Celebrating the Resurrection of our Lord with the abundance of His provision at our tables

“Now all who believed were together…continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”  Acts 2:44-47

Christ Church places a great value and emphasis upon food, drink and fellowship. After every worship service we strive to provide a ministry of warm hospitality with an extended time for our members and guests to take a break from busy weekly schedules, relax and relate one-to-another as friends and members of the body of Christ. For many in our church it is the main time available to talk at length with friends in the church, to share good news taking place in their lives and that of their families, and also to share a need for prayer that may exist. From a Biblical perspective food, drink and fellowship are tightly woven together in such a way as to make it an essential aspect of community life.

From the very beginning of creation God has set a banquet before us and said, “Take eat!” We find many feasts incorporated into the worship of ancient Israel with God commanding His people to “eat before the Lord your God in the place where He chooses to make His name abide…oxen or sheep, wine or strong drink, for whatever your heart desires; you shall eat there before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your household” [Deuteronomy 14:22-26].

While it is true that “the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,” there is an interesting connection between faith and food in the Bible. Strong faith opens up a gourmet table before the Christian. The Apostle Paul specifically states that “he who is weak eats only vegetables,” implying that a great steak is good for the spirit as well as the body! (Romans 14:2). We’re also warned to stay away from those who “abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.”

Jesus Himself declared that “The Son of Man came eating and drinking,” and it appears as though everywhere Christ went, whether teaching before large crowds or as a guest in small intimate house fellowships, food and drink was a central factor and of great significance. Interestingly enough, the first recorded miracle of our Lord is that of turning water into premium wine at a wedding! Indeed, one of the most important aspects of worship is the gathering of the body of Christ at the Lord’s Table. The Lord’s Table signifies many things, but one important aspect is the peace and contentment Christians enjoy even in a world filled with enemies: “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. My cup runneth over.” One of the great anticipations for the Christian is to hear “the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, ‘Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready’…Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb” [Revelation 19:6-9].

When the non-believer eats, he does so because the philosophy is “eat drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die.” The unbeliever’s food consumption becomes a sacrament of death, as he doubts God and “he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.” The Christian, however, is filled with faith and unshakable confidence in God and expects future victory and blessings. He is serving Jehovah-Elohim [The Eternal Creator] and Jehovah-Jireh, [The Lord will provide]. The Christian comes with the faith that declares that God is a God of His Word, “for without faith it is impossible to please Him,” and he comes before the lord eating, drinking and rejoicing for he believes “that [God] is, and that [God] is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” We have faith in God and rejoice in His gracious and good provision to us. His mercy truly is new every morning. This exciting faith reaches the high point of expression at the Lord’s Table and then continues on in an expressive way following the service with even more food.

Food and fellowship form the very foundation of our hospitality ministry here at Christ Church of East Lansing and as in any other true ministry it has a cost. It takes time and effort to prepare our after-service fellowships and we count it as one of the most important ministry opportunities of our church. For the most part it is our ladies who serve God and our congregation by living out Ephesians 6:7-8 in the context of our hospitality ministry through advance planning and food preparation: “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does…” The good fruit coming forth from the willing and gracious spirits of the women who labor in love for us each week is that of delightful fellowship, engaging, encouraging conversations between brothers and sisters in Christ and, of course, a satisfied palate. Please join us following the service to experience the joy of the Lord in all His fullness!