The Table Wk Six // Food as Justice

6 “Is not this the fast that I choose:

to loose the bonds of wickedness,

to undo the straps of the yoke,

to let the oppressed go free,

and to break every yoke?

7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry

and bring the homeless poor into your house;

when you see the naked, to cover him,

and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

Isaiah 58:6-7

Begin with prayer (5 minutes)

Gather together as a community in a comfortable setting (around a table, on the couch, the floor of the living room, etc.) Have somebody lead a prayer asking the Holy Spirit to guide your time together.

Spend a Little Time in Triads (10 minutes)

If you are a community of seven or more, divided into small groups of 3-4 people each.

Spend a few minutes catching up on life…Then talk through the following debrief question:

1. How was last weeks practice for you (Eating your meal as communion)? Have you been able to implement this practice in the past week? If so, how did it change your experience of your meal?

Transition Back to One Large Group (15-20 minutes)

Have a conversation around the following questions:

1. Did you listen to the teaching from Isaiah 58? What stood out to you? What challenged you?

2. How often do you think about the story behind your food and how it affects the world around you?

3. Compare Psalm 146 with Jesus’ warning that the nations (or peoples) will be judged to be either sheep or goats (Matthew 25:31-46). What similarities and differences do you notice?

Talk About the Coming Week’s Practice as a Community (10-20 minutes)

The following week’s practice is made up of two exercises.

Exercise #1: Adjust the Grocery List

Most disciples of Jesus don’t want to participate in injustice, but remain largely unaware of how the food they eat effects others. This week, spend time thinking through your regular shopping and eating habits to look for possible adjustments. Here are some suggestions to get you started:

• Look for the Fair Trade label on coffee, chocolate, and bananas.

• Consider ruling out or reducing brands and restaurants that utilize factory farms.

• Buy animal products and produce from local/family farms.

• Reduce the amount of animal products you consume regularly.

• Try replacing some animal-based staples in your diet with plant-based options instead.

• Reduce waste by buying in bulk rather than purchasing packaged food.

• If you often throw food out before you eat it, adjust your shopping habits accordingly.

• Curious about something you eat? Try researching it and learn where it came from.

• Ask God’s Spirit to empower you for understanding food as both precious and complicated.

• Commit to thinking about your food and where it came from before you buy and/or eat it.

Exercise #2: Using Food to Do Justice

Recapturing God’s heart for food is about more than rejecting injustice, it’s also about actively doing justice in the world around you. Think through possible ways in which you might participate in the using of food to do good. Here are a few suggestions:

• Fast together as a community and donate the money you would have spent on food to a charitable organization that feeds the hungry.

• Volunteer at or donate to a local shelter, food pantry, or another organization working with those who experience food insecurity. A few great options in San Diego are:

  • Christ Community Church in Mira Mesa has 2 monthly food distributions through Feeding San Diego and they welcome volunteers.

  • We See You San Diego feeds 100-200 of our homeless neighbors weekly on Tuesday nights

  • Solutions for Change serves families in their Solutions Academy, which is a 700 day vocational school. This is a great opportunity for families and friends to come together to prepare a meal and serve the newest families at Solutions for Change.

• Adopt a refugee family and eat with them.

• Buy a meal for a houseless person and eat with them.

• Consider becoming a foster family, feed the kids you welcome into your home.

Work Through These Discussion Questions (10-15 minutes)

1. Any thoughts or ideas immediately come to mind for this Practice?

2. Does this Practice seem daunting or exciting? Why?

Close in Prayer (10 -15 minutes)

Spend time in prayer for one another.

Close with someone praying the following prayer:

God of life: Living Source, Liberator, and Upholder of all things: as we seek to eat by following a different Way, may you always give bread to those who are hungry for justice and create a hunger for justice among those who have bread.

Adapted from Bridgetown Church

Additional Resources