout out and tell you I really enjoy reading your
    posts. Can you recommend any other blogs/websites/forums that cover the same topics?
    Thanks for your time!

    Here is my web site … MPOBIG

  43. نصب یو پی اس کرکره برقی
    | Reply

    It’s perfect time to make some plans for the future and it is time to be happy.
    I have read this post and if I could I want to suggest you some interesting things
    or suggestions. Perhaps you could write next articles referring
    to this article. I desire to read more things about it!

  44. Understand More
    | Reply

    Hi there are using WordPress for your site platform?
    I’m new to the blog world but I’m trying to get started and
    create my own. Do you need any coding knowledge to make your own blog?

    Any help would be greatly appreciated!

  45. www.783640.xyz
    | Reply

    Indeed, their legacy can literally be heard in the present day, as No Feelings options some incredible chords which have surely influenced innumerable contemporary rock musicians. One of the best lyric is unquestionably Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopes’ declaration “I ain’t too proud to beg, no/2 inches or a yard rock arduous or if it’s saggin'” (she’s not fussy, penis-smart, basically). TLC, ‘Ain’t Too Proud To Beg’: We remember the R&B trio’s debut single as being a fun, lighthearted anthem, however it’s truly an ode to safe sex and sexually assured ladies. Find a very good tune-one thing fun, not too cheesy, but says a little one thing about you-and let this develop into a memorable second. If: You’re both nonetheless getting over another person, but nonetheless prefer to have a very good time. Feels like a great time to get again available on the market. But there’s truly, reportedly, more to it – diehard Fleetwood fans have famous that the band used to use the phrase “tusk” as slang for “penis” whilst on tour at the time. And whilst I don’t think anybody who’s more outraged about Sansa’s rape than about Cersei’s actually thinks that Cersei deserved it, I’m disquieted that it appears to replicate a societal tendency to look for narratives around rape after we explain it to ourselves that focus on the victim’s life, and never on those who select to rape.

  49. روش حذف باطری کرکره برقی
    | Reply

    An outstanding share! I’ve just forwarded this onto
    a coworker who had been conducting a little homework on this.
    And he in fact ordered me lunch because I discovered it
    for him… lol. So let me reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!!
    But yeah, thanx for spending the time to discuss this issue here on your internet site.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *