Variety
In the 1994 Merrian-Webster Dictionary, "Variety" is defined as "the state of
being varied...diversity." I know I risk the charge of being negative, or
putting myself against the old adage: "Variety is the spice of life," but I
often find variety to be a cause of personal irritation. I'm convinced, in
regard to some things - variety has no inherent value.
I remember when Doritos chips first came out (not that long ago!). I used them
to transport melted Velveeta Cheese (with Ro-tel Tomatoes) into my mouth. They
were tasty (if not nutritious) and perfectly functional for the purpose of
getting the cheese dip to its' destination. It was a simple task in those day to
visit the Grocery store, go to the chips/snacks section and pick up a bag of
Doritos. Have you done that lately? Today there is Nacho-Cheese Doritos, Ranch
Doritos, Tangy Nacho-Cheese, Onion Doritos, Green (Avocado) Doritos and Jalapeņo
Doritos. Sometimes the inventory doesn't even include plain Doritos chips. An
outrage!
To fuel my irritation, I checked this "spice of life" the other day and found:
Eight kinds of Yogurt, five varieties of Oreo cookies, eight different kinds of
canned tomatoes, two different lengths of hot dogs, and five different grains of
flour! I didn't have time to visit the pudding or deodorant sections.
Whatever happened to plain old stuff? The answer is, the competitive demands of
the market place. This celebrated diversity I find so irritating may amuse you.
But there is a serious point I'm headed for.
The same demand for diversity has taken over the world of religion. Diversity is
distinguished above substance. Variety is sought, at the expense of truth.
What if you took the Bible, read it and followed it? Just let God tell you what
to believe, teach and practice. Learn of His Son who died for you, and respond
to Him just as instructed by His apostles. I know the concept of one right
religion is militantly protested in our culture. But the simple truth is, God
has gone to tremendous lengths to make Himself and His will known to us. Don't
you think He expects us to respond?
Finally, all of this stress on variety in religion takes on an extremely serious
tone when you consider the New Testament view of variety.
"Do not be carried about with various and strange
doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods
which have not profited those who have been occupied with them." Hebrews
13:6.
By Warren E. Berkley
Front Page
From Expository Files 10.1; January 2003
