In N Out - that is what California is all about!

When I was walking the Camino de Santiago we would often sit around in groups at the end of the day having a glass of wine and getting to know one another, especially early on.  We would ask simple questions like where are you from, or why are you walking the Camino.  If there were other Americans, from other parts of the country, in the group as soon as I mentioned I was from California one thing would come up, “In N Out Burger”.

Despite the fact we have miles of beaches, wonderful National Parks, landmarks like Hollywood and the Golden Gate Bridge, what most people who have visited California from other parts of the Untied States talk about and long to return to when they come back to California is “In N Out Burgers”.

It is hard to blame them.  This hamburger joint, which was established in 1948, uses only fresh ingredients (even cutting their own fries as needed), makes every hamburger to order and simply tastes great.   There menu is simple, because they simply know what they do well and they stick to that.  What is not to like?

I know people for whom, when they travel to California, the first place they head after leaving the airport is to an In N Out.  While they are in California they will eat multiple meals there, and when they leave, they start talking about their next trip and their next Double Double.  Given this fact, it should not have surprised me how many other Americans found my access to In N Out Burger as the best part of my being from the great State of California.

Now don’t get me wrong, there are other hamburger stands and I imagine there are people who are just as loyal to them.  In fact, here in California, you will often see a row of fast food restaurants, often several hamburger joints, one right after another.  I imagine there are people who are loyal to all of them.  Others examples might be, “Five Guys Burger and Fries” or “The Habit”.   

There are differences between these establishments and there is room for honest debate.  For example, where as In N Out has a simple menu, Five Guys allows you to put just about anything on your burger.  Some think the creativity afforded by Five Guys makes it a better hamburger place. 

My wife, for example, likes a Five Guys hamburger with cheese, A1 Sauce, and grilled mushrooms,   You cannot get this at In N Out.  If you asked for it the guy, in the white shirt and red apron with the big safety pin holding it up, behind the counter at In N Out would probably say something like,” I am sorry we do not have A1 Sauce or grilled mushrooms.  If you had your heart set on A1 and mushrooms, this would be a disappointment for sure.  You might even counter, “Well that is how I like my hamburger and that is what I want, couldn’t you make an exception?” 

At In N Out the answer would be, No.

Maybe you are persistent and go back and forth for a few minutes and a line begins to form because it is taking too long to place your order.  Eventually, the man behind the counter might, in the kindest way possible (because that is the kind of people In N Out hires) suggest you head over to Five Guys, because that is the kind of burger they make. 

You might be unhappy about this, but you have to admit it seems fair.  It is a hamburger stand for heaven sakes and here in America, especially in California, we have lots of choices when it comes to hamburger stands.  If you do not like the burgers one place serves you simply go to another which suits your taste.

You simply do not see this in Europe.  Maybe this is why the Europeans seem to think the enthusiasm for In N Out Burger is a bit overdone.   If you come across a burger place in a city in Spain, and you really want a hamburger, you had better stop and eat, because it is likely you will not find another soon.

The experience of the scarcity of these kinds of restaurants in Europe, now that I am back at home, has caused me to notice here in America our fast food restaurants are built in clusters.  You will find two or three on a major corner or several of them in a row on a street.  This is purposeful.  Social scientists have theorized if you place a variety of choices in a central place, people will be willing to drive there to do business.  In this case, each restaurant will likely have more business, even though they are next door to their competitor, because more people are willing to drive to and frequent the area.

While noticing this, I have noticed something else; our churches are built the same way.  You will often find two or three on a major corner, and I know of several streets near me where there are four or five churches in a row.  It is almost as if our churches have recognized the marking strategy of the restaurant industry and decided to employ it when choosing a place to locate their buildings.  I guess the thinking is, you are more likely to drive to church if there are lots of churches in the area.

Unfortunately, churches have not stopped there.  Many have also adopted the attitude of the guy behind the counter who says, “Sorry we do not make it that way here, maybe you need to go to another restaurant.”  This is perfectly legitimate for someone who is making hamburgers, a place where they produce a product for you to consume.  This, however, is not the purpose or function of the church.

The church is described in scripture as a body or a family.  Both are images of interdependent systems which do not function as effectively, or at all, if you start removing their parts.  In fact, when talking about these images the Bible speaks of the stronger members of the community serving, sacrificing, and even giving up their freedom for the sake of the weaker brothers.  It speaks of those members of the body which seem to be weaker as being necessary and those parts of the body we deem as less honorable are being given more abundant honor.  

These are not descriptions of places where products are created to be consumed, but communities in which people are valued, grown and matured. The Bible, it seems, has made no provision to say to your brother, if you do not like it there is another church down the road you might want to try. 

It must grieve the heart of God that we build our churches and pattern our behavior after the hamburger stands which surround us.  The Church is not an organization dedicated to meeting a market demand.  We are a people, set apart by God, which has been charged with making his Kingdom known.  This community is to operate on a completely different economy than the world which surrounds it.   We are to live up to the high and noble calling which we have been given, not employ the strategies and practices of our favorite fast food chain.

The Apostle Paul puts it this way in Ephesians 4: “I implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.”

Again in Colossians 3 he says: "So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful."

It seems it is in unity and love, not in diversity of choice, that we live into our calling and manifest the Kingdom of God.  I wonder what the result would be if this is what we called people to, rather than presenting them with the choice of simply going on the next hamburger stand, I mean church, down the road.