A former advertising executive of Coca Cola is repenting for his part in the obesity epidemic in our country. Citing a karmic debt that he isn’t sure he can pay, Todd Putnam talks about his debt to our society for his role in helping sodas take over the diet of so many Americans.
The Mayor of New York is trying to ban super size drinks from restaurants and movie theaters.
A backlash is welling up against soda companies for their role in our obesity epidemic.
Isn’t it beautiful? When does the church get started?
People are recognizing their part in the empire of consumption and how it has had truly adverse effects on our world. The domination of soda companies is merely one part of this culture, but it is an effective illustration of the larger issue. Our consumption of delicious sugary drinks is killing us. There is no question about it. Our economic issues are going to be compounded greatly by the health care issues of a nation of obese and diabetic people. Our capacity for work is going to be diminished. Our quality of life is being diminished.
If Coke executives are getting it, and the mayor of New York is getting it, when will the church get it? When will we begin to repent for our part in supporting the empire of consumption? When will we take a stand against obesity. Obesity is a disease, that is for the most part preventable. It effects our life as Christians and the future of the church just like it does our culture and yet the church is afraid to talk about it.
But this is just one part of the greater issue. When will we repent for our support of the destructive celebrity culture? When will we repent for being used as pawns by the political establishment? When will we repent for being such willing participants in the empire of our day instead of counter cultural revolutionaries who are grounded in the Kingdom of God?
This article got me fired up this morning. It has me so fired up that I repent. I repent for wanting so much stuff, for loving consumption in unhealthy ways and supporting the empire. I pray for God’s forgiveness and for such an infusion of the Holy Spirit that I might chose the path less traveled and offer a different life entirely that is worthy of imitation.
What do you repent of?
June 8, 2012 at 9:44 am
I keep repenting – I keep turning away from the empire and moving towards the Kingdom. Sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly but it is a daily situation of choosing. I don’t watch TV, I only shop for things I need and then try to be a conscientious buyer and recycle that which I no longer use. I am not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but I keep repenting!
June 8, 2012 at 10:19 am
Those are some great examples Dawn of trying to be counter cultural Dawn, thanks.