I was watching comedian Jim Gaffigan do a routine recently and he did a comedy bit on eating at McDonald’s. He included in it quite a healthy lesson. Here are some of the excerpts from the routine…
It’s fun telling people you go to McDonald’s. They always give you that look like “Oh, I didn’t know I was better than you.”
We all know better. We’ve all read the articles, seen those documentaries. We all know McDonald’s is really bad for you. But some of us get it anyway.
Some of you are like “I don’t eat McDonald’s.” I have friends that brag about not going to McDonald’s. I’m tired of people acting like they’re better than people who go to McDonald’s. You may have never set foot in a Mcdonald’s, but you have your own Mcdonald’s. Maybe instead of buying a Big Mac, you read US Weekly. Hey, that’s still McDonald’s. It’s just served up a little different. Maybe your McDonalds is telling yourself that Starbucks frappuccino is not a milkshake. Or maybe you watch Glee. It’s all McDonalds. McDonald’s of the soul.
We all have our own McDonalds. It may take me a while to digest my quarter-pounder with cheese, but that tramp stamp is forever.
I’m reminded of another story I read on the Beyond Evanglical blog that involved an interaction between 2 famous Christian influencers of the past.
In short, Charles Spurgeon invited D.L. Moody to speak at an event he hosted. Moody preached about how Christians shouldn’t smoke. Spurgeon, sitting in the audience, was an avid cigar smoker. When Moody finished preaching, Spurgeon walked up to the podium and said, “Mr. Moody, I’ll put down my cigars when you put down your fork.” Moody was overweight.
Both of these examples can remind us that in Christ we are to “recognize no one by the flesh.” (2 Cor. 5:16) Nothing frustrated the Lord more than a judgmental heart. Throughout the gospels, Jesus shows us time and again that love and respect, not condemnation, causes people to change. Those who have been forgiven much love much. Those who have been forgiven little love little.
Michael Fleming
Mike Fleming is the creator of Finding Healthy Church. Over 20 years ago, he was sparked by the frustration of failing to experience what the biblical story claimed a healthy church was like. He caught a vision and passion for seeing local churches be what they were designed by God to be. He shares what he's learning along the way so the health of local churches around the world are improved. He’s currently working on an eye-opening book that will help better understand what it means for a church to be healthy.