"The Biscuit Church"

“The Biscuit Church”

When Karen prepares a crockpot meal she’ll sometimes make biscuits to go along with the chili, stew or other delicacy. Take them out of the oven, lather them with butter and honey—mmm! The only problem is not eating the whole plateful!

A lot of ingredients go into making these culinary delights. I consulted the Betty Crocker Cookbook and found that the various recipes call for a combination of flour, butter, baking powder, baking soda, salt, shortening, oil, sugar and other pinches of this and that. Try eating a quantity of each one by itself—yuck! But blend them together with some buttermilk, put them in the oven for 10-12 minutes and yuck becomes yum in a big hurry.

As I was indulging in one of these treats recently I thought of how it pictures the church. One of the 46 things that happens when we receive Christ (I had a list of them years ago and wish I hadn’t lost it) is that we become members of the Body of Christ (“…You are the body of Christ, and each of you is a part of it.”—1 Corinthians 12:27, emphasis added). We bring our talents, abilities, needs, struggles and, yes, warts with us. Individually, then, we may not be particularly impressive but put us together with believers locally and around the world and we have the potential to bring great change. When Paul and Silas ministered in Thessalonica their opposers brought them to court with the accusation, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also.” (Acts 17:6, Amplified). (As Bible teachers have observed over the years, we’d say they were turning it right side up!) Since the Holy Spirit hasn’t changed with His help we can do this and even more (see John 14:12).

We as individuals as well as the church at large haven’t always represented our Lord well and for my part in this I must ask forgiveness from God and where possible those I’ve wronged. Paul instructs us to “…live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” (Ephesians 4:1) which means doing so in love (Ephesians 5:2), faith (2 Corinthians 5:7), Christlikeness (1 John 2:6) and caution (Ephesians 4:15). As we mix these and other qualities in our lives and join with other brothers and sisters we become the biscuit church. May we together make Christ appealing so those around us can “Taste and see that the Lord is good….” (Psalm 34:8).

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan