An Unconventional Picnic

We are called to respond to the love of Christ, to essentially clothe ourselves in Him, so that we make a powerful statement of the presence of the Lord in our lives.   Romans 13 says:
12The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.13Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.14But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

Now, if we recognize that we are called to live in this way, to walk in unity with the Lord and with one another, we can make a powerful statement to the world around us that He is Lord and He is the Lord of love.  Our testimony involves being connected to Christ, obedient to His Word, led by His Spirit, and living in community with our brothers and sisters in Him.  The church has been placed in this world not merely to live for ourselves and to meet together regularly, but to make an impact on our communities - a visible expression of the love and power of God!

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The attention of so many has been focused on one particular international event over the past few weeks, and now, with Germany's 1-0 victory over Argentina, the exclamation point has been placed on the World Cup competition.

I've discovered another international event that has now spread to what could be an estimated 40 cities across 5 continents. In 1988, François Pasquier and a handful of friends launched the original Dîner en Blanc in Paris. According to the official website, at a Dîner en Blanc, everyone is asked to dress elegantly in white, from head to toe, bring their own epicurean feasts, tables, chairs, fine china, silverware and white tablecloth.

Diners pull out candelabras, candles, and giant flower arrangements to grace the tabletops and they dine off fine china and polished silverware, clinking crystal glasses and goblets.  When it is time to leave, guests pack up their crystal, dinnerware and tables and aim to leave nothing behind.  This year, in Paris, Le Parisien estimated that 12- to 13-thousand diners participated at selected locations in the city for what is described as a "highly codified dinner celebrating the usability and French elegance."  American cities such as Philadelphia and New York have joined in.

The diners gather at a secret location which is announced just moments before the event.   The date is announced ahead of time and people sign up for information through a centralized website.   for the sole purpose of sharing a high-quality meal with good friends in one of their city’s most beautiful locations.

Again, from the website:

Over the course of an evening, the diners enhance the function and value of their city's public space by participating in the unexpected.

Beyond the spectacle and refined elegance of the dinner itself, guests are brought together from diverse backgrounds by a love of beauty and good taste.

The description continues:

There is no goal except to spending an extraordinary night, an unconventional picnic, and to re-appropriate the places of the city that belong to the citizens. Far more elegant than an ordinary pop up, Dîner en Blanc is everything but a flash mob.

As I discovered this event, I couldn't help but think about 2 events that are referenced in Scripture that had a few things in common with this mass dining experience - "unconventional picnics," indeed.   The first is found in Matthew 14, when Jesus multiplied 5 loaves and 2 fish into enough food for 5,000 people, excluding women and children, with 12 basketsful left over.  He repeated the action not too long afterward, as documented in Matthew 15, with 7 loaves and "a few fish".

In John 6, after the story of one of those mass feedings, Jesus taught about the significance of the event and the importance of trusting Him for all things, as the all-sufficient One.  He said:
27Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him."
He goes on to say beginning in verse 32:32Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.33For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."34Then they said to Him, "Lord, give us this bread always."35And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
Jesus was clear - the feeding of the multitude illustrated His higher purpose.   For one thing, we recognize that He is our sufficiency.   The Bible teaches that Jesus is our source, and He will supply our needs - He will give us inner joy and satisfaction as we delight ourselves in Him.   
Back to Diner en Blanc - what an expression of extravagance and the sheer joy of people coming together to share a common meal.  Now, think about the Biblical extravagance that we can experience in Jesus. Not only does He satisfy, but His love and His resources are more than enough for us.   What He desires to do in our lives and what He wants to give us is beyond our satisfaction.
And, Jesus extends His love to all, and those who will call upon Him will experience His love.  As we respond to Him, He brings us into His body and He builds community among His people.  As thousands of people dressed in white can make a powerful statement in the heart of a city, think about the incredible demonstration of God's love and power that can be seen as His people, clothed in Christ and joining together, join our hearts with His and with each other to exalt Him!