• Editor’s note: “Spiritual leaders answer” is a weekly column inviting Kaua‘i’s religious and spiritual leaders to share their doctrine’s perspective on a suggested subject. Every Friday, a topic is printed, inviting a response. Due to space limitations, submissions are
• Editor’s note: “Spiritual leaders answer” is a weekly column inviting Kaua‘i’s religious and spiritual leaders to share their doctrine’s perspective on a suggested subject. Every Friday, a topic is printed, inviting a response. Due to space limitations, submissions are edited. Thoughts or suggestions for future topics are always welcome. Next week’s subject is on light. The topic at the end of the column is for the following week.
Pastor Wayne Patton
Anahola Baptist Church
It is interesting to me that God designed our mouths to do two things in alternating fashion. One moment we can use our mouths to take in nutritional fuel to keep our bodies empowered. The next moment we use those same mouths to chatter and talk and converse. Now, we were taught from our earliest days that it is impolite to do both at exactly the same moment. “Don’t talk with your mouth full” our parents said.
But how many times, when we get together, is food and drink involved. Just look at the way Jesus ministered in the Gospels. Very often, it was around food and drink.
And so it was with the members of the “First Church of Jerusalem” in Acts 2. These early Christians went out to eat together. They had one another in their homes. They planned refreshments. But there seems to also be implied in the Acts account the practice of observing the Lord’s Supper.
Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper during a meal. We have a pretty good idea that in the very earliest days of the church, the Lord’s supper was practiced in that way as well. They would eat together, and at the end of the meal, they would observe the Lord’s supper. This was a reminder to them of what the Lord Jesus Christ had taught them at His last supper. The result was a dramatic effect on their whole community. Simply put, people were amazed. Meals, even today, can be a foretaste reminder to us that one day we will sit down with the King of Heaven, Jesus Christ, and be astounded at the meal He has prepared for us.
Kahu Dr. James Fung
Lihu‘e Christian Church
Hunger and poverty are major problems in the world. Estimates by the United Nations indicate that an average of 25,000 people die each day because of issues related to lack of food. It’s mind-boggling for those of us as we attempt to comprehend that millions of people on this planet struggle for basic survival every day.
We take for granted the availability of food. We don’t wake up in the morning agonizing about how we are going to feed our children or worse, watch helplessly as they die of illnesses related to malnutrition.
What does God say to us about this? God tells us that those of us who are blessed are blessed for one reason — to be a blessing to others. (Gen. 12:3) As the English missionary, William Carey, put it, “God does not comfort us so that we will be comfortable; God comforts us so that we will be comforters (to those who suffer).”
When the leader of his disciples professed his love to him, Jesus responded, “If you love me, feed my sheep.” (John 21:17)
Christians are directed by their leader to care for the physical and the spiritual hunger of those who are in need. When we support the ministry of our churches, when we support the work of local soup kitchens, when we respond to appeals for disaster relief — our dollars and the food that they provide are tangible expressions of our love. It brings a smile to God’s heart. It makes us feel good on the inside as well. There really is a lot to the saying that there is more joy that comes from giving than from receiving.
As we think about the millions of people in the world who hunger for food, we also think about the millions who are hungry for what can never be satisfied by what they can put in their stomachs. Their hunger is for something more. My prayer is that those who are physically well-fed may come to the awareness that there is a way to satisfy that emptiness, that longing in their soul.
Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry. (John 6: 35)
Topic for two weeks from today
• Will you speak to us on balance?
• Spiritual leaders are invited to e-mail responses of three to five paragraphs to pwoolway@kauaipubco.com.
• Deadline each week is 5 p.m. Tuesday.
