Tasteless
I overheard a gentleman ordering his drink at a local restaurant last week. He told the waitress, “Coke or Pepsi, it’s all the same to me.”
I understand your disbelief. I, myself, was indeed shocked. I began searching for pods, evidence of alien abduction, or body snatching. I started looking for the hidden cameras, wondering if this was all some sort of prank. Could some sick individual think up something so loathing to compare Coke and Pepsi as the same?
In my experience, you are either a Coke person or a Pepsi person. There are those who do not drink either, although a few in this category can be eliminated due to their preference for RC or Dr. Pepper (usually while wearing their polyester suits and platform shoes).
There are also the Faygo drinkers, but those are usually Soccer Moms with minivans loaded to capacity (and cooler full of Faygo), Joe Plumber just buying an off brand because he is over-taxed, or Alaskan Governors.
While some may stick to the clear colas or beverages, there are clearly two camps when it comes to the premium soft drinks: Coke and Pepsi. To imagine pitching a tent in both camps with no partiality is foreign and alien to the American way. When I heard this gentleman ordering with no preference, I naturally assumed he was a terrorist.
This is where I must stop the spinning wheel in my head tossing the conspiracy theories around and suspecting everyone of some heinous crime or forbidden deed. All I heard was a single comment, one phrase made in passing to a waitress and I am ready to string this innocent man up in the gallows. Time to go back to the Scriptures, huh?
I am reminded of what Paul told the Galatians in his letter to them. Galatians 3:26-29 records his call to them to be in unity, seeking their commonality and not focusing on their differences. He writes, “You are all [children] of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
When Paul mentions “clothed… with Christ”, he is using imagery in the language to reference similarities in the sentiments, mannerisms, and traits of Jesus. To be clothed with Christ is to take on His character, especially in dealing with others.
The critical aspect of his message is all who accept Jesus and recognize God stand on common ground and share in the Lord’s blessings. Paul uses the word “Greek” to represent all gentiles, or non-Jews, emphasizing there is no favoritism on the account of birth, beauty, or blood. We are all on the same level, entitled to the same privileges as God’s adopted children.
He also refers to this unity in Ephesians 4:3-6 with, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called, one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
Paul implies such unity is only possible through the Spirit of the Lord and encourages us to “Make every effort…” in seeking this unity. We are the ones severing the “bond of peace” when we naturally fall into discord with one other or seek to focus on our differences. We obstruct the Lord and inhibit Him from moving in our lives when we act against His Word, whether naturally or intentionally.
I find it natural to assume anyone who thinks Coke and Pepsi are the same to be a terrorist, though this is a crushing opinion. To accept this way of thinking is wrong and against the Word of God. This man, though severely lacking any taste whatsoever, is still God’s creation and loved by the Lord. We should find unity in what is essential in our lives, embrace diversity in everything non-essential, and show compassion in everything else.
This is the Real Thing, the Right one, and withstands the Challenge.
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Glenn Sasscer
www.glennsasscer.com
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