BE-Engaging :: Chocolate and Sin

The film Chocolat starring Johnny Depp as well as Judi Dench, is set in a French village, where the storyteller reminds us that this is a season of lent and "If you lived in this village, you understood what was expected of you. You knew your place in the scheme of things. And if you happened to forget, someone would help remind you"

Now what images come to mind when I say the word - "Chocolate?" Is it - Sweet drops of sugar goodness that delicately melt on your tongue or a sinful intake of gluttony that will send you straight to hell? The portrayal of this film would suggest that the latter is true, that chocolate is a sin. I appreciate that it is the time of lent where abstinence is endorsed. However the image of chocolate being a sin is interesting. It takes the christian word "sin" and says that all good things are sinful because we enjoy them. Is that not what the world thinks sin is?

From this attitude then, The world thinks that Christians believe that all these things are sin:
Sex
Music(esp rock!)
Chocolate and Sweets
Having fun of any kind
Drinking
Dancing
etc...

Well! Lets uncover the good news then. The world has it wrong. None of them are sins because God created all of them. (Phew!) Sure some are in context (such as sex within marriage between a man and woman), but the word sin doesn't mean God hates all the things of this world that we enjoy. Sin is rejecting God and disobeying Him.

As my dad(non Christian) said when watching this film... "How is chocolate a sin?!".... my reply was... "Its not!"...

This is a great film to uncover what sin really is. You can explore this theme with your friends and show them what sin is and why God hates sin. Remember what Jesus said about sin and material things in Mark 7?

"There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” (Mark 7:15)

What is the state of our heart right now? Is it about what we eat or drink, or is it about our heart and our relationship with God?

These are great questions to ask. Why not grab a few of your friends, buy lots of chocolate and hot chocolate and sit and watch this film. Then bring up the question of what they think sin is and what the bible says sin is...! I think you will find it interesting.