When I first saw the recipe, I said, "No way. They forgot the flour, at least." But then I read the recipe itself and right there in the text was the statement, "No. I did not forget the flour." Then, and only then, did I try them. They remain to this day, the only peanut butter cookie I make. I have a few other cookie recipes where peanut butter is an ingredient, but none other where the peanut butter is the star. And I am here to tell you: it works!
A lot of folks seemed to think that God got the recipe wrong too. Seeing that Jews ask for signs, and Greeks seek after wisdom: but we preach Christ crucified, unto Jews a stumblingblock, and unto Gentiles foolishness; but unto them that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. (1Cor 1:22-24)
God becoming man was unthinkable. The Creator dying on a cross at the hand of his creation was ridiculous to even contemplate. A kingdom "not of this world" became, and still seems to be, a bone of contention for the religious world. The kingdom must be a physical kingdom here on this earth, the same problem the Jews had, and even the apostles at the beginning. The pure and simple gospel of a risen Savior and a spiritual kingdom just can't work, the world continues to say.
And the pure and simple kingdom, the church, is no longer relevant in a complicated world, they maintain. So they add things God never seemed to think of, believing they are improving things. They change the structure and even the mission of the Lord's body because they know better—better than God does, evidently.
And yet I have continued to see God's way work just fine my whole life. I grew up in the arms of parents who carried me to an assembly of the Lord's people every time the doors were opened, who taught me the way at home, and who showed me with their lives what it meant to be a part of that kingdom—a pure and simple kingdom run the same way it did when it began two thousand years ago. I know it works, firsthand. The people I worship with today know it works. We see it all around us. And as we grow and make new disciples, we see their amazement at the simplicity of the gospel, and watch while they learn what should be obvious to everyone who even claims to be a believer: God knows what He is doing. He doesn't need our new-fangled notions and the arrogance that thinks it is wiser than the Creator of us all.
The simple purity of a life and worship ordained by the authority of the Word of God and the approved example of first century believers instead of the think-sos of men will thrill your soul. It may be unbelievable at first, but if you stick with the recipe, it will all hold together and you will finally believe.
For the word of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us who are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the discernment of the discerning will I bring to nought. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (1Cor 1:18,19,25)
For the recipe accompanying this post, click > Dene's Recipes page
Dene Ward