Why “All You Can Eat” Can Be a Spiritual Issue
— Thursday, December 4th, 2008 —
There’s something creepy about reading about the global economic meltdown right along with the return of the restaurant industry’s “all you can eat” trend.
Now, many who choose the “all you can eat” don’t eat all that much. They’re the ones who make money for the restaurant. But what is it about just knowing I can eat all I could possibly want that’s so attractive as an advertising device?
All of us want to be free from limits, and those limits typically start with food. Food, after all, reminds us we’re creatures, not gods. We’re dependent on provision. The Serpent uses words to turn Eve’s appetite away from the Logos and toward her autonomous digestive tract. The pattern is repeated from Esau to the sons of Eli to those who the Apostle Paul warns us serve as god who is “their belly” (Phil 3:19).
The self-control of the appetite, though, is a reminder that our stomachs are means to an end, to service to our Christ. We feast when the bridegroom is present, fast when he’s absent. Our stomach is designed for the Christ-life, not the other way around.
It’s hard to see that in our little corner of the human story. If we could, in fact, “turn these stones into bread,” would we see it as an opportunity to defeat the Serpent with the Word of our God? Or would we see it as just another buffet?
Great post. “Buffet” may be one of the issues within the church that isn’t addressed like it should be. Look around on a Sunday morning and notice the people within our churches that should probably stay away from the “#1 China Buffet” this week.
Trying to discern how to address this within the context of the church as a pastor is tough. Approaching someone about their eating habits seems to many, out of bounds for the pastor. Is it? How do you go about it?
“Self-control” of all things, including the appetite is a matter of life and death! If you can’t control yourself, then you lack a fruit of the Spirit, which may be evidence that you don’t have the Spirit.
I think the common prayer over meals, “Lord bless this food to the nourishment of our bodies and our bodies in service to you,” is spot on. Yet, many who pray this way miss the implications of what they are saying. As you have said, “our stomachs are a means to an end, service to Christ.’
Thanks for the post….I think I will cancel my lunch appointment at Gatti-Land today.
Jonathon, You’ve made my day with the Gatti-land comment! Good word on the common prayer over meals. I’d not thought of that, and you are exactly right. RDM
RDM, is this another (veiled) shot at the frequent references to food on my Twitter feed? Or is it the theological ground for your loathing of Chuck. E. Cheese’s?
Oooh, there’s a theological ground to loathing Chuck E. Cheese? Thank you, thank you! I am holier than I thought, hehehee.
I do avoid buffets on semi-spiritual grounds — they are an invitation to over-consumption. And the food is never that good anyway.
Kamilla
I have never been obese, and try to hit the gym a few days a week. However, I do love to eat. It’s so easy to have that extra slice of pizza or raid the cookie jar at midnight when you know you’re headed to the gym tomorrow. As of late I have been feeling very convicted about my eating habits. As a pastor I admonish people about overcoming temptation, and abstaining from all appearances of evil. I lose credit when they hear me telling them to put down their beer, keep their clothes on, “resist the devil so that he will flee from you”, and I can’t even push myself away from the dinner table. I needed this post today thanks.
Jonathon,
I think you are dead on in the way we pray for our food to bless our bodies to Christ’s service without considering what it is we are even praying. It has almost become a prayer “catch phrase”….good word.
Dr. Moore, would you extend your critique to free refills on Coke Zero?
Phillip, I didn’t intend it as such. But remember our “dual authorship” and “sensus plenior” discussions from preaching class….
I had a conversation with a brother about gluttony today. I came to the realization that I don’t really know how to define it. I almost feel like Justice Potter Stewart when trying to define obscenity - “I know it when I see it.” I only know what gluttony is when I realize that the previous bite should’ve been my last.
Perhaps the heavyweights (theologically only, of course) around here could help us out in understanding this sin.
An important note concerning buffets for travelers to the UK: The British restaurant industry, in order to avoid American patterns of consumption and the corresponding obesity, and perhaps taking language more literally, refrain from offering ‘all you CAN eat’. Instead, trusting the restraint of their patrons, or perhaps encouraging them to be sensible, offer ‘all you WANT to eat’ at their buffets.
Dr. Moore,
I know you are familiar with this resource, but thought your readers might appreciate Peter Leithart’s treatment of this issue. He ties the loss of the idea of food and hunger as indicators of spiritual dependence upon the Lord directly to the loss of adequate preaching and teaching on the Lord’s Supper. I really think he’s onto something here.
An issue that is also of great significance in this discussion, and that has already been touched on, is the quality of the food and the food experience inherent in the “all you can eat” system. This is not merely a preference issue. But when families are herded through a feeding line to consume large quanitities of industry-manufactured, mass-produced, and low-grade material, there is something spiritual happening here as well.
Anyway, the book is “Blessed Are The Hungry”, and you can purchase it here:
http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=227104&netp_id=264033&event=ESRCN&item_code=WW&view=covers
Richard, the operative phrase in “Coke Zero” is “Zero.” Zero calories, zero carbs, zero guilt. Well, wait, there is the caffeine….Can we talk about something else?
Chase, I would probably be more of a theological super-model than a heavyweight, but I tend to view gluttony as a symptom sin. This makes it difficult to pinpoint the extent needed to qualify as “gluttony.” It is an indulgence indicative that food has become master rather than servant. Ironically, this idolatry yields antithetical fruit in others (unhealthy preoccupation with weight and/or exercise, eating disorders, etc.)
On a side note, should we draw a distinction between genuine gluttony and careless overindulgence?
Nicholae, Good point. Leithart’s treatment is good. So is Stephen Webb’s in his book on eating. I don’t agree with his vegetarianism, but there’s some really insightful stuff there on eating.
Dr. Moore said, “If we could, in fact, ‘turn these stones into bread,’ would we see it as an opportunity to defeat the Serpent with the Word of our God? Or would we see it as just another buffet?”
I think another question could be tacked onto the end of that last question, saying, “Or would we just turn it into another Christian marketing engine?” Isn’t that what happens?
Someone has an idea and then, immediately, as soon as it gets marketed by [a major Christian publishing company], it becomes the “next big thing.”
I think about Jabez’s prayer. It’s always been in the Bible. But I don’t know if I could live without the P.O.J. Keychain. I feel as if my keys are blessed.
I think about “Jesus for President” (a book from a guy opposed to Pax Americana, or, i.e., American imperialism [see the responses in Moore's point about Bell]). Though there are some interesting and/or thought-provoking items in there, what does it mean to market a book that speaks against the mass marketing that “Imperial America” uses? Of course, it has really cool artwork in it. And the pages smell kinda nice.
I think about Christmas being Purpose-Driven. Thank God, Christmas is purpose-driven.
So, if some Christian could turn stones into bread today, what would that look like? Would it turn into another buffet? What kind of buffet would it be?
Would it be a good buffet, making it evident that the power of God is active?
Would it be a bad buffet, showing the lengths that the evil one will take in order to devalue Christendom?
Or, would it just leave a bad aftertaste, an over-priced bill, and require more time to rest after the gluttonous indulgence?
Two years ago, I went to a buffet with our Senior Adult club. It was my first official outing with them, being new on staff. And I ate myself “stupid.”
What a way to minister — as a glutton.
Good post. Thought provoking.
I look forward to “moore” posts like these.
JTR
I so appreciate you Dr. Moore - you’ve been a great resource and provided wonderful insight for me over the past couple years.
I’ve struggled with how to ‘think Christianly’ about obesity - being quite obese myself. I’ve sinned greatly in getting here and have certainly been guilty of gluttony…but I’m reminded that gluttony is a heart issue and being overweight is a physical issue.
I’m on the path of losing weight both for physical and spiritual reasons - so since I’m no longer stuffing myself silly, I’m not sure that I’m guilty of gluttony - but of course, I am still overwieght. I’m know that those around me will still see me as a glutton - and possible wonder if I may ‘not even have the spirit’, but I think that may be short-sighted. Our assumption of spirituality can’t be based on physical attributes - after all, if 5 extra lb’s is OK - why not 10 or 20….or 50?
If I’m disqualified from being a worthy representation of Jesus to the world and church because of my weight - does that also disqualify others with a physical issue? You would be right in stating that my weight is a physical symptom of my sin - but how much weight do I need to lose before I’m a worthy vessel again?
Too bad the ability to ramble is considered a spiritual gift, eh?
I am not trying to score any Canadian nationalistic points here but this post reminded me of the account a local DJ told on the radio recently. She was vacationing in Florida and when she commented on the enormous size of the serving she got when her order came. The waiter responded “You’re Canadian aren’t you.” It could be that Canadian restaurants are just cheaper and out to make more by providing less. But the waiter told the lady that the reason the portions are so big in the U.S. is because people would cause a real hullabaloo if they were smaller. Canadians would of course never do such a thing because it would be just too impolite (How do you get 12 Canadians out of your pool? Ask them to leave). All you can eat buffets are simply consumerism carried into the food arena. And I am eating at one on Monday as part of the Toronto Pastors Fellowship.