The Theology of Food

Theology is defined as ‘the study of religious faith, practice, and experience; especially: the study of God and of God's relation to the world’ [Mirriam-Webster online dictionary]

A preacher began his sermon with the statement ‘There is no theology of food.’ which alone of all he had to say made me sit up and take notice. Not only take notice, but to begin to consider just why it sounded wrong to me and what exactly was my understanding of the connection between food and theology… because I felt very strongly that there was one!

For the better part of two years I was part of a Meditation group that followed their weekly time of meditation by sharing a light meal provided by the various members of the group. Over that food, experiences were shared from our everyday life, ideas were voiced, and connections were made, all of which echoed our various understandings of just what it meant to try and live as a Christian in today’s world. This was theology, theology at its most vibrant.

I have to think of the biblical story of the ‘Road to Emmaus' [Luke 24:13-35] where those walking with Jesus didn’t recognize him until they were eating together. There is something about the act of eating together that unites people on a different level.

Norman Wirzba in ‘Food and Faith: A Theology of Eating, 2011’ says that food reminds us of our own death, that in order for us to eat, something must die and so we are reminded not only of our own mortality but also of our reliance on the web of creation for our survival, for our daily existence.

The way we handle food also is influenced by our theology. Do we waste it by over-buying and then throwing out that which has spoiled before we could use it? Do we live in that world of over-abundance, of thoughtless extravagance? The prosperity gospel preachers would tell us that is what we deserve. Or do we rarely share what is on our table with others because there might not be enough for us? Do we live in a world of scarcity?

How we understand the workings of ‘God’ plays a huge role in how we relate to food. If the ‘Kingdom of God’ means that we are the special people chosen by ‘God’, then we can be wasteful and over-indulgent with our food. If on the other hand, your understanding of the ‘Kingdom of God’ is one where peace, love and justice reign across the whole earth for all peoples, then we need to work to make sure that no one lacks for the basic need of food wherever they live.

What does your relationship with food say about your theology?

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