Early in the morning, several years ago I was listening to a local DJ on the radio. This DJ is probably the most famous morning show host in our area. Constantly making comedic observations and creating chaos on our streets. On this particular morning, his comedic observation proved to be very thought provoking to me. He said that “if one insists on constantly blessing his or her food, why not take advantage of the opportunity while waiting in line at the check out counter?” (Jack Murphy, paraphrased). This makes a lot of sense to me. It is all in the basket you are going to eat it eventually, why not bless it all at once?
One thing that gets on my nerves to the largest degree is people who are so dogmatic about constantly saying the “blessing” before a meal. As a side note: one thing I have noticed between my friends, family and others is this. While they can be so very dogmatic about blessing each and every meal, they think nothing of running to the cabinet around 2pm to grab a little debbie oatmeal cookie! Seems a little hypocritical to me.
Is it possible that our ideas about blessing food could simply be a tradition?
The author of Genesis (if I claim that Moses wrote Genesis that could strike up another debate so I will not make that claim!) notes that after God created everything he clearly called it “good.” So if everything that is available to us to eat is “good” why should we have to bless it?
Just as an observer, it almost gets under my skin when I see parents of young children forcing them to pray over their food. There is almost ALWAYS a certain ritual involved: closed eyes, hands folded, etc.. To me this is getting children off on the wrong foot. There is not one uniformed way to pray and this is an idea that needs to be taught to children at the youngest of ages.
God does want us to come to him with a thankful heart. We should be thankful for all that He has given to us. I do believe that God is way more concerned with our inward hearts than with our outward example of thankfulness. I have rarely seen a Christian give thanks when they purchase a new car, new mp3 player or receive a favorite dvd as a gift. So why the double standard? Why give thanks only at meals (not snacks)?
Part of me believes that this outward example of thanks is a way for Christian people to show the outside world “look at us, we are Christians who are praying together in public over our food” or “my family is so much more spiritual than your family because we believe in praying over our food before we eat.”
Another part of me believes that all of this is simply a tradition that is handed down from parent to child to child.
The final part of me is just a bit bitter perhaps. So many times I have received nasty looks from people in my life because I eat before the prayer is given. I can’t help it you know. I am a type one diabetic who is very dependent on food to balance my blood sugar. There are times when my blood sugar goes so low I have to start dinner early. Yet, judgmental Christians with this dogmatic attitude just cannot comprehend it. Thats alright though, I saw you take that orange push up out of the freezer and lick it without saying a blessing for it!
Hi, Jason
I loved the bit about blessing the shopping cart.
Very cute. Your points about the blessing are well-taken. Saying a blessing over food can certainly become a pharasaical “thing that we do”. I don’t think that’s the way most people mean it, though. Sure, some people are doing it to be seen, and guess what? They’re seen. They have their reward.
For me, the points of blessing food are these:
First, I don’t usually say what you might think of as a blessing–it’s more like a giving of thanks. If I lived in a third-world country (I have, for a time), I might be more inclined to actually ask a blessing.
Second, it reminds me that all I have comes from God’s hand. I don’t always give thanks for every little thing I eat just as I don’t always remember to give thanks for all the other blessings God gives me. In fact, my 16-year-old daughter is likely to remind me to pray at mealtimes by discretely bowing her own head, ready to say her own quiet prayer. Then I feel guilty–how could I forget?
I do better as I realize more fully how dependent I really am on God. I do give thanks often, though, and if you happened to be watching me, all you would see might be a distant look and (if I’m not driving) probably momentarily closing my eyes to focus.
Third, it is a chance to teach one another (including our kids) how much we depend on everything that comes from our Father’s hands.
Traditions aren’t always bad. I’m not a high church person, but I don’t condemn high church traditions and rituals. They can be both beautiful and intensely spiritual if engaged in with one’s eyes on God. More casual styles of Christianity can also be beautiful and spiritual or empty and man-pleasing. God sees our hearts.
Finally, Jason, I’m sorry you’ve experienced disapproval concerning your disease. I would recommend you explain to people why you need to take a quick sip of OJ or whatever before the blessing. Even if you do explain, some folks won’t understand because they don’t understand low blood sugar as you do, but most folks will be sympathetic. I do think, though, that they’re probably reacting more to their perception of your having behaved rudely than to your not praying before eating. Naturally, this isn’t always the case, but I’ll bet, at bottom, it usually is.
Thanks for your post. It reminds me to be more sensitive to other people’s perceptions. If you do catch me and my family praying at some restaurant, please give us the benefit of the doubt and just ignore us. We really aren’t trying to make you feel guilty or to make ourselves feel superior. We just want to say thank you to the guy who gave us the food.
Grace and Peace,
Cindy
All of that is fine. I totally believe we should be thankful. Yet, the thankfulness within our hearts is more than enough.
Until I was a teenager in a Southern Baptist church did I ever learn that you don’t have to pray with closed eyes. I had always been taught that there is a set way to pray: closed eyes, hands folded. What an eye opener that was for me in my teenage years. I just think that parents need to not doctrinate a specific prayer style to a child. I believe that even though a child’s mind is developing they can still grasp the concept that God is everywhere all around us and he hears every prayer in any ‘prayer position’ 24/7!
Hi, Jason
I guess we had different experiences in childhood (tho mine was a lot longer ago than yours was.
–there are a lot of well-meaning people around who are perhaps a bit legalistic. I particularly notice this with some of the young parents in my church, who are so concerned about raising their children right. They can go (what I would consider to be) a little overboard at times. But they’re young. You have to cut them a little slack. Their hearts are right.
I get to meet all the kids because I lead the Children’s Church program. They’re such great kids. You can’t help but love them. It’s funny you mention the bit about God being all around you. We got into a talk about why it’s important to know the Lord’s Prayer and what it means. You know the bit about “Our Father who is in Heaven”? Heaven, in a lot of places in the NT, refers to the atmosphere. The space all around us. In Him we live and move and have our being. (Acts 17:28) Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? (Psalm 139:7) As you pointed out . . . God is everywhere–all around us.
I’ve often wondered whether the “close your eyes and fold your hands” tactic wasn’t meant origionally more as a method to keep the kids in their seats and quiet.
I do like the idea of praying over a meal with our kids, though. It helps to remind us to be thankful and it helps to teach them the importance of recognizing God’s provision.
Grace and Peace,
Cindy
Oops! I meant Acts 17:28.
Yea perhaps a “stay in your seat and be quiet” tactic!