Poop in the Pique

On the left is a picture of Pique Macho, one of the most popular dishes in Cochabamba, and is certainly a favorite in our house. It consist of fried potato wedges (or as we would say in the south, "steak fries"), covered with slow cooked beef tips and sausage with gravy and topped with tomato, onion, and lotoco (a hot pepper). It is also typically served with a soft-boiled quail egg. I like to add bell pepper too. It is so savory and delicious, and one of our most favorite finds in Bolivia. Most of the boys I disciple would be quick to tell you that this is their favorite meal.

Take a moment and imagine your favorite meal. Something delicious, comforting, and full of everything you love about food. Now, imagine that it had a small piece of poop in it. Sorry for the gross analogy, but I promise there is a point. Would you eat it? I ask my boys all the time, "Would you eat poop in your pique?" Have you ever eaten somewhere and the food that your ordered had a hair in it? Would you eat it or sent it back? Most would send it back. If you found a bug in your food, would you toss it? I would expect that you'd at least scoop that part out, and anything else that it touches. And if you kept eating, it'd probably be with a little anxiety about what else could be lingering there. Unless you are my uncle Tom who will eat anything.

The point is that we think a lot about what we put in our mouths. The idea of chewing on someone's hair or, worse, poop, is just downright gross. We don't like to mix the good with the nasty. Ever had the urge to make a chocolate and anchovy milkshake? Or like to dip your ice cream sandwich in ketchup? Those things don't go together. And, in many cases, are not meant to be consumed together. Yet this is exactly what we do spiritually all the time.

"It's a great movie except for that one scene." 

"I know lyrics are bad, but I just listen to the beat of that song." 

"I know she has that drug problem and curses like a sailor, but she is my best friend." 

Now, before you get all defensive, let's talk about God's word. And, I'll even address what it means to be a "friend of sinners" biblically.

"Do not be unequally yoked [joined or tied together] with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?" - 2 Corinthians 6:14

"Do not be deceived, bad company corrupts good morals." - 1 Corinthians 15:33

"And everyone who thus trusts in Him purifies himself just as He is pure." 1 John 3:3

We see in scripture that God is holy, and he has called us, his people, to be a holy people; we were chosen to be set apart as holy unto God. So why is it that there is so much compromise among believers and among the professing church? Why is it we are more concerned with the food we give our mortal bodies, and pay little attention to the garbage we feed our spirits?

We have an encouragement from scripture to "look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:18) We have to maintain our focus on what is eternal. Not the delicious here and now, but the precious forever we have in Christ. We can't be companions with darkness, and so become corrupted because of our compromise. We have to be diligent in what we set before our eyes, what we listen to, what we allow around us, and yes our friends.

Let me address briefly the "friend of sinners" that we hear about so much. I'll address it in three points.

1. Jesus was accused of being friend of sinners. This is the context. The pharisees used this expression as an accusation of Christ. And despite popular belief, it wasn't particularly true. I'll make a post soon about this topic. We are to be friendly to sinners, love them even, but our circles should be people who will point us to Christ and build us up in our faith.

2. Jesus was not just man, but also God. And although he was tempted, was perfect. We are sinful people and only made perfect in Christ's blood, not because we are without sin. This is important to remember if we plan to use the defense, "well Jesus was a friend of sinners."

3. Jesus chose disciples from a pool of sinners - pretty much what we do. But he didn't leave them that way. As John Calvin put it, his disciples and his relationship with them was a living example of 1 Corinthians 1:26-29, "for consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God."

Jesus (God) chose sinners to become his disciples, people like tax collectors, instead of the pharisees and keepers of the law. He did this to show his power and to bring himself glory. A Christian who only hangs out with those to live as enemies to the Cross is not being like Christ, but walking in compromise. We are called to love sinner - everyone. To meet needs, to care for the least. But we have to walk wisely with who we allow as fixtures in our lives.

Let's be careful that we walk in purity, and in sanctity, and that we set our eyes on Christ. Let us be diligent in our choices and that we would not walk in compromise. It's not about legalism, but about honoring a Holy God and the precious sacrifice of Christ. We have to pay attention to the movies, the music, the people, the books, and everything else that influences our hearts.

Let's try to stop eating poop in our pique...