A recent national survey reveals that more U.S. states now have greater numbers of obese persons living within their borders. It should come as no surprise that states with especially high numbers of overweight residents are those with the largest metropolitan centers. Big cities have lots of poor folks, and the poor are less likely to have healthy food choices. So much for good, wholesome daily bread–or anything else for that matter.
In my own city of Detroit, where more than a third of the citizenry have no automobile access, the neighborhood shopping is often limited to convenience stores and high-priced local grocers. The larger, cheaper, and cleaner supermarket chains pulled out of the city years ago, preferring to relocate in the suburbs. With no car and a nearly non-existent public transit system, the poor are forced to pay exorbitant prices for produce and other food that is often only marginally fresh.
Jesus taught that we should pray for nothing but our daily bread. If we believe in the essential goodness of God, we understand what he meant. But what if business decisions and public policy pronouncements effectively impede the divine prerogative vis-a-vis food access? I submit that the shalom of God is violated every time a single human being is denied sustenance because of accident of birth or place of residence. What might be the mission implications for a congregation looking to engage in a non-patronizing inner city ministry? Food pantries are one thing, but systemic change is much more faithful to what we are called to do as the people of God. And consider the societal benefits of lower incidences of diabetes, hypertension and the like. Less wear and tear on an overburdened health care system, and maybe even lower health care cost for all of us.
It seems to me that every human being has a basic right to good, healthy food. It is, after all, a fundamental matter of justice. Have we ignored this issue because it is an inner city thing? If so, shame on all of us.
Raising Basileia 