I smile whenever I remember hearing Elisabeth Elliot thank a woman who had asked her a question about maintaining a healthy weight. She said she appreciated the opportunity to talk about the topic because of the popular sentiment that no one is qualified to address it. If you are thin, you don’t understand how complicated it is, and if you’re the least bit overweight, you’ve got no room to talk.
Given our bent toward expressive individualism, things haven’t changed much since Elisabeth Elliot’s semi-sarcastic observation. Food and body image; fat-shaming and eating disorders; body positivity and workout culture have all shaped our thinking so that food is not merely nourishment or fuel for the metabolic processes that keep us alive.
Food is entertainment!
Food is sin!
It’s comfort!
It’s shame!
It’s part of the social fabric of our lives, particularly in the church!
It’s the thing we don’t talk about when the Oreos have been hidden behind the Cheerios in the cupboard.
The Unspeakable Topic
In the New Testament, we read hints that food was not a neutral topic even in that era. Along with Paul’s cautionary statements about meat offered to idols, we find the writer of Hebrews weighing in:
Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.” (Hebrews 13:9)
Is this a strange verse? Apparently, the author’s audience had begun to elevate some form of consumption over a healthy heart or community. Like them, we find strength of heart as we approach God through Jesus, our Messiah and High Priest. (Isn’t it just like Hebrews to increase our appreciation for the book of Leviticus?)
There was an unhelpful teaching at large that involved food—perhaps Jewish dietary restrictions were being taught as a path to righteousness? The author is not specific, but without a doubt, in our century there is no shortage of unprofitable thinking about food whether it’s excessive dieting, addictions of all sorts, and even obsessions over what goes (or doesn’t go) into our bodies—as if that could defile us more than our faithless words or ceaseless striving (Matthew 15:11). Efficient idol-factories that they are, our hearts have even found ways of turning fasting and the Lord’s supper into something they were never intended to be, when the truth is: There is no food regimen that will fix your life!
With both feet planted firmly in his understanding of the Old Testament, the author reaches back for truth from Leviticus 16 and the Day of Atonement. The offering for sin made on that all-important day was carried outside the camp—and burned. None of it was eaten.
Hebrews 13:12 draws a dotted line all the way forward to the cross, where, outside the city gate, the sin offering to end all sin offerings was offered, and the “food” upon which we all are now strengthened is grace.
This truth unmasks the hollow place that sends me to the refrigerator (again?) between meals. Over-eating or boredom-snacking or stress-binges may be signs of a grace hunger that no food on this earth will satisfy.
The drooping spirit that sends me to the third (or fourth?) cup of coffee just to put one foot in front of the other may be more than just fatigue, but rather a sign that strength of spirit is lacking.
Where does this strength of spirit come from?
According to Hebrews 13:9, it doesn’t come from food. It comes from grace.
Is it possible to eat grace for breakfast?
The only reliable resource for feeding the spirit is Christ. This final chapter of Hebrews points us to the altar which brings us the abiding presence of Christ who is “the same, yesterday, today, and forever.” It points us to “the outcome” of the conduct of those who have run and are running the race of faith ahead of us. Most of all, the book of Hebrews points us to faith, the power that fuels right conduct, the source of all true righteousness.
Lord, sweep us into the river of Your grace that we may remember—and never forget—where the strength comes from that will keep our wandering hearts close to You.
Amen.
The only reliable resource for feeding the spirit is Christ.
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A Bible App Devotional Plan for the Season of Gratitude
For those of us in the United States, Thanksgiving falls in November. However, gratitude is not circumscribed by geographic boundaries. Nor do we need a calendar’s permission to leave room for gratitude, so whether you think of this series of devotionals as heart preparation for the coming season or simply want to retune your heart to the key of thanks, this is your invitation to pay attention to the steady stream of blessing that comes to us through God’s love. May we enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise, no matter what the season of the year.
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This is not just profoundly true it dips into a much bigger truth that is often ignored. Humans cling to the physical as their guide rather than the spiritual because it’s so much easier to depend on something we can list, define and see. We then end up worshipping rituals and rules.
Collosions 2:15 – Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a feast day or a new moon or a sabbath day:
Here, Paul has come to the conclusion that we should, “let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days.” Having been freed from the restrictions of the Law, through faith in Christ, Paul’s earnest desire was to instill in us the higher life that we have in Him. He wanted to get across that we are no longer bound by law, but are under grace – and Paul spent many verses outlining who we are in Christ and the privileges we have in Him.
Source: https://dailyverse.knowing-jesus.com/colossians-2-16
I have spent most of my life taking the road less travelled in respect to religion – meaning i don’t worship religion or religious doctrine, of which there are many that contradict each other. I do understand that humans are flawed and often needy in their desire for firm interpretations of what being a Christian requires. But I choose to be a Christ follower who understands that He did not come to start a new religion – He came to be the final sacrifice and end of the old covenant and to make a way back to the Father. It’s complicated though because there are many who can understand this and still be devoted to their congregation.
But those who must walk another walk, influence another way are often misunderstood and therefore I am deemed to be what A.W. Tozer wrote about in his essay The Loneliness of The Christian.
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