Is It Really About Fast Food?

So apparently the other night, President Trump hosted the national champion Clemson Tiger football team for dinner the White House. Typically, these type stores make the local headlines, fill a few newspapers and die a day or two later. But not this one, oh no. Here we are days later with it still spreading across both mainstream and social media. Why?

Is everyone upset that he served fast food instead of steak? Are you mad he left out Zaxbys, Chic Fil A, Taco Bell, or your favorite fast food place?

Maybe you're a republican who think it was awesome for him to open up his home and do the best he could with minimal staff? Or perhaps you're a democrat who thinks it was insulting to feed national champions (though still college kids) fast food?

Or maybe you're a Gamecock or Alabama fan who's just upset that the Tigers are the national champions and wish they'd all starve!?!

Allow me to state the obvious. This is not about fast food. It's not about burgers, fries, or pizza. It's not about Wendy's, Burger King, or Dominoes. It's not about Clemson. And it's not about Trump. The reason this is a story is because people are pushing it to further divide others. Period.

There is a letter written by Paul in Ephesians 2:11-22 which addresses such division in the church. He encouraged people to not focus on if they were Jew or Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised. He encouraged them to focus on what they had in common, their faith in Jesus Christ.

They were to look past the physical appearances of others, or the color of their jersey. They could take heart in knowing that they were no longer lost, and were now saved by faith through grace - they were champions. Jesus is the one who brought "peace," "made both groups one," and "tore down the dividing wall of hostility." He "reconciled both to God" and gave both "access in one spirit to the Father." The people aligned themselves with Jesus as the "cornerstone." He was the one that held the building together.

So this whole Clemson, fast food, Trump thing needs to quit being about negativity. Let's stop focusing on what divides us - unless it's division that you truly want. And start focusing on what unites us.

How cool is it to say you've visited the White House? How many people have had a Whopper or Big Mac with the President...in the White House? Why aren't we celebrating our love of football? Or our love of success and perfection (15-0)? And why are so many people suddenly worried about college kids' diets? Am I the only one who ate practically nothing but junk food in college? The "Freshmen 15" certainly wasn't sexist - it hit guys and girls hard.

The Point: Don't focus on negativity and what divides. If you're on a team or a committee, focus on what you all have in common, what brought you to the table together in the first place. The love of the game, the love of food, the love of the company, or the love of each other.

"So then you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens..." - Ephesians 2:19

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