Few activities are as pleasurable to all five of my senses. Good food looks beautiful, draws me in with its scent, has wonderful texture and of course tastes delicious. It even sounds good. Crunchy food would not be nearly as satisfying without the sound of something splintering into pieces as it is crushed between my teeth.
I find it hard to believe that eating is for nutritional sustenance alone. If you’ve ever stayed at a hospital or a college dorm, what do you miss most? Family and homemade food, often enjoyed together.
Yes, food is good.
And yet food and food production is related to so much that is bad: eating disorders, obesity, destruction of the environment, even famine and war.
During my adult life I’ve been a relatively healthy eater. I eat my broccoli, try to avoid frequenting McDonald’s on a regular basis and maintain a healthy weight. But it wasn’t until recently—the past two or three months, really—that I was even remotely interested in all of this organic, unrefined, greenish stuff. You see, I’m the Multitasking Convenience Queen. And, as I’ve mentioned, I’m already relatively healthy. Until a couple of months ago, I was much more motivated by great deals and easy meals than any of the arguments I had heard about converting into a modern hippie.
Then I started thinking about food on a spiritual level.
Did I just freak you out? Who is this weirdo guest writer on Living Unrefined anyway?
I’m not a pastor, guru, theologian or anyone like that. I’m just your average American housewife/mom—sharing with you what truly motivates me to prepare the best food for my family. I offer a Christian perspective. Even if that’s not your thing, I hope you keep reading because you may find some relevant motivation anyway.
In the account of creation in Genesis, God entrusts mankind with “ruling over” the rest of creation—specifically, everything that lives. (See Genesis 1:27-31). A lot of debate over the centuries has surrounded that statement. I’ll just offer my common sense opinion: that means taking care of the earth and maintaining its ecological balance, not destroying it for irresponsible, selfish consumption. I mean, come on. Even The Lion King got this one right.
And guess what - our bodies are just as much a part of creation as any other component. True, like everything else, they will ultimately decay. But that’s no excuse not to honor and take care of what God said was “good” and “created in his own image.” The New Testament also reflects this obligation in the following passages:
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, NIV
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31, NIV
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” Romans 12:1, NIV
Why did God create us with the need to eat? He didn’t have to. Maybe I’m wrong, but I don’t think he’s up in the heavens grilling cheeseburgers, so he can chow down over Memorial Day weekend. Eating requires us to kill and consume parts of creation. That doesn’t seem to make sense. Does it?
Jesus had no problem with eating. He even said that heaven will be like a big banquet (see Matthew 22 and Luke 14). What was the last major event of his life before the crucifixion? The Last Supper, which was indeed a feast. And how did he command us to remember him? By eating bread and wine, otherwise known as the Lord’s Supper.
I think God wants us to eat so that we can simultaneously enjoy his creation, take care of it, enjoy our human relationships and be reminded of his generosity. It’s a regular way to worship him. One of the ways he illustrated this in the Bible was by instituting the Sabbath, or the seventh day of rest. Much more than simply a day to kick back and watch football, it was a day to delight with him in all he made.
In Levitical law, not only were there Sabbath days, but Sabbath years so that the land could lie fallow (the original organic farming!). Sabbath was instituted not just for humans but for plants and animals. Feasts and celebrations were built around Sabbaths. Ultimately, communities coming together, delighting in creation, and eating some killer food was a great way to worship the Creator (I owe much of this understanding to a book called Living the Sabbath by Norman Wirzba).
That was the Old Testament. As a practicing Christian, I don’t think I’m required to follow all the specifics of Levitical law, which were instituted for a particular time and place. But I do still need to put the law’s spiritual principles into practice.
Practically, that means that to enjoy food the way God intended it, I believe I should:
- Receive all food as a gift from God with humble gratitude.
- Enjoy food as often as possible in a community setting. That means eating around the table as a family without distractions and regularly inviting others into our home to share meals.
- Consume food that was produced in a responsible way, socially and environmentally. That means buying more local, organic food and less prepackaged mystery food. It also means cooking more from scratch (not my natural talent).
- Consume food that is good for my body, in moderate portions.
- Share good food with others who need it.
But I’ll tell you one thing—I’ve had some mighty satisfying meals with my family and friends. Not only were they pleasurable to all five senses and better for our bodies, but— as contrived as this might sound — they were also good for the soul.
Much thanks to Lindsey at Living Unrefined for letting me share some of my thoughts with you. If you liked this post, please visit my blog, Holding the Distaff. I write about all sorts of topics related to home and family, but if you want a little more related to this post, check out these posts: Inspiration if You Have a Culinary Impairment…, Do I Have Time/Money/Energy/Power to be Socially Responsible? and Healthy Habits.
