Food Desert

A different kind of MAHA

…Congress directed the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to identify “characteristics and factors causing and influencing food deserts”—referred to as an area “with limited access to affordable and nutritious food… “ (Congressional Research Service)

It seems to me that America acts like a desert when it comes to the greatest nutrition available, even though it is offered freely (in fact the price was paid a long time ago). But the outlets seem fewer and further between.

OK, enough tease. I’m talking about a spiritual food desert, where people ignore the free access to the Bread of Life and fruit of the Spirit made avaialble by Jesus’ Crucifixion, Resurrection and Ascension.

Churches and clergy vocations — points of cultivation and provision of spiritual nourishment — are in decline, as more and more of us are content with a very expensive junk food diet of politics and ideology. Or a diet of distractions that pass with the moment.

If we want to make Americans spiritually healthy again, Christians and their churches need to serve up,

The Bread of Life. Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal … I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” (John 6:26-27, 51)

and,

The Fruit of the Spirit. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Notice that in both of these passages, the Lord and his Apostles are having to contend against other priorities that the world offers. “But” appears in both — but because you ate your fill of the loaves and But the fruit of the Spirit is…

“Jesus says all that ‘Bread of Life’ stuff about being a sacrifice and giving eternal life, but let’s figure out how he can help us get what we want. And when do we want it? Now!” Indeed, John 6:15 records that the people who receivied Jesus’ miraculous mutiplication of bread were about to come and take him by force to make him king…

The Apostle Paul points out the junk food that we consider “the real world,” but offers the fruit of the Spirit in place of the works of the flesh … sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is… (Galatians 5:19-22)

We see our nation gorging on spiritual junk food. We might be double dipping into it ourselves.

Many churches have attempted to find relevance by catering to this or that political movement. They can become junk food outlets instead of tables laden with the Bread of Life and fruit of the Spirit.

Other churches (although they are starting to fade) tried to build themselves on “satisfied customers” by conforming their messages and ministries to “felt needs.” It tasted good for about a generation, but turned out to be junk food.

I’m not claiming that there’s a “plan” that will make churches thrive. Or a “program” that will Christianize America. Junk food is tasty and addictive. The Bread of Life and fruit of the Spirit are acquired tastes that many will reject.

But the “desert” is an illusion. Wherever Christ is proclaimed and the fruit of the Spirit is growing, a feast leading to eternal life is underway.