From the Pulpit: Puffed up pride

As I write, my kids are enjoying homemade beignets on a laid-back Saturday morning. I have a delicious French Quarter Beignet recipe from Paula Dean – surprisingly, there is no butter in this recipe! This morning’s concoction came out of box sold by Café Du Monde, purchased in the heart of New Orleans. If you’ve never enjoyed this morning delicacy before, they taste best caked in a bed of powdered sugar. I prefer pairing with strong, black coffee. If you’re like my friend in ministry and youth gathering (Lutheran Missouri Synod) junkie, DCE Gary, you also order your coffee direct from Café Du Monde.

Essentially, a beignet is a square-shaped doughnut. As one online commentator calls it, they are a pillowy little treat – though the Café Du Monde version is anything but small. What stands out is how fluffy and puffed up they become, making them so soft to sink your teeth into. Pardon me while I take another bite!

While these pastries are best puffed up and would be undesirable if flat and dense, we otherwise do not look favorably on being “puffed up.” 

In 1 Corinthians 8:1 from the Bible, a teacher named Paul writes, “We know that all of us possess knowledge. This knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.” 

We have all engaged in conversation involving differing opinions or viewpoints. Our natural tendency is to defend our position “come hell or high water.” We know we are right, and we will do anything to come out on top. But is that the best approach? Does our “right knowledge” matter if it hurts those around us? If it does nothing to help the other person learn? If our aim to be the victor and show we “know our stuff” does not engage in mutual conversation but merely shuts the other person down, the only thing puffed up is our pride.

Paul writes, “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.” Jesus showed us the greatest love by giving His life for those less than Himself. He went to a cross for those who didn’t deserve to be rescued or forgiven. If anyone had a right to puff himself up, it would be Him! But Jesus chose to make Himself lower. He displayed His love. He also taught us how to love.

How can my words and actions convey love and a willingness to approach people, positions, or a post with an open mind instead of a puffed-up ego or pride? I’m still learning. Maybe this first century author has given us something to think about. I plan to do that now … over another bite of beignet.

www.pauladeen.com/recipe/french-quarter-beignets/#ingredients