Three random fictitious conversations between Timothy and Shem about Moldy Cheese. That might have taken place at various times in history… But did not!
Menu
Robot Created – Ask Your Pastor First!
Three random fictitious conversations between Timothy and Shem about Moldy Cheese. That might have taken place at various times in history… But did not!
Timothy: Have you ever had moldy cheese, Shem?
Shem: Moldy what?
Timothy: Oh, sorry. I forgot you live during Old Testament times. It’s like this dairy product that starts growing fungus when it goes bad.
Shem: Oh, I see. Well, why would you eat that? Isn’t it bad for you?
Timothy: Well, sometimes we don’t realize it’s gone bad until we take a bite. It happened to me once, and I thought I was going to die.
Shem: I don’t think we have that problem in my time. We usually eat everything fresh, and if we don’t, we give it to the animals.
Timothy: Lucky you. I wish we could do that. But sometimes we have to save food for a later time, especially during times of scarcity.
Shem: I see. Well, I guess you have to be careful then. Moldy cheese doesn’t sound like something you should take lightly.
Timothy: That’s true. But you know what? It made me realize something. Just like mold can grow on cheese, sin can grow in our hearts if we’re not careful.
Shem: How so?
Timothy: Think about it. If we let our hearts go bad, if we let bitterness, greed, and all sorts of other sins take root, they will grow and spread like mold.
Shem: I see what you mean. And just like you have to throw away moldy cheese to keep it from spoiling other food, we have to get rid of sin if we want to stay pure and holy.
Timothy: Exactly. It may seem small and insignificant at first, but sin can be deadly if we don’t deal with it. That’s why we need to repent and ask God to help us resist temptation.
Shem: Amen to that, Timothy. It’s comforting to know that despite the differences in our times, we can still learn from each other about the importance of avoiding sin and seeking God’s righteousness.
Timothy: Yes, indeed. And who knows, maybe one day you’ll get to try some cheese that won’t make you sick.
Shem: (laughs) We’ll see about that, Timothy. We’ll see about that.
Timothy: “Shem, my friend, have you ever tasted moldy cheese?”
Shem: “Moldy cheese? What sorcery are you speaking of, young Timothy?”
Timothy: “You know, cheese that has gone bad and has mold growing on it. It’s a delicacy in our times.”
Shem: “Delicacy? That sounds like contamination and impurity.”
Timothy: “Nah, nah, it adds character and flavor to the cheese. Why settle for plain old cheese when you can have moldy?”
Shem: “But didn’t God command us to not eat anything contaminated or impure?”
Timothy: “Well, times have changed. We have better ways of preserving food now. Plus, Jesus Himself said that it’s not what goes into a man’s mouth that defiles him, but what comes out of it.”
Shem: “Hmm, I have not heard of this Jesus. But I do not believe that consuming moldy cheese is a sign of good health.”
Timothy: “Oh, come on Shem, loosen up a bit! You’re missing out on the fun. Imagine this – some bread, some moldy cheese, a little wine, and voila! A feast fit for a king.”
Shem: “I think I will stick to my fresh fruits and vegetables. No need to tempt fate with moldy cheese, my friend.”
Timothy: “Suit yourself, Shem. More for me then!”
Shem: “Just remember, Timothy, as a follower of God, we should always be mindful of what we consume. Moldy cheese may taste good, but it is not good for our bodies.”
Timothy: “I’ll keep that in mind, Shem. And you keep enjoying your fruits and veggies. We’ll agree to disagree on this one.”
Let’s go with ‘Twenty Questions’.
Timothy: Alright, I am thinking of something.
Shem: Is it alive?
Timothy: No.
Shem: Is it a food?
Timothy: Yes.
Shem: Is it a fruit?
Timothy: No.
Shem: Is it a vegetable?
Timothy: No.
Shem: Is it a type of meat?
Timothy: No.
Shem: Is it a type of beverage?
Timothy: No.
Shem: Is it a type of bread?
Timothy: No.
Shem: Is it a type of snack?
Timothy: Yes.
Shem: Is it something that people generally like?
Timothy: No.
Shem: Is it something you can find in a grocery store?
Timothy: Yes.
Shem: Is it something that is typically refrigerated?
Timothy: Yes.
Shem: Is it moldy cheese?
Timothy: Yes! You got it.
Timothy, believed to have been born in Lystra, was a disciple and friend of the apostle Paul. He was the son of a Jewish mother and a Greek father, and was well respected by both Jews and Gentiles because of his faithfulness to the Gospel. Timothy first encounters Paul on the apostle’s second missionary journey and quickly becomes one of his closest collaborators.
As a young man, Timothy serves as an emissary to the churches in Thessalonica, Corinth, and Philippi. In one of Paul’s letters to the Corinthians, the apostle calls Timothy his “beloved and faithful child in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 4:17). Timothy is also mentioned in Paul’s letters to the Philippians, the Colossians, and Philemon.
Timothy demonstrates great courage and spiritual maturity, proving himself to be an important leader in his own right. Paul encourages Timothy to use his natural gifts for ministry and to continue growing in his faith. In his second letter to Timothy, Paul writes, “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7).
Throughout the rest of the New Testament, Timothy remains a trusted associate of Paul and an influential figure in the early Church. His unwavering devotion to the Gospel makes him an inspiration to believers even today, and his story serves as a reminder of the transformative power of faith.
Shem, son of Noah, was a faithful follower of God who played a crucial role in the survival of humanity during the Great Flood. Along with his father and brothers, Shem spent over a year on the ark, waiting for the waters to recede and for God’s promise of safety and salvation to be fulfilled.
Despite the challenges of this time, Shem remained steadfast in his faith and his obedience to God’s commands. As a result of his faithfulness, he was later blessed by God and given a special place in the genealogy of Jesus Christ.
In the book of Genesis, we read of Shem’s role in the rebuilding of humanity after the flood: “These are the generations of Shem. Shem was a hundred years old and fathered Arpachshad two years after the flood” (Genesis 11:10). This verse marks the beginning of Shem’s lineage, which would eventually lead to the birth of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and ultimately to the coming of Jesus Christ.
As Christians, we can learn from Shem’s example of faithfulness and obedience to God. May we also trust in God’s promises and continue to follow Him, even in the face of difficult trials and challenges.
Moldy cheese is something we may encounter in our daily lives, and it can be quite disappointing to find it in our food. But it also reminds us of the importance of being discerning and mindful of what we are consuming. Just as we wouldn’t eat moldy cheese knowingly, we must also be careful to guard our hearts and minds from things that can contaminate them. As Christians, we are called to purity and holiness, and this includes what we allow into our bodies and souls. Let us strive to always choose what is good, pure, and true, and stay away from things that can lead us astray.
Have fun creating a conversation between two Bible characters. One in the Old Testament and one in the New Testament and see what happens!