Jesus, Bread and Chocolate-- How do we satisfy our spiritual appetite?

I have a hunch that I echo the sentiments of many out there when I express the feeling of boredom. That life in the form of faith has become a bit mundane. Predictable. On any given Sunday I could walk through the doors of any church and expect much of the same thing. Greetings. Announcements. A corny video. Some worship songs. Prayer. Preaching with 3 major points. Closing songs, prayer and lunch to follow.

There is certainly nothing wrong with the way church services are run. They are functional. And I don’t doubt those involved are sincere in their motive to worship and glorify God.

I have been involved in church my whole life. No lie. Starting with the church nursery as a baby, graduating to children’s church, then onto youth group, serving as a young adult, and eventually working on a church staff. When I was hired on, the pastor interviewing me warned me of the dark side. He said I would inevitably see the “underbelly” of church and strongly encouraged me not to become jaded. As though, because we are humans that call ourselves Christians, things WILL be done inappropriately but that is just the way it is. Maintaining status quo is more important than getting everyone involved in the ugly mess of our imperfections. So it remains quiet and swept under the rug in an effort to keep the spiritual ball rolling of gaining members and planning programs all for the sake of Christ. Then it becomes even more a challenge to sit through the service that has somehow become a performance to entertain and convince the congregation the church is a healthy, thriving entity with the sole purpose of helping people trust Jesus, no matter what the cost.

Needless to say church has been on the back burner for me. I have been feeling uninspired. Unmotivated. I’m beat down by the culture wars and battles fought in the name of Jesus. I find myself asking is this all there is? I’m craving MORE. And let me make myself clear. I do not desire to be a consumer-- To go and be fed and get the warm feel goods that keep my faith comfortable and easy. Nor am I implying I have it all figured out and the current system is just antiquated and behind the times. I KNOW I’m not perfect. But that is precisely why I want to be a part of something willing to admit just that! Not at a base level of “We recognize we are broken and in need of YOU Jesus” But someone that says “Damnit. I yelled at my kids again. How will they know the love of God when I’m constantly losing my temper?” (because swearing always adds more validity to the struggle and this may or may not be my personal confession ;) OR someone that shares how God showed up in the ordinary of their day. Someone that inspires me to look for Him in the midst of my monotonous routine--That refuses to separate the physical from the spiritual. That it is all one. And God is everywhere. Not limited to the confines of a church building or Bible study or program or conference. But in the wind that blows the leaves saying I am with you.
Now, it would be unfair and ultimately untrue for me to continue to generalize and stereotype “church” based on my very limited experience with only a handful of churches within specific denominations. Mainly non-denonminational or evangelical. There are probably many churches, even in my area, that are genuine, transparent and relentlessly committed to allowing people an encounter with God each and every time they meet. And not all of my past experiences have been negative. I have enjoyed community that I believe was authentic and genuine. I suppose I should just outright admit, I HAVE become jaded. Pride is the center of it all, yes. And of course, we ARE human trying to live out the Christian life. But on the other hand, my exposure to the “underbelly” has certainly caused me a bit of hesitation and ultimately a lack of trust in the “that’s just the way it is” mentality that keeps churches in the machine of business type models. I find it hard to sit through a rehearsed, polished, perfected program and call it “church”.
I am on a quest to authenticate my faith. Not so much to make sense of everything-- Lord knows I had an answer for every question in my past. I don’t desire certainty or doubtlessness. I desire REALNESS.
I stumbled upon an opportunity to read upcoming books and review them on my blog. After browsing thru my first options it would come as no surprise that I would choose a book with the  tagline--”Crafting a handmade faith in a mass market world.”
Jesus, Bread, and Chocolate, by John J. Thompson*

tackles the issue of “white bread” faith that has become so prevalent in our society. He skillfully compares our go to churchisms and christianese norms to that of processed junk food. It is cheap and easy to come by- always tastes how we expect and glibly satisfies. He notes how many of our tastes are beginning to shift and we are now desperately craving the good stuff. The real stuff. Not just to satisfy our physical hunger but to satiate our withering souls.

I wonder what would happen to the value of our faith if we could rescue it from the process of commodification. If a life spent in pursuit of Christ could be recognized as a radical and selfless, counterintuitive adventure instead of a carefully packaged and lifeless script, would seekers find something worth following? Might new flavors--notes that had been there all along but had been lost in the pile-- reemerge? Might the aroma of such a faith draw in people who aren’t the least bit interested in the kind of factory faith that has been cleverly marketed to them by churches obsessed with growth?

He communicates quite effectively with extensive historical and descriptive processing techniques, the time it takes to make quality bread, chocolate, coffee, beer, food and even music. Each one requires attentiveness, patience, a mix of the purest ingredients and a commitment to the process, avoiding shortcuts for a quicker result. Yet, because we have settled for less than for so long, he spends time talking about our need to develop a taste for the finer things.

Cultivating good taste is a skill that tends to bleed from one area of life into other areas. As I spend time intentionally tasting new foods and talking with friends and experts about the flavors I might otherwise miss, my appreciation and desire for the good stuff only grow. Over the years I have noticed that as my discernment improves with regard to cheap teaching, weak ideas, poorly executed community, and shallow values. Then, on my better days, I actually find the strength to say no to those things.

I may have gotten lost at times with his in depth descriptions of roasting coffee beans or the brewing of quality beer. Overall, Thompson is an exceptional storyteller and invites you into some of the deepest hurts of his life that led him to where he is today. If you choose to read this book, meaning if you resonate with any of what I have communicated then the last chapter summarizes the whole crux of his point beautifully--acknowledging his (our/MY) propensity to overlook the good that IS taking place within the church. And knowingly admitting responsibility for helping bring about the change necessary instead of quitting all together. ---------> GUILTY!
Suffice it to say, I am not alone in this quest. And neither are you. I have hope that there can be true worship unconfined by appearances and performance. That with invested time and long- suffering commitment authentic community can happen. Our souls can reawaken to the beauty of the gospel that mysteriously drew us in. It doesn’t mean we are snobbish in our desire to seek out something better. I think it means we are discerning when we realize what we have been consuming is virtually destroying us from the inside out-Or numbing us to the true experience of life. Now the question remains… where do I/we begin?

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR,Part 255.