Food for Thought

There are certain themes that we continually revisit, like “food.” As has been noted before:

• the Bible begins with food:“…You shall have them for food.” Genesis 1:29
• the fall centers around food,“…for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” Gen. 2:17, “…cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life.” Gen. 3:17,
• and true worship is never far from the table:“…Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions.  And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering….” Gen. 4:4

Therefore, we are not surprised to see food front-and-center in the general cultural scene.  Life and food are closely linked.  Culture and food are intimately associated.  In fact, as goes food, so goes culture.

In the past, I have referenced the Slow Food Movement and some of the major cultural players in the contemporary food scene, most notably, Alice Waters (pictured) and Michael Pollan.  Waters and Pollan both reside in Berkeley, California, which along with its surrounding areas (Napa, Sonoma, San Francisco…) is somewhat of a culinary wonderland.

That said, it might be easy to lump all of this into the general counter-cultural scene oft-associated with the Bay Area.  To do so would be to miss the overarching importance of some of these ideas and practices.  As Christians, we rejoice in the truth wherever we find it.  With that in mind, here is an interesting article, this time not from the “left” (Berkeley, et al), but from the “right.”  The point is not the “side” from whence this comes, but the fact that food and eating cut across all boundaries and philosophies. As Christians, thoughtfulness about this area of life can assist us in understanding, engaging and participating in the renewing of the overall culture.  Let me know what you think….

Bill