Pumpkin Spice and Spiritual Substance
Every September, like clockwork, the whole world seems to lose its collective mind. It starts innocent enough with a pumpkin spice latte. Then it spreads. Coffee creamers, cereals, candles, cookies. Before you know it, the dog food aisle smells like Thanksgiving dessert. I saw pumpkin spice potato chips once, and I had to ask myself, “Who asked for this? Who woke up one morning and said, ‘You know what would make these chip’s taste better? Nutmeg’?”
Now, let me be clear. I am not anti-pumpkin. I like pumpkin pie. I like pumpkin bread. If you set one on the counter at Thanksgiving, I will eat it with a smile. What I do not like is this strange obsession with sprinkling pumpkin spice on everything that never needed it. Pumpkin spice deodorant? Pumpkin spice beef jerky? At some point we all need to step back and admit we have gone too far.
But that is what we do, isn’t it? We take a good thing and run it into the ground. Spiritually, we do the same. We settle for what I call pumpkin spice faith. We chase after the extras like special events, catchy worship songs, and motivational memes, but we never get around to the real meal. The whipped cream is fine, but you cannot live on whipped cream.
Psalm 34:8 says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him.” That is not seasonal. That is substance. And do not forget what Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.” Seasons come and go, but God’s truth is never out of season.
And let’s be honest, if churches joined the craze, you know what would happen. Pumpkin spice communion cups. Pumpkin spice offering plates, complete with a cinnamon stick tucked in. Pumpkin spice baptisms. Pumpkin spice potluck dishes where Sister Edna swears the Lord told her to add cloves to her macaroni and cheese. It sounds ridiculous, but we are not far off when we start craving flavor more than faith.
Pumpkin spice faith makes you feel cozy for a minute, but what happens when January comes? What happens when the hard season rolls in and there is no flavor to hide behind? Feelings fade, but God’s Word does not.
Isaiah 40:8 says, “The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.” That is the difference between flavor and faith.
Jesus said in John 6:35, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
Bread. Not pie. Not a latte. Bread. The daily, sustaining, dependable staple.
I think we often mistake the feeling for the real thing. Goosebumps in a worship service are nice, but they are not the same as transformation. Reading a meme with a Bible verse is fine, but it is not the same as opening your Bible and letting God’s Word cut you to the heart. Pumpkin spice might smell good, but it is not pumpkin. It is cinnamon and nutmeg dressed up as pumpkin. The flavor is borrowed. The real thing is missing.
And maybe that is the reminder we need. Do not settle for borrowed flavor in your walk with Christ. Do not mistake the seasonal add-ons for the steady presence of God. You cannot build a life on spice. You build it on bread. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.” That is substance, not seasoning.
So yes, I will still eat pumpkin pie, and I will gladly accept a slice of pumpkin bread. But when I see pumpkin spice dog treats or pumpkin spice toothpaste, I shake my head. Some things were never meant to be flavored that way. If they ever roll out pumpkin spice baptism water, we will know the whole world has officially lost it.
This week, enjoy your pie. Drink your latte if you want. But make sure you are feeding your spirit with more than spice. Open the Word. It is the only flavor that never fades. And if somebody tries to hand me pumpkin spice fried chicken, I am drawing the line right there.
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