Friday; September 20
Not long ago I was in an environment where a substantial number of people with spiritual dietary restrictions were eating in restaurants where I was eating. As I watched this process, I thought about a couple of things. First, several of the challenges faced by the New Testament church are still around today. Some of the letters written by the Apostle Paul included discussions about dietary restrictions and how we should approach them. After years of looking at this academically, it was interesting to come face-to-face with this on such a large scale. The other observation was how committed these folks were to what they ate and didn't eat. Even to the point of what foods could be prepared together (or even touched on a plate), they were quite committed to their lifestyle. While I don't share their philosophies, it was interesting watching them navigate the challenges they faced. As I look back on this experience, I am reminded that as believers we have a responsibili