The Parable of the Perfect Steak
Here it comes: the moment you’ve been waiting for. Slowly, regally, the waiter in his tuxedo slips out the kitchen door with his tray held high. It’s as though he’s gliding across the floor in a choreographed dance. His eyes are lightly closed in confidence. A towel is draped softly over his arm. The white of his gloves gleams with perfection. There’s something regal about his performance that somehow enhances the anticipation.
The aroma of garlic and herbs wafts through the air. You begin to salivate. This is it! The waiter strides up next to you and the platter flows gently to the table before you. Beneath that shiny silver lid is the steak the whole world has been raving about. People say that once you taste the stake from this restaurant, “everything else is just cow.” You tuck your cloth napkin into your shirt and grin brightly as the waiter twirls his hand over the lid and swiftly lifts it past your head.
As the puff of steam rises theatrically into the air, the corners of your mouth fall with your chin. You don’t know if this is a mistake or some cruel prank. Everything seemed so wonderful, but the plate in front of you doesn’t have a steak on it—or at least you can’t see it if there is one. Instead, you have a six-inch pile of herbs and seasonings.
With your eyebrows curled upward, you look speechlessly to the waiter, but he’s already dancing back to the kitchen. Your gaze returns to the overpowering mountain of seasonings that awaits your consumption.
Finally—perhaps because you concede, or maybe just because you’re curious—you scoop the seasonings one spoonful at a time into your empty coffee mug. After a few minutes of your archeological dig, you unearth the shape of a steak. It really was in there! And now that you’ve worked your way down to the bare minimum, you sprinkle a pinch of salt and pepper on your meal.
Perfect.
“Is everything to your liking?” inquires the manager as he strolls up to your table.
“Well,” you begin, “It is now. What’s with the heap of spices my steak came buried in?”
“Oh no!” replies the apologetic manager, “This has happened before. I’m so sorry. You see, the master chef prepares the meal to his perfect liking, but there are about fifteen other cooks under his training who sometimes come along and add to his masterpiece. They must have all slipped a little in before your waiter brought it out.”
“I see. Well, it’s alright now.”
You cut your first piece from the tender slab of meat and it melts on your tongue. Yes, it’s true what they said; this is the best steak around—as long as it’s not lost in the seasoning.
Seasoning is great in moderation, but when it overpowers the meat, you might as well be eating shoe leather because it’ll taste the same anyhow. Ever notice how we’ve done the same thing with Christianity?
Jesus came and demonstrated something so simple. Now, two thousand years later, we have added fancy buildings, traditions, rituals, rock bands, stage lights, festivals, potlucks, outreaches, home groups, books, CDs, DVDs, Sunday School, family nights, illustrated sermons, colleges, weekend retreats (take a breath), summer camps, private schools, and more sermons in one day than we could hear in a lifetime. These things aren’t evil—they’re “seasonings” meant to enhance the meat of Christianity. The problem comes when the steak gets buried in the flavor. Sometimes it even gets swapped for “shoe leather” and we don’t even know it.
There are so many churches today that have all the right seasonings, but their meat is not the true meat of Christianity. Christ's true Church is foundationally built on Him alone, and any "seasonings" added to the mix must clearly reveal Him. Anything that distracts us from Jesus Christ is not of God. Even our focus on the Holy Spirit should bring us closer to Christ! Jesus said that the Holy Spirit will "take from what is Mine and make it known to you."
Real Christianity is not defined by the rituals, programs, events, and meetings that we hold--these are nothing but seasonings meant to enhance the flavor of the person of Christ. They should point to Him--not overpowering, but complimenting.
The aroma of garlic and herbs wafts through the air. You begin to salivate. This is it! The waiter strides up next to you and the platter flows gently to the table before you. Beneath that shiny silver lid is the steak the whole world has been raving about. People say that once you taste the stake from this restaurant, “everything else is just cow.” You tuck your cloth napkin into your shirt and grin brightly as the waiter twirls his hand over the lid and swiftly lifts it past your head.
As the puff of steam rises theatrically into the air, the corners of your mouth fall with your chin. You don’t know if this is a mistake or some cruel prank. Everything seemed so wonderful, but the plate in front of you doesn’t have a steak on it—or at least you can’t see it if there is one. Instead, you have a six-inch pile of herbs and seasonings.
With your eyebrows curled upward, you look speechlessly to the waiter, but he’s already dancing back to the kitchen. Your gaze returns to the overpowering mountain of seasonings that awaits your consumption.
Finally—perhaps because you concede, or maybe just because you’re curious—you scoop the seasonings one spoonful at a time into your empty coffee mug. After a few minutes of your archeological dig, you unearth the shape of a steak. It really was in there! And now that you’ve worked your way down to the bare minimum, you sprinkle a pinch of salt and pepper on your meal.
Perfect.
“Is everything to your liking?” inquires the manager as he strolls up to your table.
“Well,” you begin, “It is now. What’s with the heap of spices my steak came buried in?”
“Oh no!” replies the apologetic manager, “This has happened before. I’m so sorry. You see, the master chef prepares the meal to his perfect liking, but there are about fifteen other cooks under his training who sometimes come along and add to his masterpiece. They must have all slipped a little in before your waiter brought it out.”
“I see. Well, it’s alright now.”
You cut your first piece from the tender slab of meat and it melts on your tongue. Yes, it’s true what they said; this is the best steak around—as long as it’s not lost in the seasoning.
Seasoning is great in moderation, but when it overpowers the meat, you might as well be eating shoe leather because it’ll taste the same anyhow. Ever notice how we’ve done the same thing with Christianity?
Jesus came and demonstrated something so simple. Now, two thousand years later, we have added fancy buildings, traditions, rituals, rock bands, stage lights, festivals, potlucks, outreaches, home groups, books, CDs, DVDs, Sunday School, family nights, illustrated sermons, colleges, weekend retreats (take a breath), summer camps, private schools, and more sermons in one day than we could hear in a lifetime. These things aren’t evil—they’re “seasonings” meant to enhance the meat of Christianity. The problem comes when the steak gets buried in the flavor. Sometimes it even gets swapped for “shoe leather” and we don’t even know it.
There are so many churches today that have all the right seasonings, but their meat is not the true meat of Christianity. Christ's true Church is foundationally built on Him alone, and any "seasonings" added to the mix must clearly reveal Him. Anything that distracts us from Jesus Christ is not of God. Even our focus on the Holy Spirit should bring us closer to Christ! Jesus said that the Holy Spirit will "take from what is Mine and make it known to you."
Real Christianity is not defined by the rituals, programs, events, and meetings that we hold--these are nothing but seasonings meant to enhance the flavor of the person of Christ. They should point to Him--not overpowering, but complimenting.
Psalm 34:8--Taste and see that the Lord is good!
Labels: Christianity, church, Jesus Christ, truth
posted by Art Thomas | Tuesday, January 29, 2008
3 Comments:
Just steak? No baked potato? No soup or vegetable? Maybe that was the side salad you were poking through. I thought the Lord laid out a banquet for us, not just meat on a plate.
The Bible tells me that the Church is built on the foundation of the prophets and Apostles--Jesus is the Cornerstone.
What marked the early Church? They continued daily with one accord in the temple (meetings), and breaking bread from house to house (Communion), they ate their meat with gladness and singleness of heart (fellowship). They continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.(Acts 2:42)
What was Pentecost, but a ritual holy day where the Apostles gathered together? And how about the late night vigil service in Acts 20 where Eutychus fell out of the window?
As for rituals and traditions, St. Paul told the Thessalonians to "stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle."
The early Christians found favour with all the people and the Lord added to the church daily because of the unity and community found among them. what made them distinct from the Jews was their manner of life and rituals.
So many of your posts have the underlying theme of "all you need is Jesus", but there is so much more to it than that. A RELATIONSHIP involves celebrating birthdays and special days, and just spending time together. The stuff you consider extra and even unnecessary are the ways we express our love for Christ and join in fellowship with each other. They help us "walk in the light" (1 John 1:7)
I think this is a point where we will always disagree. Give me a full course meal with all the trimmings any day.
"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. (Romans 14:17)
(in response to mister corduroy)
First of all, I think you took the analogy a little too far--but I do believe your comment is worth a reply. (I should mention up front that the scripture you closed with was cleverly used but out of context--so kudos on whit, but please understand if I don't address it).
If we're going to use the analogy as you expanded it, no one ever said that additional food is bad. It's not. But the fact remains that steak is steak--feel free to add what you want; just don't substitute the steak!
Side dishes serve to compliment the steak and enhance the experience of the meal, but the focus is always the main course. No one goes to a fancy restaurant for the potatoes alone. My point is that no one should go to church for the fringe issues alone either.
And some folks may prefer different sides too! So I can eat steak with carrots and you can eat steak with peas. When it comes to Christianity, feel free to partake in as many "side dishes" as you like--just don't bury the steak!
Perhaps my view of "all you need is Jesus" (as you put it) just needs some explanation. By no means do I suggest that Jesus is "all there is" to expressing Christianity--if that were the case then we should all take a vow of silence and live in a cave for the rest of our lives as hermits and monks.
Rather, I would argue that Jesus is the center of my faith and so everything I do should have Him as the centerpiece and cornerstone. For instance, communion is more than a ritual--it is the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Gathering together is more than a meeting--it is fellowship with the "Body of Christ."
The nature of the word "Sacrament" (used largely by Catholics) is that it speaks of a doctrine or practice that in some way reveals God and has genuine spiritual substance that gets conveyed to those who participate.
Article XXV of the Westminster Confession says: "Sacraments ordained of God be not only badges or tokens of Christian men's profession, but rather they be certain sure witnesses and effectual signs of grace and God's good will towards us by which He doth work invisibly in us, and doth not only quicken but strengthen and confirm our faith in Him (cf. art. XXVII)."
Believe it or not, I believe the seven sacraments outlined by the Catholic Church are valid and genuinely convey God's grace to us (though I have some questions about the interpretation of those sacraments).
1) Baptism in water - There really is a spiritual dynamic to baptism--it's not just a symbol. I also believe there is a measure of spiritual warfare carried out in water baptism. I'll be writing more about this soon in my blog.
2) Confirmation - Specifically the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. I have no doubt that the Catholic methodology of confirmation has pure roots, but I'm sure you know as well as I do that there are a lot of people who have practiced the rite of confirmation who do not live according to the Spirit's overflow. To be fair, there are also many Pentecostals who have received the Holy Spirit with evidence of speaking in tongues but do not live accordingly.
3) Eucharist - I know the standard Protestant view is that communion is nothing but a sign and symbol, but I do believe it is indeed a sacrament through which something "invisible" is conveyed to the believer. I see no reason to argue whether or not the bread and wine physically become the body and blood of Jesus--but I will outright say that there is a genuine spiritual encounter with the body and blood of Christ when we partake in communion.
4) Penance and Reconciliation - In this too I have a view that contrasts with the standard protestant stance which says that we should confess our sins to God. There is indeed a Biblical mandate to "confess sins one to another that you may be healed" and "if we confess our sins, we have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus cleanses us." I do not, however, see a scriptural argument for priests being the only ones who can administer forgiveness of sin.
5) The Annointing of the Sick - Clearly I believe in God's power to heal--I've personally been miraculously healed of a heart murmur, scars on my face, tendonitis, chronic sinusitis, ADD, a degenerative tooth disease, multiple dislocated vertebrae, and
so much more. I believe in the authority of "the elders of the church" and also the "gifts of healing" that the Holy Spirit distributes as He sees fit.
6) Holy Orders - Now this one I know we'll disagree on, but that's fine. This sacrament is the concept that the ministry of Jesus Christ has been passed on so that even today there are people who can speak and act "Christi Capitis" (as though Jesus Himself were speaking or acting). With this I agree. Where I differ from the Catholic stance is that I do not believe Priests are the only ones capable of this. That is not in line with scripture or the teachings of Christ (who not only sent out the 12 to act on His behalf, but also the 72). We have all been issued the "Holy Orders" to carry on Christ's ministry and are therefore "a nation of priests and kings" who speak and act on His behalf.
7) Matrimony - Marriage is not only a symbol of Christ's relationship with the Church, but it involves a very real spiritual bonding and unifying process. Furthermore, those who partake in marriage encounter a measure of God's love that can only be expressed in such a God-ordained relationship.
So to summarize, "Christ is all and is in all." When I say "All I need is Jesus," by no means am I denying the value of the many sacraments and rituals that exist.
But I'm sure you would agree that apart from Christ, these are nothing but empty, lifeless forms and symbols--shadows of spiritual reality that only exists in Christ.
Colossians 2:16,17--Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.
So enjoy your carrots and potatoes. Have some soup an salad. But do not fill up on these at the expense of the steak. As long as Christ is at the center of all you do, everything else of value will serve to enhance that relationship with Him.
Well said brother. I appreciate your well thought out reply.
I am glad to see you have some understanding of Sacramental theology. Since you know that the Holy Spirit is an active presence in the Christian life how could you believe otherwise.
Our mom, being raised Lutheran, still holds to the "receptionist" view that the bread and wine become the body and blood through her faith. I remeber when Dad was in charge of filling up the little cups with grape juice at CCAG he still would say "I must prepare the blood." As a kid he was an altar boy in the Episcopal Church.
Just a few points from the Catechism of the Catholic Church about the Sacraments:
"The Church affirms that for believers the sacraments of the New Covenant are necessary for salvation. 'Sacramental grace' is the grace of the Holy Spirit, given by Christ and proper to each sacrament. The Spirit heals and transforms those who receive Him by conforming them to the Son of God. The fruit of the sacramental life is that the Spirit of adoption makes the faithful partakers in the divine nature(2 Peter 1:4) by uniting them in a living union with the only Son, the Savior." (CCC 1129)
Reconciliation (Penance)
Scripture clearly states that Jesus gave the 12 authority to forgive and retain sins. (John 20:19,22-23)
"When he celebrates the sacrament of Penance, the priest is fulfilling the ministry of the Good Shepherd who seeks the lost sheep, of the Good Samaritan who binds up wounds, of the Father who awaits the prodigal son and welcomes him on his return, and of the just and impartial judge whose judgment is both just and merciful. The priest is the sign and the instrument of God's merciful love for the sinner."(CCC 1455)
Wow! What a wonderful gift God has given us. It is not the priest forgiving you, it is Christ ministering through the priest just as God forgave David through Nathan the prophet(2 Samuel 12:13).
When he was 9, my son Andrew had a conversation with our Bishop about confession. My boy said that the Church is like a hospital and sin is like sickness. Confession is like surgery. Aftarward we still must heal and take medicine which is spiritual direction and penance.
Holy Orders
You are correct about the priesthood of believers, which is a Biblical fact. "The whole Church is a priestly people. Through Baptism all the faithful share in the priesthood of Christ. This participation is called the 'common priesthood of the faithful.' Based on this common priesthood and ordered to its service, there exists another participation in the mission of Christ: the ministry conferred by the sacrament of Holy Orders, where the task is to serve in the name and in the person of Christ the Head in the midst of the community. (CCC 1591)
One thing that Vatican II accomplished was to remind the laity of their role in the Body of Christ. Every Christian has a ministry and function, but there are also those annointed and called to be Bishops, Priests, and Deacons.
The ministerial priesthood differs in essence from the common priesthood of the faithful because it confers a sacred power for the service of the faithful. The ordained ministers exercise their service for the People of God by teaching (munus docendi), divine worship (munus liturgicum) and pastoral governance (munus regendi). (CCC 1592)
To sum it all up, it is through the Sacraments that we experience Christ. Sacraments don't enhance our relationship--they are the relationship. Through them Jesus touches every aspect of the Christian life from the cradle to the grave.
Of course I was being clever by throwing Romans 14:17 in there, but if you look at the context it is there to remind us not to let little things cause us to stumble. To emphasize this, I will close with verse 19 of that chapter: "Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another."
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