Last night we had another good discussion and this subject centered around one of my favorite topics: food. There were so many good things said, like when Sam spoke of the meta-narrative of the kingdom of the heavens being revealed through times when we eat with one another. Eric brought out a good story about God’s using a gathering time with other veterans eating to bring about healing in his life. Someone else brought up the fact that food is like heaven when you’re really enjoying it with someone you love, but it can really be like hell when the company is not that great. And then, of course, we all articulated the multiple benefits of eating out bringing about God’s glory…oh, wait, I may have presented that in a way that would bring about my glory.
Seriously, I was pondering last night as we were discussing this: how does food daily play out in the way of causing us to become an afflux of authentic life for our sisters and brothers, our host community (Northwest Florida), and the honor of Jesus Christ? What are the daily and weekly implications for buying food, eating together, and using food as a way to point people to Christ?
I want to start this off by suggesting some things about the nature of food that hopefully will spark some different ideas on this: Food has a powerful way to connect us with the past. Sam obviously talked about this last night when he discussed the various festivals that the children of Israel celebrate in order to commemorate certain events in their history, like the Passover feast connecting them with their redemption from the Egyptians. Personally, I can eat certain things, though, and it can take me back to a certain place and time in my past. There is a uniquely Atlanta restaurant, e.g., that Melissa and I used to eat at called The Varsity that served these ball-park, greasy hot dogs, onion rings, and fries, and for some reason it always made me think of going to watch Friday night football games at my high school when I was growing up (guess the grease in their concession stands).
For us, though, it seems as if we are using something less- like food- to call us to something more- like people. Food is a great element of real life that has a unique way of relating with people, no matter where they are in life. And as we consider this, I think one of the things we should spend some time thinking through is how possibly we can connect with others through food (like in hospitality, collective community serving, etc).
Although food is so much a part of our social life, it is also so integral to our basic survival since if we fail to eat then we fail to live. Therefore, as Sam articulated this last night in our gathering, our intake and attitude towards food on a daily basis demonstrates our core belief towards God’s work in the world on behalf of poverty and hunger. With this being true, there are naturally some things we should think through pertinent to fighting this ongoing hell. This fight is unmistakably a fight not only in developing countries, but here in the U.S., as well, plus our own local poverty in Northwest Florida. As we resist the urge to be gluttonous and profligate in our use of food, we are helping to fight the endemic of poverty and hunger in our world. But, we are also fighting against our own hell through consuming our bodies and lives with too much of a good thing, and ignoring the cry of those who need our help. This is not something I am touting I do, but rather something I really struggle with, and yet am weekly convinced of my own selfish living in this way. What are some ways we can talk through these issues about food and their connection to others?
(Posted by Jason G. aka Jason #2)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
In our efforts to be "the incarnational Spirit of Christ for the Highest good of the world" it is key that although we "enter" a culture, and live within the context of our culture, we must also be a "counter-culture" as a community. We must show- "Yes, there is something good about life in The USA-even in our social gatherings at local restaurants", but there must also be a "No, this is wrong. How can we be selfish with our money? How can we eat lavish meals while others both here and abroad go without?".
John Calvin, 15th century Reformer, suggests that the expansion of "hospitality" business (hotels, restaurants, coffee shops...etc) is a sign that not only is the world still upside down, but Christianity is faultering in it's mission. If "christians" of the west, really believed what they said they believed- there would be less need (or want) for such businesses.
Someone brought up "jobs" in our discussion. In the completion of the NEW Heaven/Earth, there will be no shortage of jobs, although we this only reveals the tension we constantly live in, as followers of Christ, if our motive in going to restaurants is for the income of those who are employed there-there is still the question of our stewardship. Plus, there will always be those in are enslaved to the culture who will continue to "eat out".
these are just a few thoughts I have germane to Jason's thoughts. I have a couple of other blogs for later this week that will hopefully stir the conversation even further forward.
Post a Comment