SEVERAL interesting documents have been delivered to me, two of which I want to share with our readers. Both deal with a person's appetite. Whether we wish to admit it or not, there is a moral issue involved in what a man eats and when he eats. It seems to me that the struggle against the carnal nature includes the struggle against wrong appetite. The question "Do you mean the Lord will keep me out of heaven if I indulge my appetite a little?" is not valid. Rather we should ask, "If I indulge my appetite is the Spirit of God truly controlling my life?" More objectivity in this area is most helpful. How does God view us? Is God pleased with what, when, and how much we eat? Will God permit gluttons in His kingdom?
So with these few remarks, I shall put on record Lorenzo H. Grant's document "A God Called RE.
"RE-frigerator"
The ancient Egyptians worshiped a god called RE. They have long since abandoned this form of idolatry. But RE still has worshipers in many of our churches today. RE-frigerator that is!
"Yes, there are many among us who pay him daily homage, and not only during the day but some throughout the night seasons rise up to bow down to King RE.
"Their stewardship to God and His cause does not begin to compare with their faithful offerings to RE usually more than a double tithe (20 percent of earnings). It was as if RE instead of Jehovah had inspired the words of Malachi: 'Bring ye ALL the tithes into the storehouse.' They want to make sure that in any eventuality there will be 'meat in mine house.' Each compartment religiously receives its commitment frozen foods, fresh produce, dairy products, and even some unmentionable items!
"Throughout the week they continuously draw water et al. from the 'well of their salvation.' In fact, if they would open their Bibles as often as they opened their refrigerators they would ere long be ready for translation. But alas their preparation tends more toward the tomb. They know not the God of self-denial.
"Now we would not here suggest that there is anything wrong with a well-provided home or refrigerator, but merely point out with the apostle the insidious danger of misplaced emphasis: ' (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things)' (Phil. 3:18, 19)."
The next item is a parable I did not write. It was passed along to me for publication. I want to make it clear that by no means is this parable applicable to all our leaders, or even to a majority. I'm proud to be acquainted with a number of our godly leaders who are setting us an excellent example.
A Parable
"It was in the springtime of the year that the men of God in Washington called a meeting of the leaders of men throughout the large North American territory to assemble themselves together to study, to plan, to pray for the furtherance of the work of God. These men chose a majestically beautiful city for this holy convocation.
"These men planned well. Comfortable accommodations could be had in this gem city before the tourists came in with bulging pocketbooks and insatiable appetites. The prices were reasonable, the scenery unexcelled, peace and quiet reigned in these surroundings endowed by God with exquisite beauty.
"These men thought of food and the necessity to provide nourishment for these leaders of men in a manner befitting sons of God. They talked to the chefs in the hotel, who are skilled in the art of cookery and palate-tingling gourmet dishes, and besought them to prepare succulent and artistic foods from the vegetable kingdom. In wonderment the culinary experts conceded to the request but were bewildered in the field of proteins and entrees. Those who were planning called in a man experienced in vegetarian cookery to introduce the art of cooking without meat.
"The hotel chefs accepted the suggestions and brought forth a beautifully prepared buffet each mealtime and our people partook, and were satisfied and grateful. But not all! As the meetings progressed there were those who yearned for their accustomed flesh pots. These drifted into the eating houses of the city and partook, yea, stuffed themselves with the cooked and partially cooked carcasses of two- and four-footed animals. Some of the carcasses had been ground and made into round cakes and broiled over coals. Some had been placed in a rotisserie, some had been boiled. "It so happened those who wore the tall white chef's hats at the hotel where the meeting was held and where vacant chairs were increasingly conspicuous, were friends with the chefs who were broiling, frying, and boiling the carcasses of beasts in the village and from them they discovered the reason for their decline in business. As they spotted these men, ordained to a high calling, wearing black suits, black shoes, black hose, and black ties, 'men of the cloth,' they raised their eyebrows and their voices in the word, 'Hypocrites.'
"These men, these leaders, these shepherds of the flock, may not have remembered the words, 'How can we have confidence in our ministers who, when meat is served, partake of it?'
"And I seem to hear a voice coming down through the ages calling, calling, 'How long halt ye between two opinions?' "
