Spiritual Toadstools
Shared by Patricia Backora, author of the book
Tough Love in Christ's Millennium
Which you can order online from: http://www.publishamerica.com
Romans 8:1-2; Gal. 1:6-9
A certain couple sallied forth into the woods to collect mushrooms for supper. The husband was a stubborn fellow, too proud to take advice from his wife, for he thought he knew everything about mushroom hunting. The wife was a more prudent person, willing to wait until she was certain she’d found the genuine article.
The man spied some pretty fungi beneath a tree. Swayed solely by their appearance, he picked a few and tossed them in his basket.
“Leave them alone,” said his wife. “I just know they’re poisonous!”
“No,’ said the man, “these are rare morels. You can’t get them at the supermarket.”
“Well, I’d rather stick with mushrooms I know for sure to be safe,” the woman said, “and I’d rather do without than risk poisoning.”
“Not me!” said her husband. “I didn’t come all the way out here for nothing. We’ve been out here for an hour and I’m not going home without any mushrooms.”
“Harry, please,” she begged. “Really, it’s just not worth the risk.”
But he refused to heed her warning. He argued that the fungi were so beautiful they couldn’t possibly be harmful, and it would be a waste not to eat them. That night, he cooked them up and ate them over her protestations. He ended up being driven to the hospital to get his stomach pumped. Harry lived, but he was mighty sick for several days.
Lots of my children swallow religious teaching that appears breathtakingly beautiful, deeply stirring a person’s religious sentiment. It might even be flashy and exciting, such as the get-rich-quick gospel. Or it might be on the opposite spectrum and lay heavy emphasis on denying the flesh and asceticism to gain points with Me. Either way, it is harmful and often deadly to your faith. Satan often appears in gorgeous religious robes to get you to veer off the Narrow Way to Life, faith in Christ and Him Crucified.
