Too Much Junk...

Food

Are you concerned about your weak physical condition these days? Many causes lead to poor health, but America in general and the church in particular is facing an epidemic of health problems due to an excessive consumption of junk food.

What do we mean by junk food? We do not mean food that is poisonous. There are substances that no one should ever consume. For example, arsenic has been added to food for centuries as a poison. This can hardly be considered food. We also do not mean wholesome food that is corrupted by harmful bacteria. Such food is not under serious debate among sincere believers, who instinctively know to avoid it.

No, junk food contains ingredients that in other foods and in other concentrations might be wholesome and good. For example, although calories get a bad rap, it is impossible to imagine a diet completely empty of calories. There are rare foods that experiment with zero calories, such as the modern trend toward zero calorie soft drinks. However, a complete lack of calories in a meal leads to a dull lifelessness that soon brings the eater looking for something with more vitality.

 
Furthermore, the problem with junk food is not merely the list of ingredients but also the proportions. It has an excess of some ingredient, like sugar, often coupled with a lack of other essential elements, that results in an unbalanced diet for the body. There is a fairly short list of such ingredients that dominate junk food. Sugar, fat, and salt are three of the most common. These ingredients have a large impact on our senses when consumed even in small quantities. In concentrated form they are potent. Mix in some artificial flavorings and you have a recipe for junk.

So why do people eat junk food? The simple answer is that it tastes appealing, at least initially. If it didn’t, there would be no market for it. Food connoisseurs might object, suggesting that quality foods do in fact taste better. This may be true, but the objection overlooks some important realities.

First, there is an addictive effect to junk food. This is hard to prove medically, as the addiction is not as obvious or testable as that for cocaine. It is nevertheless real, as every junk food addict can attest. “You can’t eat just one,” claims the potato chip bag. Indeed potato chips are about as junky as you can get, but they still sell. A quick look at the grocery store shelf reveals that junk food sells indeed, and sells very well.

Second, there seems to be a dulling of the taste, so that wholesome foods seem to be bland and unsatisfying in comparison. Junk food provides an intense and immediate “kick.” Like the drug addict, the food junkie finds little satisfaction in simple food. The taste has to be intense, and over time the intensity has to be increased. Loss of ability to enjoy the ordinary pleasures of life is part of the addiction.

Third, fine food requires some education and experience to fully appreciate. The care and complexity that goes into a cullinary masterpiece are rarely appreciated by the macaroni and cheese crowd. In our culture of microwave dinners, instant messages, and news sound bytes, people are lacking the patience to sit through and appreciate the combined effect of a multi-course meal. This is the age of fast food. The “Hot ‘n Now” fast food chain is the epitome of our food culture. I want my food hot and I want it right now.

Finally, we are multitasking ourselves to distraction. People rarely sit down just to eat. They watch TV or text or drive or shop or doing a hundred other things while they eat. Food is part of the background of our lives, rarely something we focus our full attention on. Fine dining takes extended concentrated attention to fully appreciate. It is ill suited to eating while you drive, for example.

The problem is not just the food itself. Taken rarely and in moderation even the most concentrated of junk food would have minimal impact on our bodies. The problem is that we consume far too much of it. Eating has become more than a meal time event. Food is present always and everywhere. The receptionist at the office has the bowl of candy by her desk. The gas station and the hardware store have candy at the checkout. In a modern car, the cup holders to facilitate on-the-go eating are no longer optional. The movie theater has popcorn, the ball game has hot dogs, and the party is nothing without food.

The experience of hunger is almost unknown to us. Are you ever really hungry? I don’t mean for the 15 minutes between your last snack and dinner. I mean the hours-long or days-long time of abstinence that forms the quaint practice known as fasting.

As Christians, does this lifestyle of junk addiction honor God? When we have eaten to the point of obesity, how is our lifestyle worthy of the gospel (Philippians 1:27)? Is our body a fitting temple for God (1 Corinthians 6:19)? Is the spirit in control of our lives, or are our addictions in control?

As individuals, God help us to set our sights higher. As parents, we can teach our children to do better. Pity the church that would not only tolerate but actually encourage this taste for junk food in its members. Can you imagine a communion service conducted with junk food? Does the holy context make the food holy, or does the food profane the service?

Modern American fast food is not mentioned by name in the Bible, but there are some principles that apply, and some interesting references to people who were criticized for their food appetites.

 Philippians 1:10 is a key passage in this situation. We are called to a pursuit of excellent things. Verse nine explains that this will take knowledge and discernment. This goes beyond mere avoidance of the bad. Nor does it tolerate the mediocre. Philippians 4:8 similarly sets a high standard, calling us to things that are pure, lovely, virtuous. etc. 1 Corinthians calls us to go beyond the debate over what is merely lawful, and instead ask whether the thing in question is controlling (6:12), or expedient or edifying (10:23). Junk food cannot pass these tests. It is not excellent. It is controlling. It is not expedient.

Consider a Bible example. Esau was described as a “profane” man. He sold his birthright for what? For a bowl of food (Genesis 25:32). What was Satan’s first temptation of Christ? To turn stones into bread (Matthew 4:3). What did the children of Israel desire in the wilderness that led them to sinful complaining? The food of Egypt (Numbers 11:5). How can we say, “it is just food, it is not a big deal?”

Do you have the knowledge and judgment to approve things that are excellent? Or are you mired in the junk, with a waistline to prove it? Prayerfully ask God whether it might not be time for a change of diet.

Music

Are you concerned about your weak spiritual condition these days? Many causes lead to poor health, but America in general and the church in particular is facing an epidemic of spiritual problems due to an excessive consumption of junk music.

What do we mean by junk music? We do not mean music that is poisonous. There are songs that no one should ever listen to. For example, there is a satanic extreme heavy metal genre known as “black metal”. This can hardly be considered music. We also do not mean wholesome music that is corrupted by harmful lyrics. Such music is not under serious debate among sincere believers, who instinctively know to avoid it.

No, junk music contains ingredients that in other compositions and in other concentrations might be wholesome and good. For example, although rhythm gets a bad rap, it is impossible to imagine a musical diet completely empty of rhythm. There are rare genres that experiment with zero rhythm, such as the modern trend toward ambient space music. However, a complete lack of rhythm in a song leads to a dull lifelessness that soon brings the listener looking for something with more vitality.

Furthermore, the problem with junk music is not merely the list of elements but also the proportions. It has an excess of some element, like rhythm, often coupled with a lack of other essential elements, that results in an unbalanced diet for the spirit. There is a fairly short list of such elements that dominate junk music. Percussion, electronic instrumentation, and syncopation are three of the most common. These elements have a large impact on our senses when consumed even in small quantities. In concentrated form they are potent. Mix in some synthesized and heavily processed sound and you have a recipe for junk.

So why do people listen to junk music? The simple answer is that it sounds appealing, at least initially. If it didn’t, there would be no market for it. Music connoisseurs might object, suggesting that quality music does in fact sound better. This may be true, but the objection overlooks some important realities.

First, there is an addictive effect to junk music. This is hard to prove psychologically, as the addiction is not as obvious or testable as that for cocaine. It is nevertheless real, as every junk music addict can attest. You just “Can’t Stop” sang the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Indeed the Chili Peppers are about as junky as you can get, but they still sell. A quick look at the music store reveals that junk music sells indeed, and sells very well.

Second, there seems to be a dulling of the taste, so that wholesome music seem to be bland and unsatisfying in comparison. Junk music provides an intense and immediate “kick.” Like the drug addict, the music junkie finds little satisfaction in simple music. The sound has to be intense, and over time the intensity has to be increased. Loss of ability to enjoy the ordinary pleasures of life is part of the addiction.

Third, fine music requires some education and experience to fully appreciate. The care and complexity that goes into an orchestral masterpiece are rarely appreciated by the pop music crowd. In our culture of microwave dinners, instant messages, and news sound bytes, people are lacking the patience to sit through and appreciate the combined effect of a multi-movement symphony. This is the age of instant downloads. The “Red Hot Now” music site is the epitome of our music culture. I want my music hot and I want it right now.

Finally, we are multitasking ourselves to distraction. People rarely sit down just to listen to music. They watch TV or text or drive or shop or doing a hundred other things while they listen. Music is part of the background of our lives, rarely something we focus our full attention on. Concert music takes extended concentrated attention to fully appreciate. It is ill suited to listening while you drive, for example.

The problem is not just the music itself. Taken rarely and in moderation even the most concentrated of junk music would have minimal impact on our spirits. The problem is that we listen to far too much of it. Listening to music] has become more than a special occasion event. Music is present always and everywhere. The receptionist at the office has the radio by her desk. The gas station and the hardware store have CDs at the checkout. In a modern car, the cd player to facilitate on-the-go music is no longer optional. The movie theater has background music, the ball game has a DJ, and the party is nothing without music.

The experience of silence is almost unknown to us. Are you ever really silent? I don’t mean for the 15 minutes between your last iPod song and turning on the radio. I mean the hours-long or days-long time of abstinence that forms the quaint practice known as meditation.

As Christians, does this lifestyle of junk addiction honor God? When we have listened to the point of carnality, how is our lifestyle worthy of the gospel (Philippians 1:27)? Is our mind renewed for God (Romans 12:2)? Is the spirit in control of our lives, or are our addictions in control?

As individuals, God help us to set our sights higher. As parents, we can teach our children to do better. Pity the church that would not only tolerate but actually encourage this taste for junk music in its members. Can you imagine a worship service conducted with junk music? Does the holy context make the music holy, or does the music profane the service?

Modern American pop music is not mentioned by name in the Bible, but there are some principles that apply, and some interesting references to people who were criticized for their music appetites.

Philippians 1:10 is a key passage in this situation. We are called to a pursuit of excellent things. Verse nine explains that this will take knowledge and discernment. This goes beyond mere avoidance of the bad. Nor does it tolerate the mediocre. Philippians 4:8 similarly sets a high standard, calling us to things that are pure, lovely, virtuous. etc. 1 Corinthians calls us to go beyond the debate over what is merely lawful, and instead ask whether the thing in question is controlling (6:12), or expedient or edifying (10:23). Junk music cannot pass these tests. It is not excellent. It is controlling. It is not expedient.

Consider a Bible example. The deviant worship of the golden calf was accompanied by what? By music, dancing, and partying. At first glance this might sound like innocent, maybe even wholesome, worship. But a careful reading of the passage reveals this is not so. The word “play” in Exodus 32:6 is the same word that describes Isaac “sporting” with his wife in Genesis 26:8. The behavior is described as “shameful” (Exodus 32:25). The picture is the all-too-familiar modern party scene where the food, the music, and the behavior are equally junky. Note how this is package of behaviors fits together. Can you imagine a dinner with fine French cuisine at a Black Sabbath concert? Or milkshakes and super-sized tubs of popcorn in the audience at a New York Philharmonic concert? They don’t go together, and for a good reason.

Do you have the knowledge and judgment to approve things that are excellent? Or are you mired in the junk, with a devotional life to prove it? Prayerfully ask God whether it might not be time for a change of diet.