Church-Styled Deal a Meal
I have already written about how I believe there is a spiritual aspect to food. Think of the fellowship that often surrounds the act of eating, be it with family or with friends, even co-workers. Think of how much more food is enjoyed when done in the company of people you love. Think of the religious ceremonies–communion, the Holy Feasts of ancient cultures, Ramadan, Kwanzaa–built around food. Meals can serve several roles, from memorial, celebration, fellowship, to the sealing of covenants or diplomatic pacts.
It was pointed out to me that the story of the Bible revolves around food. The original sin, that act of rebellion from Adam and Eve, involved an act of eating. You could even see their sin as being symbolic of them no longer being hungry for God. Abraham experienced a theophany while unknowingly entertaining angels. During Passover, the Israelites remember God’s provision during each part of their symbol-laden meal. While they wandered through the desert, the Israelites were daily dependent on God to survive (eating manna from heaven). They feasted upon returning from exile; for that matter, most of their holy days involved feasting.
Turning to the New Testament, Jesus is called The Bread of Heaven. He ate with his disciples, the crowds that followed him, “sinners” ... everyone was welcome at his table. He left us with the sacrament of communion, which came after his last supper. And he’s promised a future banquet, a marriage supper of the Lamb. So symbolically, a meal would join us with this lineage of community, meeting past and promise to celebrate the promised future.
Meals have a way of conveying both hospitality and friendship. Meals have a way of leveling the playing field, of signifying equality, by taking a rag tag group with little in common and binding them in fellowship. Instead of doing “Sunday School” or “Adult Bible Fellowship”, what if we simply ate together after the main gathering time? We want people to slow down.
We say we want community, but do we really? Let’s face it: most times, the last song has barely faded before people are scrambling to get the heck out of church. I don’t have time to spend with you people, I’ve got stuff to do. Or a game to watch. Believe me, I ain’t mad at you, I’ve been just as guilty. (I usually timed my exits to coincide with the pastor’s closing prayer). I guess I will have to learn this “discipline of community” as much as the next person.
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Comment on this bit of rantus interruptus anyway you want (I don’t know where you’re reading it from) but if you want to guarantee me seeing it, do so at my message board.
It was pointed out to me that the story of the Bible revolves around food. The original sin, that act of rebellion from Adam and Eve, involved an act of eating. You could even see their sin as being symbolic of them no longer being hungry for God. Abraham experienced a theophany while unknowingly entertaining angels. During Passover, the Israelites remember God’s provision during each part of their symbol-laden meal. While they wandered through the desert, the Israelites were daily dependent on God to survive (eating manna from heaven). They feasted upon returning from exile; for that matter, most of their holy days involved feasting.
Turning to the New Testament, Jesus is called The Bread of Heaven. He ate with his disciples, the crowds that followed him, “sinners” ... everyone was welcome at his table. He left us with the sacrament of communion, which came after his last supper. And he’s promised a future banquet, a marriage supper of the Lamb. So symbolically, a meal would join us with this lineage of community, meeting past and promise to celebrate the promised future.
Meals have a way of conveying both hospitality and friendship. Meals have a way of leveling the playing field, of signifying equality, by taking a rag tag group with little in common and binding them in fellowship. Instead of doing “Sunday School” or “Adult Bible Fellowship”, what if we simply ate together after the main gathering time? We want people to slow down.
We say we want community, but do we really? Let’s face it: most times, the last song has barely faded before people are scrambling to get the heck out of church. I don’t have time to spend with you people, I’ve got stuff to do. Or a game to watch. Believe me, I ain’t mad at you, I’ve been just as guilty. (I usually timed my exits to coincide with the pastor’s closing prayer). I guess I will have to learn this “discipline of community” as much as the next person.
###
Comment on this bit of rantus interruptus anyway you want (I don’t know where you’re reading it from) but if you want to guarantee me seeing it, do so at my message board.
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