Nobody cooks quite like an old-fashioned southern grandma. Wisps of gray hair frame her face while her cheeks and nose are powdered in flour. Never without her apron, she cooks from her heart and says things that make it impossible to recreate her culinary masterpieces.
If you ask grandma how she makes her world famous (at least, your world) potato salad, the perfect flakey pie crust, or fried chicken that puts the Colonel to shame, she might say things like –
I measure with my heart, not teaspoons, child!
Just keep adding until it looks right.
It’s not seasoned until you’re sneezin’.
Add a dollop, pinch, or a smidge.
There’s always room for more butter.
Don’t get stingy with the oil.
And, if you happen to run across one of grandma’s recipe cards that she wrote down for others, not herself, it will say things like: mix until it looks right; use the (ingredient) that comes in the blue box and not the canister; if you don’t have White Lily (brand of flour), don’t make it; bake until it’s done; you’ll know when it’s done.
It’s no wonder we can’t reproduce their recipes, and our final product always seems to be just not quite right. Grandma’s language is confusing to others even though she knew perfectly well what she meant.
As we come to church today, we are going to use a language that will confuse lost people and even some Christians. There will be nothing wrong with the words or phrases. However, we must understand that they can often come across as glib and cliché. They can also convey a “holier-than-thou” attitude especially to someone who is unsaved. Therefore, clarification and amplification might be needed.
For example, we might say, “Oh, I am just so blessed beyond measure. Isn’t His grace wonderful? I want to glorify His name and exalt Him before everyone!” We will probably be gushing as we say this. Is there anything wrong with that? Absolutely not! But will it be understood, especially by the lost individual? Doubtful. Rather than getting defensive about their misunderstanding, why not explain it? Little phrases ought to be expanded for their benefit. It also does us some good, keeping us honest so that we know what we are really saying TO or ABOUT God.
God never gives me more than I can handle. He has me in the palm of His hand. Even as a baby, I couldn’t fit in the palm of someone’s hand. There was a lot of me hanging over the edges! Again, these phrases ring with Biblical truth but mean little to an unsaved individual. Rather than spewing phrases like this, why don’t we take a moment and actually share the Scripture that supports these phrases.
I am not denouncing these sayings. They are no more wrong than grandma saying she adds just a dash of salt or a pinch of cinnamon. The phrases, words, and concepts just need to be explained for those who don’t know what the terms mean. Even so, without the illumination of the Holy Spirit, the unsaved person still isn’t going to get it. 1 Corinthians 2:14 says, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” By the way, this is why modern translations of the Bible aren’t the answer! The Holy Spirit is the answer!
As I close for today, let me share the verses of Scripture upon which we base our joyful exclamations. Read them and think about them. What terms might others not know that should be explained to give clarity and understanding?
1 Timothy 1:14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
Psalms 34:3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
John 10:27-29 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: (28) And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (29) My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
1https://www.msn.com/en-us/foodanddrink/foodnews/13-hilariously-unhelpful-cooking-terms-your-southern-grandmother-uses/ar-AA1CiktK?ocid=msedgntp&pc=LCTS&cvid=21907c6ac5314bcdb3a659525a29bdbb&ei=2#
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