Food as a barometer of culture

The Chinese could never have invented fast food.

Never in a million years. Why?

Well, to come up with the bright idea of fast food, you need to be going somewhere. Meaning in life is the next thing you're headed towards. So don't waste any time; eat fast!

The American culture is the culture of "The New World." This is the idea that we're going to leave the present one -- because of religious freedom, because of desire for a better life, because of land -- and go to the New World, the land of Promise. So let's get going!

The American culture is (or at least was) the culture of "Manifest Destiny" -- the idea that there is an entire continent to conquer because God has given it to you. Just go west young man! and you'll fulfill your destiny.

The American culture was the first on the moon. Enough said.

And so it is no surprise that it was the American culture that invented fast food.

In the Chinese culture, food IS the destination. Food IS the promised land. You don't just get there and ... what! All I get is a hamburger? That would be a cultural insult of major proportions.

The Chinese invented gunpowder, paper, the compass. They invented movable type centuries before Gutenberg. Did they use any of it?

Not to the extent the Europeans exploited these ideas.

The Chinese came up with all these gadgets first ...

... then they just went to dinner.

Logos2Go

1 Timothy 6.8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

This is a snippet from Just Do Something, by Kevin DeYoung: ... By and large, my grandparents' generation expected much less out of family life, a career, recreation, and marriage. Granted, this sometimes made them unreflective and allowed for quietly dismal marriages. But my generation is on the opposite end of the spectrum. When we marry, we expect great sex, an amazing family life, recreational adventure, cultural experiences, and personal fulfillment at work. It would be a good exercise to ask your grandparents sometimes if they felt fulfilled in their careers. They'll probably look at you as if you're speaking a different language, because you are. Fulfillment was not their goal. Food was, and faithfulness too. Most older folks would probably say something like, "I never thought about fulfillment. I had a job. I ate. I lived. I raised my family. I went to church. I was thankful. (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2009), p. 31.