Ethnic Food

If you've ever gone into an ethnic food restaurant, you have probably been susceptible to a wide variety of awkward feelings.  A friend of mine recently chose to eat at an Ethiopian restaurant.  I'm no cosmopolitan globe-trotter, but I've never known the Ethiopians to be renowned for their culinary conquests.  He was brought some "chicken stuff" which he ate & enjoyed, but not until after he made the choice to accept his surroundings...and the potential of some later lower g.i. rebellion.  I recently got a beef burrito at Taco bell, and was served at the drive-thru by a young lady who was clearly sub-continental in origin.  I felt guilty at the implication of what she was being forced to serve me.

So, we're left with a choice:  Do we go to an ethnic eatery where the food is truly ethnic, or do we "settle" with going to restaurants that claim to be ethnic but are really Americanized versions of reality?  What are we trying to prove by going to a sushi restaurant and ordering California rolls?  A buddy of mine has this rule: "If you walk into a Chinese restaurant and everybody there is a white anglo-saxon protestant (W.A.S.P.) hammering spring-rolls the size of travel pillows, turn and politely leave cuz it ain't the real deal."

What about missions?  Are we content to Americanize the world so that we feel good about our awareness of and assistance to the heathen?  Or, do we go and become like that which we want to save.  It might be awkward, and it might include some lower g.i. rebellion.  But it's worth it.  Paul (1 Corinthians 9:22) put it all out there, and I'm pretty sure he believed in what he was doing...and he made a difference.  Let's go.