You Are How You Eat
Eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. – 1 Corinthians 10:27 (NRSV)
In a world of keto camps, vegan tribalism, and food-as-identity culture, Paul’s words might sound a mite tone-deaf. Doesn’t he know about allergies? Ethics? Digestive enzymes?
Of course, if your body reacts to certain foods, this verse isn’t asking you to risk your health or your life for the sake of politeness. As for the rest of us, Paul may be inviting something deeper: a loosening of control and a widening of grace.
Years ago, I knew a Buddhist monk who practiced strict vegetarianism out of compassion for all living beings. One day, while teaching the dharma at a stranger’s home, his host served meat.
He didn’t flinch. Later, he told me that as he took a bite of chicken, he gently touched his arm as a sacred act of remembering his connection to all living things. He didn’t allow hubris to quash their hospitality. He found a way to practice compassion, regardless.
Tradition says the Buddha died after eating spoiled pork offered by a devotee during his alms round. He received what was given, putting ideals aside, because it was offered with love.
Scripture echoes this in Acts 10, when Peter saw a vision of all kinds of animals and hears a voice say, “What God has made clean, you must not call profane.” The vision wasn’t about food. It was about people.
“Eat what’s set before you” is a posture of humility rather than a divine mandate, an invitation to stop clinging to control and to receive with grace. It makes the person sitting across from us more important than what’s on the table.
Prayer
Help me receive what is offered today—a meal, a person, a distasteful moment—with humility and grace.
About the AuthorMatt Laney is co-Pastor of Virginia Highland Church UCC in Atlanta, GA and the author of Pride Wars, a fantasy series published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for Young Readers. The first two books, The Spinner Prince and The Four Guardians are available now.