Baking

I have been enjoying another episode of 'The Great British Bake-Off' this evening.  It was another tense round of delicious baked goods.  This week: crackers, chocolate teacakes and gingerbread 'constructions'.

 

The gingerbread 'houses' were particularly impressive: Buckingham Palace, a Roman Colosseum and Big Ben to name just a few. 

 

However, what really caught my attention was the crackers.

 

There was a lot of discussion and deliberation about whether or not yeast should be used in the dough.  Contestants were undecided about whether or not to add it, because it would make the dough rise and would perhaps prevent their crackers from achieving a distinctive 'crack' when snapped.

 

Because yeast changes things.

 

Mark Greene writes in 'Imagine' -

 

"Christ's transforming Spirit is intended not only to affect everything we do but all our being - mind, body, emotions, will, spirit - like yeast pervading the whole loaf.  whole-loaf Christianity rejoices in the senses [...] Whole-loaf, whole-life Christianity is honest, open, vulnerable.  It does not censor the agony of broken relationships, the bewilderment of unanswered questions, the struggle of work, the scandal of death, the impact of evil on ourselves or those around us.  In sum, whole-loaf, whole-life Christianity embraces the wonders and griefs of humanity in all its fullness in God's world."

 

Later on, he writes,

 

"The parable of the yeast adds another vital dimension: 'The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all the way through the dough.'  Yeast not only pervades the dough, yeast transforms it into something much tastier and much more satisfying - into bread." [emphasis mine]

 

When we encounter Jesus, we encounter something - someone - who changes us.  Someone who transforms us through the work of His Spirit.  Someone who transforms us into something better.

 

Paul describes the transforming work of the Holy Spirit like this -

 

"He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard - things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity.  We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people.  We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely."

[Galatians 5:22-23 MSG]
 

 

This is the kind of transforming 'yeast' I want working through every area of my life.

 

 

 

4 Degrees

I heard on the radio the other day that with the advent of Facebook and Twitter and other social media, there are now only 4 degrees of separation between everyone on the planet.

4 degrees.

I know someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows me.*

But what does it really mean to 'know' someone?  Is it enough to simply know their name?  And does that really make us 'friends'? 

In his book "The Best Idea in the World", Mark Greene writes,

"We are globally wired, but relationally disconnected, touched a million times a day but rarely embraced."

The internet and modern mobile phone technology have changed the face of our relationships: we send texts and emails instead of talking on the phone or meeting face to face; we communicate with people through 140 characters or less instead of engaging in extended conversations; we ‘follow’ people, whether they want us to or not (which, in 'real life' would perhaps be classed as stalking ...).  On Facebook, we can 'become' friends with someone instantly: we meet them at a party or at church or through a friend of a friend and that same day we become 'friends'.

We are in danger of reducing the meaning and value of friendship.  People become commodities to acquire rather than valuable image-bearers of God to love and to serve.**

Jesus set the example for our friendships by modelling the kind of love He wanted us to have for each other:

This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you.  This is the very best way to love.  Put your life on the line for your friends.  You are my friends when you do the things I command you.  I'm no longer calling you servants because servants don't understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I've named you friends because I've let you in on everything I've heard from the Father."

[John 15:12-15 MSG emphasis mine]

In stark contrast to a society which collects 'friends' like Pokémon, Jesus calls us to genuine, deep spirited friendship.  The kind of friendship which spends time getting to know someone, which values their individuality and loves them.  A friendship which wants the best for them, even at the expense of ourselves.  A friendship which is modelled on Christ's self-sacrificial love for us.

In Philippians, Paul writes,

If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favour: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends.  Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top.  Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead.  Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage.  Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.

        [Philippians 2:1-4 MSG] 

If Facebook had a 'Friend Clause' - by clicking 'Add Friend' you are committing to put yourself aside and put this person first - I wonder how many 'Friends' I would have.  And how many I would add.

* I may well have missed out a link here; maths is not my strong point.

** Don't get me wrong: I use both Facebook and Twitter daily and am not criticising them in and of themselves; I think they are brilliant tools for staying in touch with people.  However, I think there is a tendency to mistake online communications for real connections, which leaves both us and others dissatisfied.