Wednesday, October 05, 2005

food and mission

Espresso, our Tuesday evening discussion-in-community congregation, was EXCELLENT last nite. The opening question was: Why do Christians eat meat? If they can justify that, surely they can justify anything? It’s a question that I have faced from a number of spiritual seekers.

To kick off the discussion, I used the following rant from circle of pneuma. Lot of laughter around this quote:
Your neighbourhood new ager and neo-pagan is likely a vegan or vegetarian (just participate in a new age festival and you won’t find a hamburger in sight)? And consider that in their eyes the [barbeque] just might look a bit like food offered unto idols (i.e. the repugnant idols of intensive factory farming and consumerist capitalism), and so they will be repulsed at the outset from even feeling “welcome”?

It was such a rich discussion: food, hospitality, Biblical ethics, Pharisaical and fundamentalist vegetarians. I just wish I had “podcasted” it. It has prompted me to add another verse to my bread liturgy.

Give us today our daily bread.
Matthew 6:11

ALL: You are the bread of life
Yet in a world where many lack daily bread
Help us eat justly, consume wisely for our world
Bread for all our journey.

Posted by steve at 12:27 PM

1 Comment

  1. Hi Steve. Any resources you can point me towards with respect to the comment “Why do Christians eat meat? If they can justify that, surely they can justify anything? ”

    I watched SuperSize Me last night and have been thinking about the whole “food as consumerism” idea for some time now – I’m keen to read more…

    Comment by Randall — October 5, 2005 @ 4:57 pm

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