Condiments

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Category: Teachings & Articles
Published: Tuesday, 26 February 2019 01:06
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CONDIMENTS

By Augusto A. Kho

Chowking, Aurora Blvd., Cubao, Quezon City

February 01, 2019 (Friday); 9:55 A.M.

Rewritten February 23, 2019 (Saturday): 4:15 P.M.

 

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I asked chili paste from a service crew and I was provided with such a very, very little condiment that pretty much belittling and discouraging. I asked for another one and yetas if nothing has been added unto it.

 

Thenthe Chow King advertisement caught my eyes that is posted on the wall that says “Chinese cook.” And how true would that be?

 

From there I asked this question, “Is it your cook today a Chinese or a Filipino?” Ms. Messy, the Store Managerwas wondering. She answered back, ‘’Filipino po. Why po?’’

 

I answered back, ‘’Because I asked your service crew for chili paste and he just given me such a very little one. Is it not your company is one of the top 10 richest in the country? Yet why you’re treating your customer like servile people? “”

 

She explained, “The company has certain standard in providing condiments.”

 

I said, “What standard? Forthe top 10 richest corporation in the Philippinesfor providing your clients for such a meager condiments? That’s very insulting.”

 

I defended, “If you have standard why did you put in your advertisement “Chinese cook and you said your today’s chef is not a Chinese but Pilipino, is it not fraud or false advertisement? How could your company as one among the richest in the country gives false advertisement, would that be your standard?”Speechless for a while, Miss Messy said she would bring up my concern in the management meeting in the future.

 

What is a standard by the way?

 

 

Standard Defined

A standard is a level of quality, achievement and others that is considered acceptable or desirable. It is ideas about morally correct and acceptable in behavior or it is something that isvery good and that is used to make judgment about the quality of other things (Merriam-Webster).

 

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A standard

A standard is being provided in various ways to ensure truth, righteousness and justice. It could be in the form of weighing scale or Republic Act 6713 also known as Code of Professional Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees under the 1987 Philippine Constitution or the Holy Scriptures. Even the Filipino physicians has a certain Ethical Standards as well. The same is true to pastors or bishops as Paul mentioned in Titus 1:6-9.


If there is no standard then something out there will surely go wrong.

 

It not only the Rule of Law or the 1987 Philippine Constitution if not the Natural Science inscribed on wonderful nature of God what should be applied in terms of standard or just procedures. The Holy Scriptures writes standards on what is right and wrong as well. The psalmist, and also a king, David said in regards to the Holy Book, “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple, “ (Psalm 19:7-10 NKJV). And the word “perfect” in referring the Word of God is defined in Hebrew word “tamiym” as “complete” or “in accord with truth and fact.”

 

No greater standard or measurement is as consistent and truthful other than the Bible, that comes out from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:;4).

 

Now, let us go back to condiment, like the measly chili paste being served by this branded and owned by Philippines Top 10 Richest according to Forbes, a super-richyet stingyfast-food chain. Chow King raked a reported P2.225billion net income for the second quarter of 2018 (as reported by ABS-CBN News which is being posted last August 14, 2018 at 01:55 PM.

 

 

Condiments

What is condiment? Condiment is something (such as a salt, mustard, or ketchup) that is added to food to give it more flavor. Condiment according to Webster is something used to enhance the flavor of food; specially a pungent seasoning. In other words any food that has a flat taste needs flavoring to make it more delicious.

 

 

Unsalted or salted

Due to the increasing number of people suffering from kidney ailment, dieticians and physicians recommend their clients or patient to avoid salty food as much as possible. Other prefer salted while others prefer the unsalted ones. While other Christians are salted ones, others are not.

 

 

The salted one

For a Christian, one among the biblical standard is that a believer of Christ must be like condiment or likened to a salt or the salted one.

 

Christ said, “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt has lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of me,”’ (Matthew 5:13). And in Mark 9:50, Jesus said, “Salt is good: but if the salt has lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another. “

 

And that is the biblical standard. No less from the very words of our Lord and Savior Christ! Otherwise unsalted Christian will surely soon become ineffective.

 

I wonder how our saltiness in Christ can change the other way around or makes other’s lives even more better?

 

 

Salt defined

“Salt” is first mentioned in Genesis 14:3 which means “melach” in Hebrew word which is defined as “powder” or “salt (as easily pulverized and dissolved).”

 

“Salt“ in Greek word “halas” also means “salt” (Matthew 5:13).

 

 

Thayer Definition

  • Salt in which food is seasoned and sacrifices are sprinkled.

  • It is a kind of saline matter to fertilize arable lands.

  • Salt is a symbol of lasting concord, because it protects food from putrefaction and preserves it unchanged.

  • In the solemn ratification of compacts, the Orientals were and are to this day accustomed to partake of salt together. (2 Chronicles 13:5)

  • It speaks of wisdom and grace exhibited in speech.

 

To Thayer, salt speaks of prudence. In simple words, prudence means common sense, wisdom or sensibleness. Fool people lacks prudence

 

 

In the Holy Scriptures, salt as condimentis mentioned on several times on various instances. Even water contain salt as well. “Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh,” (James 3:12).

 

 

 

Salt as burnt offering

In the first year Cyrus, the king of Persia he made a decree for Jewish Alia (returning) to their land and to offer sacrifices in the Temple of Jerusalem “for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven” of the following – “wheat, salt, wine and oil“ (Ezra 6:3, 9).

 

 

Salt as healing agent

I remember pouring in salt to one of the farmer’s agricultural field because the whole area has been infested with certain sort of a plague. On the time of harvest, this farmer’s peanut production even doubled while the surrounding fields were infested with worms.

 

A place adjacent to Jericho “isn’t sustaining crops” because the “spring water is bad” because the (2 Kings 2:19/ISV). So what Elisha did on the land?

 

2Kings 2:21-22 says, “ Elisha went out to the springs, threw the salt into them, and declared, "This is what the LORD says: 'I have purified these waters. Neither death nor barrenness is to flow from them anymore.'" As a result, the water springs remain pure to this day, just as Elisha had declared. “”


In fact, the word“salt” in Greek word “halas” in Matthew 5:13 is also being referred as “saline matter used to fertilize arable land” according to Thayer Definition.

 

For ratification

Even among Orientals to this very day, compacts or agreements are being ratified by partaking salt together (Thayer). I remember during my younger years at age 6 or 7, that we were told to first bring in salt to the house where we newly transferred in. And I could not understand then why. But now I understand better.



Judges 9:45/ ISV, “Abimelech fought against the city all that day, captured the city, killed the people in it, then tore the city to the ground and sowed it with salt. “





Seasoned with salt

Words once it has been spoken can not be retrieved anymore. It is much easier to be careful than to rectify. This is even true when you send a message in a Face Book. That is why they said, “Think first before you click.”



One day, I received a frantic call from a police officer. He said that their chief inspector wanted to see me immediately. I learnt later that Pastor Brian (not his real name) under one non-government organization (NGO) which I am headed at, somehow “offended” their police officers while conducting Values Education to their police station. When I came to his office, the police major pulled his gun and threw it away on the table in front of me. That is how hurting he was to my own expense. Until finally I settled the issue peacefully. And from that time on, Pastor Brian didn’t shown up anymore.



Our unsalted speech may provoke others to anger if we are not careless. In other words, wisdom and grace must being expressed in speech and figuratively, and the word “salt” according to Thayer means prudence. Webster define prudence as the ability to govern and disciple oneself by the use of reason.



Colossian 4:6 says, “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. “



I am straightforward alsobut only if it needed but I can be gentle as well if necessary. However in some instances, I am brutally frank whenever I will strongly makes my stand or conviction or publicly rebuke anyone even in public even among police general. And yet still the Lord commanded us to be respectful and also civil at all times.In The Beatitudes in the Sermon at the MountJesus Christ said,



““Blessed are the meek,for they will inherit the earth,” (Matthew 5:5). And the word “meek” in Greek “praus” refers to the “gentleness of spirit” and “mildness in disposition.”

 

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Covenanted with salt

Paul exhorted the believers in Rome to “offer their bodies as a living sacrifice,” (Romans 12:1). The same apply to us as well in this modern times.



In the Old Testament, meat offering is season with salt(Leviticus 2:13) as well with “heave offerings … and sons and daughters… as a covenant of salt,” (Numbers 18:19). And Moses said it is a statute or ordinance.



Saltiness to a believer is a form of sanctification is therefore it is not just a law but an allegiance orcontractbetween God and man. Even Christ attested that when He said, “Every sacrifice shall be salted with salt,” (Mark 9:49b).



 

God even made a great deal with David when He promised him that his sons and his son’s sons will be under “a covenant of salt “ (2 Chronicles 13:5). And in Ezra 6:9,saltis also a part of a priest’s offering. Aside from that salt is also serve as a disinfectantagent(Ezekiel 16:4).

 

Numbers 18:19 says, “All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer unto the LORD, have I given thee, and thy sons and thy daughters with thee, by a statute for ever: it is a covenant of salt for ever before the LORD unto thee and to thy seed with thee. “

 

Salted with fire

What salt has something to do with judgment?Jesus mentioned judgment in relevance to salt in Mark 9:49a that says , “For every one shall be salted with fire.“

 

Joshua 3:16/KJV, “That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho. “

 

In ISV “salt sea” is referred as “sea in the Arabah (Dead Sea),” while in GNB is refers to the “Dead Sea” and in ASV and BBE it also means “sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea.”

 

In other words, salt has something to do with the land which is called the Dead Sea. And how this is related to the “sea where the dead” are in the Book of Revelation 16:3; 20:13?

 

Sodom and Gomorrah as twin-cities according to James Strong. Gomorrah is literally means “iniquity” which is derived from the Hebrew root word “amar” meaning “to heap” or “to bind sheaves” that refers to gather grain or harvest (Genesis 10:19; 13:10; 14:2, 8, 10; 14:11; 18:20; 19:28; Deut. 29;23; 1:9; Jer. 23:14; 49:18; 50:40; Amo 4:11; Zephaniah 2:9).

 

In Matthew 11:23-24/ ISV, Capernaum where Jesus Christ called His early disciples amongst them were Peter, Andres, James and John, He associated the ancient city with Sodom. He said these words,


“"And you, Capernaum! You won't be lifted up to heaven, will you? You'll go down to Hell! Because if the miracles that happened in you had taken place in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. Indeed I tell you, it will be more bearable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you! " 

 

 

Horizontal destiny

Take note seriously to what Christ have spoken to the people of Capernaum in Matthew 11:23,

“"And you, Capernaum! You won't be lifted up to heaven, will you? You'll go down to Hell!”

 

In here is mentioned man’s horizontaldestiny – either he will be lifted up to heaven and that is up there or you’ll go down to hell.

 

And what Christ uttered to Capernaum is what exactly happened to this very day on that city. Below is what happened to Capernaum during our June 2017 visit on that place.

 

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Capernaum now laid in ruins. And the Hebrew word of salt in “melach” means “to be rubbed or washed with salt” or “to disappear as dust” and “to vanish away” (Gen. 14:3; Lev. 2:132 Kings 2:20; 1 Chr. 18:12;Job 6:6). That is why Job said, “Can that which is unsavory be eaten without salt?” Salt can either preserve you or makes youdisappear like Capernaum.

 

 

Capernaum vs.Sodom

If Capernaum is likened to Sodom, ““"And you, Capernaum! You won't be lifted up to heaven, will you? You'll go down to Hell!” (Matthew 11:23). Greek word “Hades” in English version of “Hell” refers to Hades or Pluto, the god of the lower regions. It is the place of the dead or the departed souls according to Strong.


Sodom is defined as “burning” in Greek Sodoma, a city destroyed by the Lord raining fire and brimstone on it. Metaphorically, it refers to Jerusalem in Revelation 11:8, it is a place in Palestine (Strong Definition).

 


Hell and Lake of Fire

Revelation 20:14 says that both the death and hell were cast into the lake of fire which is the second death. And whoever not written in the book of life were cast therein (Revelation 20:15). The Lake of Fire has brimstone on it (Rev. 19:20; 20:10) which means in Greek word “theion” refers to sulphur.

 

Likewise the “Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven,“(Genesis 19:24).

 


Salted with fire

Sulfur is the tenth most common element by mass in the universe, and the fifth most common on Earth. Though sometimes found in pure, native form, sulfur on Earth usually occurs as sulfide and

sulfidesulfate minerals. Being abundant in native form, sulfur was known in ancient times, being mentioned for its uses in ancient India, ancient Greece, China, and Egypt. In the Bible, sulfur is called brimstone according to Greenwood, N. N.; & Earnshaw, A. (1997). Chemistry of the Elements (2nd ed

 

Likewisewhen Lot’s family fled from the city, sulfur and fire came down and unfortunately Lot’s wife looked back and she became a “pillar of salt. “ (Genesis 1:26). That is how sulfur, fire and salt have something to do with judgment in hell.

 

A source says real salt contains 50 natural occurring trace minerals like calcium, potassium, sulphur, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, manganese, copper, iodine and zinc. That could be the reason why Jesus described hell in Mark 9:43-48, He concluded with these words,

 

“In that place, worms never die, and the fire is never put out. Because everyone will be salted with fire, and every sacrifice will be salted with salt. Salt is good. But if salt loses its taste, how can you restore its flavor? Keep on having salt among yourselves, and live in peace with oneanother."  (Mark 9:48-50/ ISV)

 

 

What to do before judgment?

Remember what transpired before the destruction of Sodom in Genesis 19: 1-26? When the two angels entered the city, Lot was there are the city gate. He persisted in inviting them at his home. In Genesis 19:3, Lot prepared a “feast and baked unleavened flat bread” for them.

 

This is what to do before judgment in as much Christ broke bread in a feast with his disciples concerning the “sign of His coming and of the end of the age"  (Matthew 24).

 

 

Christians as condiments

Is Chow-King’s issue is very much petty that it should be ignored? The Bible says if salt loses favour what purpose where it should be? The same thing when Christians loses their saltiness then they loses their sense of purpose as well.

 

If salt is being used as a effective preservative on food to reduce from its inescapable, quick and decaying process then the Christians in the same way, should remain the best preservatives in this dying world.