Don't Be a Sausage

Silvanus (aka: Silas, fl. 1st century) was probably Peter's amanuensis (scribe) and, according to Roman Catholic tradition, went with Peter and John Mark to Rome in 42 AD/CE. He is also known to have been a companion of Paul. His most famous teaching is "Do not be a sausage which is full of useless things."

We are to devote all of our attention and resources to serving God (Deuteronomy 6:5; Romans 12:11-12; 1 Peter 2:12; Psalms 19:7, 10-11.), so what did Silvanus mean by "useless things"?

In the Christian context a useless thing could, of course, be mindless accumulation of things, but what Silvanus was probably talking about were personal distractions or hindrances to one's Christian witness and/or things about the believer which could cause distractions or hindrances to others.

Useless things to a Christian could be: pride, always having to prove that you are "right," gossip and judgementalism, hobbies which obsess you, failure to forgive (especially when they don't "deserve" it), and church "busyness." Useless things are things you would throw away to lighten yourself when the Devil was chasing you.

Christians

At some time during their lives, the following people have publicly identified themselves as Christian.   Inclusion in this list does not indicate approval or disapproval of the person, their religious beliefs, or their actions.  This is a recurring segment in this blog.

Cao Quang Anh: (b. 1967, South Vietnam) Attorney, United States Representative from Louisiana.  He is the first member of the United States Congress to be born in Vietnam and was the only Republican to vote for the Democratic Party’s Health Care Reform package in 2009.

Edith Claire Posener (b. 1897, Nevada – d. 1981) (aka: Edith Head) Ms. Head, an American film costume designer won eight Oscars, more than any other woman in history.  She was born as a Jew but as an adult declared herself to be a Roman Catholic.

Neil Clark Warren: (b. 1937) Psychologist, educator, founder of the eHarmony online dating service.

Alfred the Great (b. 849, Wessex – d. 899) King of Wessex (871-899) Alfred was an ardent promoter of education and an ecclesiastical reformer.  He founded numerous monasteries.

Aristobulus: Aristobulus was a personal friend of the Apostle Paul (Romans 16:10) and was possibly the following: a grandson of Herod the Great, a personal friend of the Roman Emperor Claudius,  a disciple of Luke the Apostle and one of the Seventy (Luke 10:1),  Barnabbas’ brother, and Peter’s father-in-law.