The Truth Is Like A Big-Mac

We as Christians have the responsibility to teach others and teach them the truth. Sometimes the truth is too hard to take for some people, and sometimes it has to be presented in an understandable way. Several years ago I was asked to prepare a sermon on how to explain the church to someone unfamiliar with the Bible. My mind began to wander and I eventually was struck with the following thoughts. I have revised this sermon over the years to be more effective.

There is nothing wrong to try to explain the truth is a language that can be understood. Providing that you do not add to it or leave things out. We in our day will make comparisons of the things that people know about. After all, Jesus used the same method.

Mark 4:2 (NKJV) "Then He taught them many things by parables, and said to them in His teaching:"

Mark 12:1 (NKJV) "Then He began to speak to them in parables: ..."

Mark 4:33 (NKJV) "And with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it."

Matthew 13:10 (NKJV) "And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?"

Mark 4:13 (NKJV) "And He said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?"

Matthew 13:13 (NKJV) "Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand."

Mark 4:11 (NKJV) "And He said to them, "To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables,"

Matthew 13:34,35 (NKJV) "All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, {35} that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: "I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world."

Matthew 21:45 (NKJV) "Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them."

Mark 4:34 (NKJV) "But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples."

Most parables were stories with moral implications. Occasionally it would be a comparison type of parable to describe something of the truth or the kingdom. How can you describe something that is spiritual to one who only sees the physical. This applies to all of us.

Some people would only hear and interesting story being told by a great teacher. Others would perceive that there was a moral to the story, but could not figure it out. Now that we have been enlightened by God's whole truth, we can understand what He was trying to tell us.

Luke 8:11 (NKJV) "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God."

Matthew 22:2 (NKJV) "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son,"

The Bible was written to reveal God and instruct us in righteousness.

As christians, we all have the responsibility to teach and bear fruit for the Master.

John 15:2 (NKJV) "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit."

Luke 8:15 (NKJV) "But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience."

The Truth is the most important element when it comes to serving God. Many religions will want to change it or add to it or leave certain elements out. All this does not take away the Truth of God. It only serves to judge them.

1 Samuel 12:24 (NKJV) "Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you."

1 Kings 17:24 (NKJV) "Then the woman said to Elijah, "Now by this I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is the truth."

A miracle had just been performed. The miracle was given to confirm that the message given by this one has divine orgins and approval.

Psalms 25:5 (NKJV) "Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day."

Psalms 25:10 (NKJV)All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth, To such as keep His covenant and His testimonies.

Psalms 33:4 (NKJV) "For the word of the LORD is right, And all His work is done in truth."

Psalms 100:5 (NKJV) "For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations."

Psalms 119:142 (NKJV) "Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And Your law is truth."

Psalms 119:151 (NKJV) "You are near, O LORD, And all Your commandments are truth."

Psalms 119:160 (NKJV) "The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever."

Proverbs 23:23 (NKJV) "Buy the truth, and do not sell it, Also wisdom and instruction and understanding."

John 1:14 (NKJV) "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."

John 1:17 (NKJV) "For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ."

John 4:23-24 (NKJV)"But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

John 8:32 (NKJV) "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

John 14:6 (NKJV) "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

John 16:13 (NKJV) "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

John 17:17 (NKJV) "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth."

John 18:38 (NKJV) "Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?".....

As the questions goes, we must now attempt to answer it in a language that would be appropiate and understandable by todays people. Jesus usually spoke in terms of agriculture or fishing which those people would understand. Let's modernize it a little and bring it closer to home.

The Truth is Like a Big-Mac.

Now you are probally thinking that this guy is gone bonkers. But wait a few minutes before you pass judgement. Let's see where he's coming from. These comparisons just might suprise you.

1. You know where not to find it. Courthouse, Grocery store, Convention center, Church. You would find something in the place that it is supposed to be.

2. You know where to find it. All over the world there is but one place to get the Big-Mac that we are talking about. McDonalds. Not at Wendy's, Burger King, Subway, Luby's, Steak & Ale, Luthers, China Palace, or Taco-Bell. Only at McDonalds.

Food you find in a restaurant. ----- Truth you find in a church.

As you can not find a Big-Mac in just any restaurant, you cannot find the truth in just any church.

You can only find it in the church that serves it.

How can you you get it?

Matthew 7:7 (NKJV) "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

3. You ask for it by name. Big-Mac

4. It has the right ingredients. The whole world knows the ingredients of the Big-Mac.

2ABPSSLCOPOASSB

When you order it, that is what you get.

When you ask for the truth, you open the Bible. The word of God. His word is Truth.

Someone might go in and ask for a Big-mac but add tomatoes or take off the pickles or use mustard instead of the special sauce.

People usually treat the truth this way, They do not like it in its purity, so they take away, add to, or change the ingredients.

If you want it some way other than what it is, go to Burger-King where you can "have it your way". The bible warns us to take the word as it is, without compromise.

When you change the ingredients, it becomes just another sandwich or in our spiritual application, another doctrine.

Many people are ignorant of what the Bible contains. Last year when the Big-Mac was twenty-five years old, they ran a series of commercials. Charles Barkley said. ....Two pickle patties......er...um..

Many who are ignorant of scripture still try to explain it, and they do such a poor job.

2 Timothy 3:16 (NKJV) "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."

5. Many people do not like Big-Macs the same as many do not like the truth.

6. When you find it you are satisfied (usually). You are filled. One's a meal, unless you are some sort of pig.

7. One helping is not enough for sustenance of life. You must constantly receive nourishment in order to live, so you need to go back for more or find nourishment of other sorts, continually.

One helping of the truth is not enough for sustenance of spiritual life, you must constantly receive spiritual nourishment in order to spiritually live.

8. Reward or Punishment---depending on how you like it. Many people enjoy it, they would not have sold billions had people not liked it. McDonalds tried other sandwiches and discontinued them because they did not sell, Some people do not like it.

The truth is enjoyable to some and hard to swallow for others. As Jesus taught, the one's who enjoy it are far fewer than those who despise it. Matt 7:13-14.

9. The Big-Mac is simple and detailed at the same time. The most simple way to look at a Big-mac is that it is food. You could dig deeper and know the ingredients, and you could even scientifically examine to see the individual ingredients and their origins and characteristics. A pathologist could examine a piece of meat and tell where it came from. A biologist could tell where the onions and lettuce came from and so forth. Even the wheat to make bread can be examined.

10. In order to receive it, you must make a sacrifice. You must pay for it. $1.89 now. Sometimes it is $.99. In order to receive the truth, we must make some sacrifice. We must give up or change our feelings, emotions, and in many cases, our lifestyle when we are exposed to the truth and accept it.

There are other comparisons that could be made as well. You could compare the Church to McDonalds in several ways. Each has:

a name,

a founder,

a mission,

an owner,

a government that makes rules and laws,

a service and reward,

and so forth.

We must be mindful of what God has done for us and know how to explain to others about salvation and the importance of the Truth.

In order for the truth to be effective for an individual, they must accept it as it is and without compromise. You can use this method to teach one in this manner and not be guilty of blasphemy or disrespect. This method could also be easy to remember.

But remember there is no substitute for the real thing. The Bible. The Word of God.

by Carey Scott

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