Organelle Scale

Brazen Altar/Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum

The Brazen Altar represents the Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum.

The Smooth ER performs many duties such as...

Synthesizing lipids

Metabolism of Carbohydrates

Metabolism of Steroids and Sex Hormones

Detoxification

...each of which can be ascribed to the Seven Deadly Sins...

"The concept of seven deadly sins was used throughout the medieval Christian world to teach young people how to avoid evil and embrace the good as is evident in treatises, paintings, sculpture decorations on churches"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_deadly_sins

Before we get into that, lets review what the Brazen Altar is for...

The Brazen Altar is much like a giant barbecue. Certain animals, grains, etc. were sacrificed and put onto the Altar very much like what we do today when we cook outdoors...

And yes, the Sacrifices were sometimes eaten afterwards by the High Priest and other designated individuals.

Here are a few examples...

Leviticus 6:26  

"The priest that offereth it for sin shall eat it: in the holy place shall it be eaten, in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation"

Leviticus 7:10

"And every meat offering, mingled with oil, and dry, shall all the sons of Aaron have, one as much as another"

Note that Blood was (and still is) not allowed to be eaten...

Leviticus 17:12

"Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood"

So what was this for?

The sacrificial system taught the necessity of dealing with sin and, at the same time, demonstrated that God had provided a way to do just that.

This is all a 'shadowing' in the Old Testament of Jesus ultimately being sacrificed for our sins, which makes the Sin Offering obsolete.

Let's look at those Seven Deadly Sins again and see how they relate to the Smooth ER...

1 - Gluttony

Everyone knows (or should know) that eating too much is not healthy. Eating too much meat for example leads to high Cholesterol.

Think of all of the Bulls, Goats etc. Being sacrificed. That's a lot of Cholesterol... especially when folks were being extra sinful.

Let's not forget all of that Fat. Obesity is a huge problem is today's society.

The Smooth ER manufacturers Lipids.

Some of you that get regular health checks know that terminology...

"Lipids are a group of naturally occurring molecules that include fats, waxes, sterols, fat-soluble vitamins (such as vitamins A, D, E, and K),

monoglycerides, diglycerides, triglycerides, phospholipids, and others"

"Lipids also encompass molecules such as fatty acids and their derivatives (including tri-, di-, monoglycerides, and phospholipids), as well as

other sterol-containing metabolites such as cholesterol"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lipid

Looks like the Smooth ER and the Brazen Altar are matching up pretty well so far.

2 - Sloth

Sacrificing too much on our Cell's Brazen Altars and becoming obese leads to Sloth or laziness.

Another problem facing our society today is the use of drugs.

Drug use often leads to burn-out, leaving the abuser lazy, slow and in some cases mentally handicapped.

The Smooth ER helps deal with these issues by detoxifying the body of alcohol, drugs, toxins (from junk foods for example) and other unhealthy substances.

The Smooth ER detoxification process is another amazing example of 'sin' being disposed of upon the Brazen Altar.

3 - Lust

Now that word has sin written all over it.

And it just so happens that the Smooth ER helps to manufacture Sex Hormones.

Lust of the Flesh and Lust of the Eyes are a major theme in Scripture.

4 - Greed

Again, going overboard and taking more than one needs is a sure fire way to pile up a heap of sins very quickly.

Is there something that the Smooth ER does that can lead to greed?

One thing is for sure...

Scripture has stories of those unwilling to sacrifice due to greed, and even High Priests becoming corrupt and taking in the blemish-free sacrifices for themselves.

5 - Wrath or Anger

Here's an interesting one.

The Smooth ER helps to manufacture Steroids.

'Roid Rage' is a phrase used to describe the wrath of those that abuse steroids.

Yes, it would seem that Wrath, Anger and Steroids have much in common... another perfect correlation between the Brazen Altar and the Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum.

6 - Envy

There's that Lust of the Eyes again.

Too much 'Eye Candy' can be just as bad as eating too much Candy.

Speaking of Sugary sweets, the Smooth ER helps metabolize Carbohydrates like Sugar and Starches.

Boy... imagine if we still had to sacrifice today.

With all of the Eye Candy we consume on a daily basis, the waiting line for the Brazen Altar would stretch into outer-space!

7 - Pride

Do you think alcohol consumption and pride have anything in common?

It is interesting to note that cells with the most Smooth ER are located in the Liver.

Do we really need to be reminded of Liver Disease among alcoholics?

That poor Brazen Altar has to work overtime detoxifying the bodies of all those alcoholics.

And there you have it.

The Seven Deadly Sins as related to the Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum and the Brazen Altar.

Don't forget to thank the Lord for this amazing Organelle.