On Mission to Chipotle

We talk a lot about being on mission for Jesus. But, what does that mean? How do we do that? What does it look like to be a missionary that engages culture? These are questions I ask myself all the time. 

In 1 Corinthians 10 Paul says:

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God” - 1 Cor. 10:31

Did you catch that? I think Paul is saying that we can be on mission, which just means doing everything we do with Gospel intentionality, even when we go to our favorite restaurant. But, let's be honest: how can we do that at Chipotle? Practically speaking, how can we eat a burrito in such a way that God is magnified? How can we love God and our neighbor in the check-out line?

Here is what I am learning...

If Paul is right,

My time at Chipotle is NOT ABOUT ME.

I am not primarily going there to fill a physical need in my stomach, yes, there is that. But, what Paul is saying is that I am primarily eating and drinking for the glory of God. That is my mission. This means my trip to Chipotle is not all about me, it is all about Him.

But how many times do we just eat? We show up, get in line, get the food, and go back to work without a second thought. There’s nothing special or glorious about it. We eat never getting to see how it intersects with His glory and our mission.

But, here is the thing: I do not think this command from Paul is that hard to keep. I think

We lack intentionality.

We fail to eat to the glory of God, because we are prone to auto-piloting through life. We check out through the check-out lines because we think eating is the goal. We believe scarfing down a burrito is the mission we are supposed to be on in that moment.

But eating and drinking are not the goal of our life. Our mission and goal is the glory of God! 

So, How do we get this right?

Here are some things I am learning that help me stay focused while I am out to eat. These are the steps I do to help me stay on mission and help me eat to the glory of God. 

15 action steps

1. Pray for workers on the way in.
2. Make eye contact and demonstrate that you notice them and appreciate them.
3. Learn their names. (All of them).
4. Smile and be excited to see them.
5. Tell them you are thankful for them.
6. Ask how they are doing and care about their responses.
7. Introduce your friends to them.
8. Bring them a gift once or twice a year as a way of showing your thanks for them.
9. Tell them you will pray for them when they share something hard.
10. Offer to help them when appropriate.
11. Sit down and pray for your food. Feel free to pray out loud with folded hands.
12. Clean up your table better than you found it.
13. Wave goodbye to the workers
14. Pray for them on the way out.
15. The final step...

Repeat steps 1-14 often.

Eat at the same Chipotle (or another restaurant) as often as you can stomach it. Why? Because, it is not about the food. It is about cultivating relationships, which takes intentional time and frequency! Relationships are not made unintentionally or sporadically. They take intentional investments of dedicated time and care. In the same way, if you want to have an impact on people for the glory of God, it takes dedicated, consistent time, in the same location among the same people.

If you go to a restaurant once a month, challenge yourself to go once a week. If once a week, challenge yourself to go twice, etc. The Chipotle in Woburn is my mission field. Those people are my people and I love them. I go there to make God glorious by loving Him publically and loving others really well.

Where will you go?