All of us today are familiar with so-called “junk food.” Although the term is probably older, its widespread use began about 1972, and it is usually attributed to Michael Jacobson of the U.S.A., who was director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest. Junk food refers to food that has little nutritional value, but often has high amounts of fat, sugar, salt and calories. The mass production of such food appeared about the middle of the twentieth century as a result of mechanization, when manufacturers started making processed food with cheaper ingredients and less nutritional value. The methods used to prepare such food further lessened its nutritional value.
Needless to say, such food is easy to obtain, easy to prepare, and reasonably satisfying, even if only for a while. But it is also somewhat addicting, of poor nutritional value, and usually loaded with calories. The result has been almost an epidemic of obesity, coupled with poor nourishment, and an increase in related disorders such as diabetes, gall bladder disease and hypertension.
Spiritual “Junk Food”
I would suggest that there is a spiritual counterpart to all this — what we might call “spiritual junk food.” Just as we need a balanced natural diet, so we need a balanced spiritual diet. We need that which ministers Christ to our souls and occupies our hearts with Him. We may have a diet of spiritual food that fills us up for the moment, perhaps is addicting, and tastes good as well, and yet may not nourish our souls in the right way. What then is “spiritual junk food”? I would suggest that it is a diet that constantly occupies us with ourselves — our lifestyle, our problems, our relationships; in short, it is a line of things that focuses on us, instead of on Christ. Christ may be brought into such ministry, but He is portrayed mainly as a philanthropist who is there to guide us, provide for our needs, help us deal with crises, and get us out of trouble.
To be sure, our Lord Jesus Christ is there to help us with our needs and to guide us in the difficulties of life. He wants us to come to Him with problems, for He has said, “Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me” (Psa. 50:15). But if we go to Him only when we have a need, then we miss one of the main blessings of Christianity. Scripture tells us that we are one with Christ, in that we are now “in Christ” as to our eternal security. We are His body, for we are “members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones” (Eph. 5:30). We are also His bride, for Paul could say, “I have espoused you ... as a chaste virgin to Christ” (2 Cor. 11:2). God has picked us up to make us a gift to His Son, and as such, it is our company that He desires first of all.
God’s Purposes
More than this, God’s purposes are all centered in His beloved Son, and it is He that must have the first place. If we see everything only from our own point of view, our thoughts can never rise above ourselves — our needs, our desires and our problems. But when we are led by the Spirit to see everything from God’s side, what a vista opens up before us! We see His purposes in Christ and how He is destined to be Head over all things, both in heaven and on earth. We see God glorified in Christ’s work, not merely for our sake, but in forever removing sin from the entire universe. (This has not happened yet, but the work has been done so that it can happen.) We long, not only for Christ’s coming for us, but also for His appearing, when He will have His rightful place. All this does not take away from our spiritual nourishment, but rather enhances it. A balanced spiritual diet always occupies us with Christ. The one who is occupied with himself is never happy.
To be sure, it is not always wrong to be occupied with ourselves, just as things like donuts and French fries are fine to eat once in a while. In the midst of trouble or when we have sinned, it is needful to be occupied with the problem in our life and to go to the Lord about it. But even in all this, the honor and glory of Christ should be before us, and not merely our own need. What we learn in the midst of a trial is more important than the trial itself.
Blessings and Mercies
Also, since we are “blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3), it is not wrong to be occupied with those blessings. But note that these are blessings, not mercies, and are in heavenly places, or perhaps more accurately, “in the heavenlies.” As such, they are connected with a risen Christ in glory, and their enjoyment brings us into a sphere where He is exalted. The enjoyment of those blessings never occupies us with ourselves or our problems and difficulties; rather, it lifts us above them.
Those good things that are connected with life down here are termed “mercies” in Scripture, not “blessings,” because mercies are temporary. They are, of course, given of God, for He is called the “Father of mercies” (2 Cor. 1:3), and we thank Him for them. Once again, however, we must remind ourselves that constant occupation with temporal mercies does not feed our souls or minister Christ to us. They are surely another aspect of the Lord’s care for us, but these mercies are given to us “by the way” as a help and encouragement. Our real occupation is to have Christ before us and to learn more of Him.
In much of Christendom today, spiritual junk food abounds in the form of various self-help books, videos, light reading, Internet sites, music, and the like. Again, we emphasize that there is food value in them, and they may be of some help. Sometimes a quick donut and a cup of coffee is a good pick-me-up! But as a regular diet, it is not good for us. As Scripture reminds us, we need to “take care therefore” how we hear (Luke 8:18) and to eat a balanced spiritual diet. Only then will there be true growth in our spiritual lives.
W. J. Prost