If you haven’t had lunch with a few good friends lately, I encourage you to do so. There are two main reasons for this encouragement. First, too many people are walking around feeling lonely and disconnected but longing desperately to simply sit, eat, and enjoy conversation with a friend—be that friend. Second, when you take a moment to slow down, eat, and converse among friends, you will almost inevitably have great conversation. That was the case in a recent lunch I had with friends.

We had just gotten our drinks and sat down at the table. We did the usual, “how are things this week?” exchanges, and the conversation was progressing just fine. As we meandered through the wooded forest of open dialogue, we rounded a corner and never looked back. The rounding of the corner came when one friend brought up an Old Testament story of God annihilating an entire ethnic group. This wasn’t a surprise, per se, as we had discussed tangential topics before, but it did set the tone and stage for the next 90 minutes of interaction. And it was fascinating…

It is as if we have determined God has no right to any emotion but love.

James Emery White

As we gingerly strolled deeper down this conversational path, we found ourselves knee deep in the Bible and up to our necks in philosophical and ethical issues. The main source of discussion surrounded the question, “Is God a Moral Monster”? It was a question not only worth exploring, but one that I have engaged multiple people on over the past few years. It seems as if ethics and theology go hand in hand. James Emery White understands and explores this dilemma in his article by the same question, “Is God a Moral Monster?“.

READ THE ARTICLE

It’s a difficult topic. We didn’t all agree that day, but the good part is we remained friends (I think). And having the conversation sharpened my thinking. Thinking in community can do that for us. It forces us to name assumptions we have, reexamine issues, and drive convictions deeper. So if you haven’t had lunch with friends lately or known what to talk about beyond the weather or sports, here’s your opportunity. Plus, you’re going to eat anyway – might as well do it with people you enjoy having conversations worth having.

As always be with the Lord’s people on the Lord’s day. Leave me a comment or share this post with a friend and ask them to lunch.

Until Next Time…