Picky Pete is another character from the book in the table manners section. He is the child who will only eat about 5 things—if you are lucky—and it must be the correct brand prepared in the correct way or it doesn't count. If you have a Picky Pete—and I did—you must eventually teach him to gratefully accept what is placed before him. Unless he has a certifiable illness or allergy, it is rude not to. In the first place, someone has worked long and hard to prepare that meal. In the second, and most important, God has provided it, and that is the only reason he is not starving. (But parents, cleaning your plate is not predicated on the children in China, okay?)
We had a rule in our house. You try everything once. And if you ever say, "Yuk!" (or "Eeew" or any other such word of disgust) you have to eat a double serving. At least I was never embarrassed at someone else's house that way, and they did discover that some things they thought might be awful actually tasted pretty good.
The problem with Picky Pete is that the more he is catered to, the worse he gets. And when he grows up, it will show in ways that are much more of a problem.
Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. (2Tim 2:14 )
Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. (2Tim 2:23 )
As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. (1Tim 1:3,4 )
Pay special attention to that last one. Folks, we are not talking about doctrine. God expects exact obedience. You cannot honestly study the whole Bible and come up with any other conclusion. But some things are just not worth bringing up, especially in a mixed group of beginners and older Christians. They will cause more confusion than clarity. And you know exactly what I am talking about. Picky Pete loves these things, and he doesn't care whose faith he ruins, just so he can get a good argument going. Wise, considerate people who enjoy discussing those trickier things, and whose faith is mature enough to handle it, know that is it better to get together privately to do so.
Picky Pete is not about details—God expects us to faithfully follow the pattern. No, Picky Pete is about causing a ruckus regardless the collateral damage.
He is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth... 1 Tim 6:4,5
Dene Ward
We had a rule in our house. You try everything once. And if you ever say, "Yuk!" (or "Eeew" or any other such word of disgust) you have to eat a double serving. At least I was never embarrassed at someone else's house that way, and they did discover that some things they thought might be awful actually tasted pretty good.
The problem with Picky Pete is that the more he is catered to, the worse he gets. And when he grows up, it will show in ways that are much more of a problem.
Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. (2Tim 2:14 )
Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. (2Tim 2:23 )
As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. (1Tim 1:3,4 )
Pay special attention to that last one. Folks, we are not talking about doctrine. God expects exact obedience. You cannot honestly study the whole Bible and come up with any other conclusion. But some things are just not worth bringing up, especially in a mixed group of beginners and older Christians. They will cause more confusion than clarity. And you know exactly what I am talking about. Picky Pete loves these things, and he doesn't care whose faith he ruins, just so he can get a good argument going. Wise, considerate people who enjoy discussing those trickier things, and whose faith is mature enough to handle it, know that is it better to get together privately to do so.
Picky Pete is not about details—God expects us to faithfully follow the pattern. No, Picky Pete is about causing a ruckus regardless the collateral damage.
He is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth... 1 Tim 6:4,5
Dene Ward
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