Flexitarianism

During the summer our students have been studying the book “Not A Fan” written by Kyle Idleman. It’s a been a good study and is an excellent read for either students or adults.

In our discussion last night, we were talking about how at times we can be selective when it comes to following Jesus. The word the author used is “compartmentalize.” It’s where I give part of my life to Jesus, but I hold something back.

That is when we were introduced the concept of flexitarians. I had heard of vegetarians and even people who were vegan, but not flexitarians. Several years ago MSNBC had an article on the new trend in eating. It’s an interesting look at how people approach lots of things, including food and Jesus.

Here’s what one flexitarian said, according to MSNBC:

“Sometimes I feel like I’m a bad vegetarian, that I’m not strict enough or good enough,” the 28-year-old bookkeeper from Concord said recently. “I really like vegetarian food but I’m just not 100 percent committed.”

The article continues:

“These so-called “flexitarians” — a term voted most useful word of 2003 by the American Dialect Society — are motivated less by animal rights than by a growing body of medical data that suggests health benefits from eating more vegetarian foods. ‘There’s so many reasons that people are vegetarians … I find that nobody ever gives me a hard time when I say I usually eat vegetarian. But I really like sausage.’”

The challenging statement is in the first quote.  You can fill in the blank with anything – food, exercise, even Jesus – “I really like                                  ,  but I’m just not 100 percent committed.”

Where are we living as a flexitarian?

You Look Marvelous

I get the opportunity to preach this Sunday. Our Senior Minister decided he needed a vacation with his family (go figure!) so I get to speak.  Our series is called “Be Real” and it focuses on being compassionate, authentic, genuine followers of Him.

One of the things we are focusing on is how we can tend to put more emphasis on outward appearances than the condition of our heart. We put on a show, so people won’t know what’s going on inside.

It made me think of Billy Crystal’s character Fernando.  I remember seeing it years ago on TV and hearing his catchphrase, “You Look Marvelous!”  It was more like “Mahvelous” but I don’t know how to type that accent.

Fernando was about appearance.  It is better to look good than feel good.  How many times have we put on a mask to hide what’s under the surface?  Everything is “fine” even when it is isn’t.  As a church we are striving to be real instead of trying to just look “marvelous.”