The Parable of the Brownies… Again.
Once again, I find that need to post the Parable of the Brownies. Why is it some people just insist on tolerating things that they ought not?
Two teenagers asked their father if they could attend the latest and greatest revival that was all the rage. After reading some material about this revival event on the internet, he denied their request.
"Aw dad, why not?" they complained. "It's really great! Everyone is excited about it"
They say the music and worship is just awesome!
Dad replied: "Because that event contains a lot of things that are questionable at best, and possibly outright deception, and I don't want you exposed to that."
"But dad, those are just very small parts of the event! That's what our friends who've been there have told us. The event is hours long each evening and those things that concern you are just a few minutes of the total event!
It's basically truth, and there are so many testimonies of people being blessed and even healed. They say over 20 have been raised from the dead!"
"My answer is 'no,' and that is my final answer. You are welcome to stay home tonight, invite some of your friends over, and worship and pray together. But you will not go to that event. End of discussion."
The two teenagers walked dejectedly into the family room and slumped down on the couch. As they sulked, they were surprised to hear the sounds of their father preparing something in the kitchen. They soon recognized the wonderful aroma of brownies baking in the oven, and one of the teenagers said to the other, "Dad must be feeling guilty, and now he's going to try to make it up to us with some fresh brownies. Maybe we can soften him with lots of praise when he brings them out to us and persuade him to let us go after all."
The teens were not disappointed. Soon their father appeared with a plate of warm brownies which he offered to his kids. They each took one.
Then their father said, "Before you eat, I want to tell you something: I love you both so much."
The teenagers smiled at each other with knowing glances. Dad was softening.
"That is why I've made these brownies with the very best ingredients. I've made them from scratch. Most of the ingredients are even organic. The best organic flour. The best free-range eggs. The best organic sugar. Premium vanilla and the finest chocolate."
The brownies looked mouth-watering, and the teens began to become a little impatient with their dad's long speech.
"But I want to be perfectly honest with you. There is one ingredient I added that is not usually found in brownies. I got that ingredient from our own back yard. But you needn't worry, because I only added the tiniest bit of that ingredient to your brownies. The amount of the portion is practically insignificant. So go ahead, take a bite and let me know what you think."
"Dad, would you mind telling us what that mystery ingredient is before we eat?"
"Why? The portion I added was so small. Just a teaspoonful. You won't even taste it."
"Come on, dad, just tell us what that ingredient is."
"Don't worry! It is organic, just like the other ingredients."
"Dad!"
"Well, OK, if you insist. That secret ingredient is organic...dog poop."
Both teens instantly dropped their brownies back on the plate and began inspecting their fingers with horror.
"DAD! Why did you do that? You've tortured us by making us smell those brownies cooking for the last half hour, and now you tell us that you added dog poop! We can't eat these brownies!"
"Why not? The amount of dog poop is very small compared to the rest of the ingredients. It won't hurt you. It's been cooked right along with the other ingredients.
You won't even taste it.
It has the same consistency as the brownies. Go ahead and eat!"
"No, Dad...NEVER!"
"And that is the same reason I won't allow you to go to that revival.
You won't tolerate a little dog poop in your brownies, so why should you tolerate a little strange fire in your worship and devotion?
How can you in good conscience partake of something that will introduce adulterated ingredients into your spirit?
Why would you guard what you put into your body more carefully than you guard what you put into your spirit?"
Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough?
Two teenagers asked their father if they could attend the latest and greatest revival that was all the rage. After reading some material about this revival event on the internet, he denied their request.
"Aw dad, why not?" they complained. "It's really great! Everyone is excited about it"
They say the music and worship is just awesome!
Dad replied: "Because that event contains a lot of things that are questionable at best, and possibly outright deception, and I don't want you exposed to that."
"But dad, those are just very small parts of the event! That's what our friends who've been there have told us. The event is hours long each evening and those things that concern you are just a few minutes of the total event!
It's basically truth, and there are so many testimonies of people being blessed and even healed. They say over 20 have been raised from the dead!"
"My answer is 'no,' and that is my final answer. You are welcome to stay home tonight, invite some of your friends over, and worship and pray together. But you will not go to that event. End of discussion."
The two teenagers walked dejectedly into the family room and slumped down on the couch. As they sulked, they were surprised to hear the sounds of their father preparing something in the kitchen. They soon recognized the wonderful aroma of brownies baking in the oven, and one of the teenagers said to the other, "Dad must be feeling guilty, and now he's going to try to make it up to us with some fresh brownies. Maybe we can soften him with lots of praise when he brings them out to us and persuade him to let us go after all."
The teens were not disappointed. Soon their father appeared with a plate of warm brownies which he offered to his kids. They each took one.
Then their father said, "Before you eat, I want to tell you something: I love you both so much."
The teenagers smiled at each other with knowing glances. Dad was softening.
"That is why I've made these brownies with the very best ingredients. I've made them from scratch. Most of the ingredients are even organic. The best organic flour. The best free-range eggs. The best organic sugar. Premium vanilla and the finest chocolate."
The brownies looked mouth-watering, and the teens began to become a little impatient with their dad's long speech.
"But I want to be perfectly honest with you. There is one ingredient I added that is not usually found in brownies. I got that ingredient from our own back yard. But you needn't worry, because I only added the tiniest bit of that ingredient to your brownies. The amount of the portion is practically insignificant. So go ahead, take a bite and let me know what you think."
"Dad, would you mind telling us what that mystery ingredient is before we eat?"
"Why? The portion I added was so small. Just a teaspoonful. You won't even taste it."
"Come on, dad, just tell us what that ingredient is."
"Don't worry! It is organic, just like the other ingredients."
"Dad!"
"Well, OK, if you insist. That secret ingredient is organic...dog poop."
Both teens instantly dropped their brownies back on the plate and began inspecting their fingers with horror.
"DAD! Why did you do that? You've tortured us by making us smell those brownies cooking for the last half hour, and now you tell us that you added dog poop! We can't eat these brownies!"
"Why not? The amount of dog poop is very small compared to the rest of the ingredients. It won't hurt you. It's been cooked right along with the other ingredients.
You won't even taste it.
It has the same consistency as the brownies. Go ahead and eat!"
"No, Dad...NEVER!"
"And that is the same reason I won't allow you to go to that revival.
You won't tolerate a little dog poop in your brownies, so why should you tolerate a little strange fire in your worship and devotion?
How can you in good conscience partake of something that will introduce adulterated ingredients into your spirit?
Why would you guard what you put into your body more carefully than you guard what you put into your spirit?"
Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough?
