Several years back I read Whitebread Protestants by Daniel Sack. Sack is a religion scholar who surveys the historical relationship between American Protestantism and food. The book explores several different categories: 1) The Lord’s Supper; 2) church suppers and potluck dinners; 3) food outreach ministries, such as food pantries and soup kitchens; and 4) global famine relief efforts. Each of these areas has absorbed a significant amount of time and energy in American church life. Often kitchens are the busiest places in any given church building. And sometimes the characters there are the most defining personalities in the church – often even more so than that of the pastor.
I thought of this as I was studying Romans 14:17 recently, where Paul writes: “For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” What we do with food goes directly back to the life and teaching of Jesus, who dined with sinners and tax collectors (Mark 2:13-17), fed thousands of people (John 6:1-14), and commanded His followers to feed the hungry (Matthew 25:31-46). So why does the Bible here say that the Kingdom of God does not consist of food or drink? There are a couple important things to remember…
Andrew McHenry, Pastor First Congregational Church of Oroville
2 Comments
Terri Harris
8/28/2021 07:04:58 pm
Thanks for sharing the historical perspective on things that can divide Christians! It is hard not to get caught up in our current trials and tribulations, but putting things in a larger historical context and the even greater Kingdom perspective does help regain focus! Thanks for sharing this!
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Pastor Andrew
8/29/2021 08:53:45 pm
Thank you Terri! Glad this message was helpful to you. A kingdom-focus always sets us in the right direction. God bless you!
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Andrew McHenryI am a husband, a Congregational pastor, and a native Kansan currently living in Thermalito, California. In the past I have also been a prison chaplain and a youth pastor. Interests include reading, railroads, prog rock, KU, and the KC Royals. Archives
April 2024
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