The Great British Baking Show

 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

                           Philippians 2:3-4

Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment

                           1 Corinthians 1:10

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

                           Colossians 3:14

I know that I am tremendously late to the game, but I’ve started watching The Great British Baking Show on Netflix. I don’t watch a whole lot of reality television, so I’m not really in the best position to judge it against the whole of reality television, but I absolutely love this show. It could be that I’m fascinated by the lilt of the British dialects and the way they pronounce oregano as “or-eh-GONE-o” or basil as “BAZZ-el” or the “h” in the word herb or the seemingly delectable and magnificent-looking pies, breads, and pastries they create despite a ridiculous time limit. Actually, it’s both of those things and more, but I’ve recently realized what exactly it is that makes me love this show so much: the way the contestants and the judges & hosts seem to genuinely care for each other. If you’re unfamiliar with the show, let me bring you up to speed: 12-13 amateur bakers are competing for the prestige of being named Star Baker each week, culminating in winning the competition at the end of the series. Each show consists of the bakers having to bake three different recipes, and alas, one baker is eliminated each week. In most of the episodes, it’s not a surprise to the one who is not asked to return, because they know how well they did based on the feedback from the judges. The thing that just touches my heart is that right after the host announces the baker who will be leaving them, the two female hosts, the two judges, and the rest of the bakers all surround that person and just love on him or her. Tears are shed, not just by the person going home, but also by some of the remaining bakers, for genuine sadness at that person’s impending departure. There is an authentic sense of caring for all involved, and I have to admit that it’s quite refreshing.

I’ve also seen instances in which the bakers are helping each other out. Mind you, they are competing against each other for the title of UK’s Best Baker, but I’ve watched a baker help a younger baker plate her pastries because of an earlier baking debacle; I’ve seen two bakers help another get his cake out of a very sticky pan. There is sincerity in their willingness to help, and a humility in the recipient of the weekly Star Baker award. (Mind you, I’m only into the second season, so future seasons may show something completely different, but I’m betting they won’t).

There is something to be said in the unity that comes from having going through such a shared experience as a televised baking competition, with its ridiculous time constraints applied to technically difficult challenges designed to test the skill of each person. Common experiences such as these produce a camaraderie that most would not understand. This can create a bond and an empathy that can help sustain each person during their challenging trials.

Similarly, as believers, we can experience the same thing. (Wait, am I actually comparing the life of Christ’s followers to the Great British Baking Show? No, silly, I am not). As believers, we are each a child of the Living God, of the body of Christ, and recipients of the greatest gift ever conceived: that of eternal life and with it, the surety of never living this temporary life alone. Because we are in His family, bought with His blood, we have His Spirit working in us to mold and temper us into having the mind of Christ. We have the same commands from Jesus, and as such, the same goal. Proverbially, we are on the same team.

It is concerning to me when I hear of divisions in the Church. Internal denominational squabbles are punchlines in clean humorists’ jokes—tiffs about the color of the carpet in the sanctuary, the placement of the pastors’ parking spaces in the church parking lot, and the strength of the coffee, to name a few. The thing is, though, is that I daresay that each of you nodded in uncomfortable understanding to at least one of those things I just listed. Add to those squabbles some of the latest Church struggles – to have both in-person and livestreaming worship services; to allow the ordination of homosexual pastors; traditional versus contemporary services; and the list goes on—and you have an opportunity ripe for the enemy to do a “slip and stir”—he slips in through a crack in the church’s armor caused by a slight disagreement over the length of the church service or how songs are sung and then stirs things up in other areas, and pretty soon there are people truly upset with their brother or sister in Christ and a rift setting in. Because it’s human nature to choose sides, what starts as a crack grows into a crevice which could grow into a chasm.

Friends, this year has been tough on all of us, worldwide. There is a plethora of stressors threatening to overwhelm even the most spiritually mature and disciplined of us. I am not meaning to be alarmist, I promise. I am speaking about the Church universal—the body of Christ right now. Now, more than ever I’d say, we need to remember and act on the greatest commandments—to love God with our whole heart, soul, and mind and to love your neighbor as yourself. Focusing on these commandments on a personal and individual note will enable us to be united as a church and as the Church, of one accord. As the bonds of unity are strengthened, we are able to withstand both the overt and the stealth attacks from the enemy.

The world is watching. May they see Jesus in us.

Prayer Requests

·      For Gina Sheftall’s surgery this week

·      For Grace, the four-year-old daughter of Cynthia Wilkerson’s former nurse, for her recovery from surgery to remove cancerous lymph nodes and her tonsils. She will continue to need prayers as she has a malignant brain tumor, the course of treatment for which has yet to be determined

·      For those family members and friends stricken with COVID—Jack’s sister and brother-in-law, Witt Mitchum, and others

·      For us to continue to seek His will and direction for His church

Friends, we take heart because we know that the enemy has been and is defeated. We must remain vigilant, though, for we are not immune to his attacks. Let us seek to fully understand, support, and love each other as He has called us to do. He will honor this sacrifice, and He will be glorified in it.

Quotes

“Your most powerful testimony is how you treat others after the church service is over."

“It’s easy to judge. It’s more difficult to understand. Understanding requires compassion, patience, and a willingness to believe that good hearts sometimes choose poor methods.”