I just love Sloppy Joes. Do you?
There are a number of ways to make them. Here’s just one that I found on the Internet.
Take a couple pounds of 93% lean hamburger, and mix in some onion, catsup, brown sugar, garlic, green pepper, salt, ground black pepper, mustard, and (if you really want to make it interesting) a partridge in a pear tree.
Just kidding on the last part.
For the specifics, you can click on this link – http://m.allrecipes.com/recipe/24264/sloppy-joes-ii/
Yes indeed. I love Sloppy Joes.
Maybe I should put it a different way. I like what I call Sloppy Joes.
I may not like what YOU refer to as Sloppy Joe’s. It depends on what you put in them.
Or, the amount of mustard you squirt into the mix. Mustard. Yuck and gag!
By now you’re probably wondering what the title, Sloppy Joe Christians, has to do with anything you’d slap between two slices of bread. Right?
Just this. When you or someone you know is preparing something to eat, something such as Sloppy Joes, following the recipe is somewhat essential, but not entirely.
What do I mean?
Recipes can be altered to one’s preferred taste. More salt, less brown sugar, leave the mustard out (my preference); there are probably hundreds of variations possible just by simply making it to suit one’s particular taste buds.
And yet the sandwich is still called a Sloppy Joe.
So what’s a Sloppy Joe Christian?
It’s someone who takes the main ingredients and alters them to suit their particular taste.
However, I don’t believe God’s Word was ever designed to be treated as just an old recipe book.
He said what He meant, and meant what He said.
Sin is evil. Evil is sin.
Disciples of Jesus walk, talk, and believe like Jesus; at least they’re trying to, with God’s help.
God’s grace was never intended to be a license to live any old way we choose without repercussions. It was never meant to be like some herbicide that eradicates the tares we sow into our lives.
Yes, His mercy endures forever, but so does His word. Jesus said:
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” (Matthew 24:35 ESV)
The Apostle Paul wrote:
“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” (Galatians 6:7-8 ESV)
Of course, everyone has the right to believe anything they want. No argument there.
But when it comes right down to it, there’s only one way to walk with God.
His way.
Read the Bible. All of it. You’ll discover He’s very clear about what we should believe, and what we shouldn’t.
Like I said, if you’re making a sandwich, then make one YOU’LL enjoy eating.
But if you’re going to call yourself a Christian, please stick to God’s word.
That’s one thing that’s not been left up to our discretion, preference, or “spiritual taste buds”.
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 ESV)
Jan Grace 