Fast-Food Religion

We recently saw the French film, Certified Copy. As Jan and I were discussing the movie afterward, I said the movie reminded me of a long, slow, multi-course European meal, which requires time to savor and digest. Many Hollywood movies remind me more of fast food.

Lest I sound like a total snob, let me assure you there are times when I enjoy and appreciate fast food, just as there are times that a totally mindless action movie can be great fun! Still, we know the dangers of a steady diet of fast food. I remember an acquaintance, a busy business owner, saying, "I don't recognize it as a meal, if it doesn't get handed out of a window in a paper bag." A physician hearing that would be concerned about the man's health.  As a pastor, I was concerned about his soul.

As humans, we are invited to savor the world that God has created: the tastes and the smells, the joys of creative labor.  "O taste and see that the Lord is good!" In our "crazybusy"[i] world, where do we find the time to taste, to savor, and to digest?

The disciplines of prayer and meditation, as well as community worship, offer that chance to savor and digest. Sadly, even our worship can slip into a fast-food approach to life. I recently heard someone describe the praise music at their church as "7-11 songs - the same seven words repeated eleven times."  Of course, such repetition can be good, when it draws us deeper into God's mysteries.  But we should beware of "empty calories" in our spiritual diet as well.

Good food takes time and loving attention to prepare. It takes seasons, not moments, for crops to grow and fruits to ripen.  So it is with the life of the spirit.