Jesus, Bread, and Chocolate: Crafting a Handmade Faith in a Mass-Market World

by John Joseph Thompson

Farmer's markets, artisanal dark chocolate, home-made bread, craft-brewed beer, and independent boutique coffee shops may not immediately call to mind issues of faith, but they should. As the "American Dream" starts to fray at both ends, millions of people are embracing values that seem to hail from a bygone era. They are seeking out the local, the small, the responsible and the nourishing instead of the cheap, the homogenized, the mass-produced and the canned.

Is it possible that this renewed interest in these pre-modern values may actually offer an open door into the hearts and minds of this generation? Is there a way to explore specific, inspiring stories about coffee, bread, chocolate and art that lead people toward a truly Biblical understanding of the person, words and work of Jesus to reveal the truth, goodness and beauty of the Gospel?

With fascinating stories and a thread of memoir, Jesus, Bread, and Chocolate explores the emerging--actually re-emerging--values of this post-industrial age and points out parallels between them and the teaching and ministry of Jesus and his earliest followers. Rather than seeking to tie the faith to trends in the culture, it shows how trends in the culture are already very close to the organic kind of faith that could reenergize the church and bring countless young and middle-aged people into a saving experience of Christ.

Genres: Christian Living, Nonfiction, Memoir, Faith

272 pages, Paperback

First published April 7, 2015

About the author

NEW NOVEL "The Ballad of The Lost Dogs of East Nashville" available NOW.

JJT is a speaker, author, producer, artist, and music enthusiast and currently serves as the Director of Music Industry Studies at Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN, and as a Creative Consultant, Writer, Music Supervisor, and Producer for various publishing companies, independent artists, films, websites, and more. He served Capitol CMG Publishing as Director of Creative and Copyright Development for nearly a decade before joining Academia, and before that, he was on staff at the Cornerstone Festival in Illinois.

Thompson recently re-launched TrueTunes.com, a website and podcast he originally opened in 1989 as a record store, concert venue, and magazine. The True Tunes Podcast recently released its 100th episode and has seen over 225,000 downloads.

Web: LostPerros.com (www.TrueTunes.com) Instagram / Facebook: TheOnlyJJT
Email: JJT@TrueTunes.com

Reviews

[Rachel Hafler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book after my own heart. I loved it. I am fascinated by the processes of artisan, slow, and intentionally crafted things. And I love enjoying God's good gifts to us in the form of delicious chocolate, coffee, bread, and wine. The parallels that Thompson drew between handcrafted foods and authentic faith really made me think. He points out the ways that the American church has adopted values of the industrial revolution and given in to convenience, comfort, and consumerism. Our complacency with lower-quality, mass-produced food has sadly seeped into our Christianity.

Some of the metaphors and spiritual connections he made were a bit of a stretch. And the book wasn't very coherent as a whole. But I loved each individual chapter and the insights behind this book! 4.5 stars. I'd recommend this to any Christians who LOVE food and/or any Enneagram 4s out there :D .

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have my husband to thank for this book. He heard John J. Thompson speak on a podcast he listens to and the topic of his book intrigued both of us. (Thanks to the publisher and the BookLook Blogger Program, we got a free copy in exchange for a review.)

Jesus, Bread and Chocolate: Crafting a Handmade Faith in a Mass-Market World is like taking a deep breath. We live in a world that "values" cheap, quick, substandard and replaceable. Thompson's book discusses various artisanal movements--small-batch coffee roasters, homemade bread, craft breweries, gardening, Americana music--and applies its principles to our faith, which in a lot of ways has become industrialized for a consumer mindset.

Thompson offers a lot of observations from these various areas of handmade, small batch goods and how they could apply to faith.

It's a book that has come at the perfect time for our family. We started our first garden this year, and we are increasingly in search of products that oppose the cheaply made, convenient label. After I read the coffee chapter, my morning coffee tasted different, almost bitter. The observations he makes about cultivating a taste for the "real" stuff are life-changing beyond coffee, chocolate, bread and beer.

"I wonder what would happen to the value of our faith if we could rescue it from the process of commodification. If a life spent in pursuit of Christ could be recognized as a radical and selfless, counterintuitive adventure instead of a carefully packaged and lifeless script, would seekers find something worth following?" (p. 131)

See what I mean? There's a lot to chew on here. (Figuratively and literally.)

If you crave something more meaningful in your faith, in your food, in your life, then get a copy of this book and let it stir something in your soul.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, lots of colorful stories infused with, as the title suggests, Jesus, bread, and chocolate. John J. Thompson also sprinkles faith based messages in with his passion of music. It is an easy but astounding read; always looping back and tying in the message of Jesus with his stories, which I love and believe many will resonate with. This book really makes me stop and think about how I approach my faith- is it an authentic approach because it's what I want, or is it a mass-marketed approach because it's what I've absorbed from watching TV, or hearing others speak. Basically, it forces you to think about how you want to be in daily life and your walk with Christ, do you want to conform to this world or do you want to do this life in your own, authentic way?

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I heard about this book, I was certain I would love it. Sadly, it didn't meet my expectations. The author shares some excellent insights and fascinating information about artisanal food and beverages, but the book didn't have as much coherence as I would have liked.

[Agatha Astari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the writer seemed to put too much details on chocolate, bread, coffee, and music, I really respect the precious revelations he got from those stuff.

[Paige Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome... This book was just freakin awesome. It was so good. Seriously... SO good! You need to read it. And live it. And then read it again. And keep on living it.

Favorite Quote: "Coffee is my daily reminder that there is a major difference between cost and value. The industrial creed reinforces the idea that cheap is better and profit is king. While frugality is a positive habit to foster and it's good to save money when you can, when industrialism helps you save cash by making things cheaper, it's usually so you can and will buy more junk. The spiritual implications are profound. Cheap is often just cheap."

[Andy Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jesus, Bread, and Chocolate

Crafting an authentic faith. In a society where everything has been boiled down to its simplest and cheapest form, what has this mindset done to our faith? Is our Christianity closer to coffee that was brewed from beans that are freshly roasted from a coffee beans imported from the farmer or did it come powdered and flash frozen in a can?

This is an interesting look at the world. He goes into great detail about the process of making bread, coffee, beer, and chocolate. Then he explains about how we have crushed these amazing things into something bland and sugary. Then, he compares this to the modern approach to Christianity. He has some good points too. When Jesus talked about bread and this being His body, he certainly wasn’t talking about a slice of white bread.

Content Warning: none

[Christian Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really thought provoking book. Caused me to reexamine what church is supposed to be, particularly in light of the pandemic. When we can't gather in person and get that "church high", what are we left with? Unfortunately for a lot of us the answer is not much. This book is a timely challenge to question what is truly valuable to the body of Christ.

[Colleen Mertens · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book looks at ways people are changing their thoughts on whether quantity or quality matters more. It shows how people are looking for real, authentic tastes in everything from food to music to their faith. It is a quiet book to help you contemplate what you want in your life.

[Adrienne Organa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not think that back in December when I picked this book up by chance at the closing Lifeway bookstore that it would be such an incredible, essential, life-giving read. This book is important. Read it.

[Graig · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book about a Christian’s take on artisinal food and drink and practices, like gardening. The author weaves his broken childhood and teen years through his stories.

[Robert Durough, Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Jesus, Bread, and Chocolate: Crafting a Handmade Faith in a Mass-Market World , John J. Thompson takes the reader on his journey into artisanship through bread, chocolate, coffee, beer, gardening, and music-making. Throughout, he uses handmade vs. mass-produced as a metaphor for how we are (or are not, as the case may be) being Jesus’ disciples. A resident of East Nashville (or East Nasty [shout out to my old peeps!]) and world traveller, Thompson has had the privilege of experiencing (and being spoiled by) some of the best the handmade world has to offer. I admit, though I already make my own bread, it made me want to stop eating white bread. Will I? Probably not. It also made me want to stop using sugar and cream in my coffee. Will I? Probably not. And though I don’t drink alcoholic beverages, it even made me think about what it’d be like to try a microbrew (certainly not any of the mass-produced stuff I think smells like horse pee). The point being, it’s a good read, and I learned a lot about what it takes to make and appreciate some really beautiful things. But that’s not all: it also made me consider how I relate to my creator and others in service to the King. Of course, one may always have questions and push back against the author (he admits that there is good in the mass-produced), but if one refrains from being pulled in the direction of criticism (like that the book is mass-produced by Zondervan and not by a small publishing team that had it printed or handwritten on handmade paper or parchment!) and engages with him in the point he’s trying to make, I think it can be quite helpful. (All analogies break down at some point, but I do think potential rebuts against his handmade vs. mass-produced points often fail when attempted to be made in relation to our discipleship.)

Here’s a taste:

Christians, especially evangelicals like me, often like to pulverize the gospel into small, fine, easy-to-digest particles. But if our creed can fit on a bumper sticker, we’re doing it wrong. I believe this is a by-product of our well-intentioned and laudable desire to be understandable and relevant to our peers. In the process, however, we risk turning the Bread of Life into a Twinkie. At some point, the essence of the thing we are trying to sweeten is compromised beyond usability. This processed, refined gospel feels good going down, but when the energy buzz wears off, we are left with nothing but a headache. No white-bread gospel can satisfy the deep hunger of the human heart. (68)

Boom!

Enjoy.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

The synthetic, the industrialized, and the mass-produced have fallen on hard times. Everywhere you look there is a rediscovery of natural and sustainable methods. People love local, organic vegetables, artisan bread, real chocolate, good coffee, craft-brew and good music. John Joseph Thompson explores this cultural shift away from mass-production toward more wholesome fare and asks what the implications are for the spiritual life. Is this a re-discovery of something important here that will re-enliven our vision of the Christian faith?

Jesus, Bread and Chocolate is much more than an exploration of three of my favorite things. Thompson explores a range of plastic-y products ranging from twang-less pop-country music, bread for the masses, chocolate that is more chocolaty than chocolate, bad coffee, and cheap beer. Alternatively, he holds up honest, raw music which has a healthy dose of reality (twang), artisan bread crafted with love and care and good ingredients, pure chocolate, the perfect cup of coffee and a cultivated taste for the local and the small. Interwoven with these chapters on less-industrialized fare are reflections on justice, gardening and Thompson’s story. This book chronicles his personal journey from consumer to enjoy-er. Thompson explores how the turn away from the industrialized, commodified, and mass-marketed prepares us to drink deeply from the real Jesus.

I think two different groups of people will appreciate this book. Because Thompson is attentive to justice (i.e. environmental impact, farming practices, etc), he presents a vision of faith and life that is responsible and responsive to the world around him. Thompson adds his voice to a chorus of evangelicals who are starting to be thoughtful about creation care, especially in his chapter on organic gardening. Secondly, this is a sensual book. Thompson really enjoys good sounds (music), good smells, and good eating. This is a foody-faith-buffet, inviting others to come and enjoy the feast. In both regards, Thompson imparts a thoughtfulness about what we consume and what nourishes us.

I like Thompson’s reflections and where he calls me to enjoy the good things in life. I also think he is appropriately attentive the way industrialized food (and faith) fail people. Certainly there are other domains of the Christian faith that Thompson leaves under or unexplored, but I appreciate this book for what it is. The link to biblical theology could be clearer and Thompson’s cultural analysis could be more incisive (though he points in good directions). In the end, this is a personal journey and Thompson’s own reflections around food and faith. It is also a popular level book. For that, I give it four stars.

Notice of material connection: I received this book from the publisher via the booklook bloggers program. I was not asked to write a positive review, just an honest one.

[Matt B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, I had no idea what to expect when I started reading this book titled "Jesus, Bread and Chocolate: Crafting a Handmade Faith in a Mass Market World". While it made me a little hungry to start with, I was immediately drawn in by author John Thompson's own personal story that started his journey towards recapturing something of an "artisanal faith".

By the time I reached the halfway point in the book, I had already decided this was one of my new favorite books. John weaves the history of things like bread, chocolate and coffee into the story of Christian faith. He reminds us how these different created consumables use to have a crafted and homemade quality to them, something that captured the uniqueness and various flavors of each one, unlike the homogenous and monotone flavors we experience today in our "Wonder bread" consumeristic culture.

The book is not so much a diatribe against the Industrial Revolution or factory produced bread, but it is a call to remember the unique and savor the qualities that are found in the essence of the thing. So many preservatives and additives are used to extend the life of things, but to the detriment of the flavor and real essence.

This same thing can be seen in the Christian faith at times, and we would do well to heed John's reminder that we can dig deeper and search harder to find the true flavor and craftiness in Jesus Christ.

[Gregory Byerline · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read for foodies and lovers of artisan bread, chocolate, beer, coffee, and organic music. Refreshing for those desiring authenticity whether in nutrition/food or in community/relationships.

John and I have been more-than-distant friends for a few years (we shared East Nashville neighborhoods with only 1/4 mile betwixt us, and we share a community of faith). We were both raised in Illinois (he Chicago and north/central Illinois; me central Illinois), and we shared I-55 as escape routes. We also share a similar path into music and its supporting ideologies and creative purposes and muses. He plays and writes music; I previously played and currently listen (almost incessantly).

He's the real deal...flawed and in repair, seeker of the goodness/beauty/truth, and a grounded free-thinker and dreamer. Add a heaping spoonful of master writing/storytelling prowess and let simmer for a while to make an delightful impact to a wondering soul.

Highly recommended.

[Dustin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I heard John J. Thompson on the Phil Vischer Podcast and immediately latched on to his message and wanted to get a hold of this book. Now through it I'm not entirely sure how I feel about it, or at least can't put my finger on what about it rubbed me the wrong way. I'm still giving it 4 stars as the core message of the book is spot on, and I loved all the stories and information Thompson brought about the artisan movement; the book has inspired and revived some old interests. I think the book was a bit too anecdotal and experiential and left a lot not grounded in something solid. And by the end of the book I was left with an "easy for you to say" mentality towards the author, however much I love what it is he's proposing.

I'd still highly recommend the book.

[Doug · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Jesus, Bread, and Chocolate” is one part auto-biographical, one part informational (overviews of how beer is made, where chocolate comes from, etc.), one part biography (he shares brief stories of several artisans), and one part analysis. This may make it sound like the book is schizophrenic. While it does cover a lot of ground, it is so well written and organized that it works and is not hard to follow.

In “Jesus, Bread, and Chocolate”, Thompson explores how the mass production of certain products has produced items of little substance. He compares this to Western Christianity, suggesting that we’ve done something similar. Read More

[Leesgoodfood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reasons I should always write my review in Word and copy it: The goodreads page went down "error" when I tried to save it, and lost the whole review. Maybe if I am ambitious later I will rewrite.
Need liess to day, I enjoyed the book.

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

thought provoking. I liked it and the author's thoughts. I'm just not sure where to go from here.....

[April Yamasaki]

See my review of Jesus, Bread, and Chocolate.

[Alli · Rating 4 out of 5]

More like 4.5 stars!
Didn't groove with all he said,
but LOVED much of it!
Really resonated with me!
I'd recommend it!