Idoburgers for Jesus

[Marv]

Let's say an old high-school bud of yours has just been made high priest of Zeus in the local temple of same.  He says to you for old times' sake he would like to pass on to you a supply of primo beef, left over from some of the religious stuff they do inside.  They have more than they know what to do with, and I bet you can find a use for it.  So he lets you have a bunch, gratis.

 

So, given that highly relevant scenario, would any of the following present for you an ethico- theologico- moral problem (in progressive order of complication)?

 

(a) You wake up in the middle of the night with a fabulous idea.  You can provide burgers for the local Little League games, free of charge, as an evangelistic outreach.  How can you turn down the opportunity to reach all those kids for Christ? No point in mentioning where the meat came from.

 

(b) Now add to the scenario that you do in fact, in full disclosure, make perfectly clear that this beef was provided by a pagan temple.  All the better as you are now redeeming it for Christ.  Is it a problem that you are inviting people to knowingly consume meat sacrificed to idols while listening to a gospel presentation?

 

(c) Next, lets escalate matters and say that you like the idea so much, you want to replicate it in a wider area.  So you publicize your method in, oh I don't know, Christianity Today or you-fill-in-the-blank publication.  So now not only may you personally consume it, you provide it to others, you have them consume MSTI knowingly, you persuade others to do the same.  Are we seeing any trouble yet?

 

(d) Finally, you subtly but unmistakably come down on folk who aren't too sure about your plan.  WWJD?  Would Jesus stay at home and miss the opportunity to touch all those youngsters for Christ simply because of that ol' mid-20th century American Evangelical thing about idols being a front for.... the DEVIL!!! (Ooooh!)?  How ironic that those who claim fervor for the gospel will refuse to light the fire (of the grill).  So those who say no to Burgers4Gsus are in fact being unChristlike.

 

Any thougts?

[Marv]

"Of course, I am not 100 percent sure I comprehend the mind of Marv. "

You and me both, brother...

Maybe it has something to do with the following slightly timely posts, including the comment stream, where someone claiming to be me, as I often do myself, has been shooting his mouth off...

Jesus with his lights turned out...

Dr. Mark Young on the Celebration of you know what

And Dan B. Wallace on the same

Where it's been suggested that this is in the category of MSTI. So it's all good...



James Gibbons said:

D. I could be wrong. But I think our brother is drawing a comparison to ends-justify-the-means approaches to evangelism. So, it is relevant.

Of course, I am not 100 percent sure I comprehend the mind of Marv. Char assures me that he is evil, and that every word he says is a lie. So, there’s that.



Apolojedi (Daniel Eaton) said:

The whole discussion on this topic is one of those examples that would just make my wife roll her eyes and ask what does it matter. So, just in case anyone asks, is there relevance today? Are there any foods at all that are off limits because of where/how they were killed/processed/grown? Are there any places where one can go eat today that is culturally equivalent to going to a pagan temple and partaking in their feasts because the food is cheap?

Daniel

[Marv]

Char is my Doppelgänger.


Rey Reynoso said:

I knew that was coming. I had a personal bet made on Char doing it first but I knew it.

[James Gibbons]

Be careful what you say about char. She is listening, you know.



Marv said:

Char is my Doppelgänger.


Rey Reynoso said:

I knew that was coming. I had a personal bet made on Char doing it first but I knew it.

[Char]

Have idoburgers caused you such trauma as to send you into a psychotic break with reality or something?


Marv said:

Char is my Doppelgänger.

[Marv]

Yes.


Char said:

Have idoburgers caused you such trauma as to send you into a psychotic break with reality or something?


Marv said:

Char is my Doppelgänger.

[Daniel]

Marv said:

Char is my Doppelgänger.

Come to think of it, I've never seen both of your together. :)

Daniel

[Char]

I do not now nor have I ever owned a "together".

[Marv]

Well, actually about 18 mos ago, I saw a young lady in the Dallas airport who, it crossed my mind could have been Char. She didn't recognize me because (a) in the first place it wasn't she, and (b) because Char doesn't have the slightest idea what I look like.


Char said:

I do not now nor have I ever owned a "together".

[Steve]

Apolojedi (Daniel Eaton) said:

I wonder if Christ questioned the pedigree and processing of dinner when he sat down to eat with the prostitutes and tax collectors and other "unclean" of the day.... Hmmmm..... Or would that be Yummmmm.....

Daniel

Probably not, considering that His apostle recommended (commanded) the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy as far as the "when you sit down to eat" topic goes.

Then again, He wouldn't have had to ask, would He? :)

[Daniel]

Steve said:

Then again, He wouldn't have had to ask, would He? :)

Why not? He had to travel there, didn't he?

Daniel

[Char]

You keep thinking that Marv. You keep thinking that.

*Slides back into shadows*

Marv said:

Well, actually about 18 mos ago, I saw a young lady in the Dallas airport who, it crossed my mind could have been Char. She didn't recognize me because (a) in the first place it wasn't she, and (b) because Char doesn't have the slightest idea what I look like.

[Raquel]

Didn't the little birdy tell you? Some say he actually used a transporter. But that counts as traveling, doesn't it?


Apolojedi (Daniel Eaton) said:

Steve said:

Then again, He wouldn't have had to ask, would He? :)

Why not? He had to travel there, didn't he?

Daniel