Health Food Ponderings

Monday, September 14, 2009

More on Health Foods

From my personal perspective, the single most important scripture, though there are many, is found in I Timothy 4, where Paul specifically lists commanding us to abstain from foods as being a sign of departing from the faith.

This might not bother some. It does me.

The Parable of the Picnic

Before you read, please understand that I do not think any of this has any bearing on one’s eternal salvation. The thing that troubles and saddens me is the negative impact it has on the daily life of the believer and the stresses (and judgments towards others) a self-imposed prison brings into a person’s life. I see it as a tool Satan uses to rob us of the joy and freedom that Jesus wants to give us on a daily basis. He said himself He came to set the prisoner free. Luke 4:18

The Parable of the Picnic

Heather is into health foods. After all, this has been presented to her since childhood as indisputable truth, from all of her friends, media sources, church, and advertisements. She spends a great deal of time (and money, actually) making sure that the products she buys for her kids are chemical free, unprocessed as much as possible, and of the nutrients she currently believes are essential for the well-being of her children (depending on what she has most recently been reading in her efforts to stay up on what things are harmful or good for her children). She worries that they still get sick at times, (after all, they are eating “healthy, “) still get hyper at times (of course, this is the fault of the sugar, when she occasionally lapses in her diligence) and one of her friend’s children has actually come down with leukemia (but that is probably because of the water she takes baths in, because it surely could not have happened due to the bottled water she is so conscientious to use).

Amber, on the other hand, has chosen not to embrace health foods for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is financial. She is not convinced her health bills are going to be less if her kids eat “healthy.” She does not indulge them in excessive snacks, for that is a character building issue, promoting self-indulgence, which she does not want her children to embrace. She allows them to occasionally eat chips or cake, but not on a regular basis. Again, self-indulgence. To her, fruit juices and “healthy snacks” can still come into the self-indulgence arena. They drink an occasional soda pop but usually have tap water. She does this because, again, self-indulgence. She wants them to be content with what is put before them. And, bottled water is expensive. She is trusting God to keep them from any chemicals that the world has said are going to harm them, partly based on the fact that there are labs and government agencies that regularly test her drinking water and that reassure her they are not harmful. Partly because she knows there is debate even within the health food industry about bottled water, so she goes with what her instinct tells her. And partly because she simply doesn’t see anything in scripture that says she should worry about what she or her kids eat. She would rather spend her money on other things the family needs.

The 2 moms have a picnic together. Somehow Heather’s basket got left at home and now she has 2 small children without food. However, Amber packed a large bag of “regular” chips, a 2 liter of pop (after all, it is a fun picnic), peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (regular, not organic) and egg salad sandwiches, both on white bread because that is what was on sale this week. (When wheat bread is on sale, she buys it.) Now Heather is worrying internally about what all this junk stuff is going to do to her kids. She is stressed (though maybe mildly) and worries about both what her kids ate as well as the example put before them of what others do.

It puts a pall over the entire event and neither she nor the kids are as carefree as a picnic should be. (This is probably all very subconscious and she might even deny it. And maybe she truly can detach and not care. But most moms I know DO care. And worry. And blame the picnic if unruly behavior emerges over the next several hours, even though unruly behavior is not an uncommon occurrence normally.)

Amber, on the other hand, doesn’t give food a second thought, she is glad they are having some “treats” they don’t usually get, and they have a fun carefree day. It never enters her mind that she has done anything to harm her children. And if her kids get unruly later in the day, she simply disciplines them as needed, and then gets on with life.

Health Foods -- Scriptural? or Not?

I have recently been given an opportunity to re-examine my beliefs on whether or not health foods are scriptural. And I remain firm in my conviction that they are not. And if they are not, then I do not want to actively pursue eating (and purchasing) such on purpose. I DO want to eat cheerfully whatever is put in front of me. Health food or not. More later.

Friday, August 28, 2009

Scriptural Perspectives on the Health Food Industry

For clarity's sake, all scripture is either KJV or NKJV.

Let’s start with the assertion I hear the most, that “the body is the temple of God” and that, as such, we should take care of it.

I love this concept. Deeply. My body the temple of God. In fact, so much so that I see it almost as an insult to our Lord when it is applied to food and physical fitness.

This reference is made in both chapters 3 and 6 of I Corinthians. However, a reading of those two chapters reveals that neither case refers in any way to food – or physical health, for that matter... In fact, to the contrary, vs 6:13 seems to totally dismiss food. (I actually like the original KJV best here. I think it defines it even more clearly). From my perspective the very fact he brings it up out of nowhere, so-to-speak, gives credence that the following passages have nothing to do with the physical body, including food – or smoking (a HUGE American issue), for that matter! :-)

Now let’s go to what Jesus said in Matt 15:10-20. Verses 7-9 are not a direct part of this passage, but I do think that vs 9 particularly is worthy of thought.

The specific verses I will quote are 17-18, but the whole passage needs to be looked at. “Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart and they defile a man.” Today’s take on the Judaic food laws seems to be based on the fact that from a nutritional vantage, certain foods are not “good” for us, thereby opening the healthy eating concept. Don’t you think Jesus knew this? If so, and if it were important, why didn’t he include that reminder here?

You could argue that in this case he is talking about the heart and not the body. However, please keep in mind that later Peter has a vision that makes it clear that the Judaic food laws were no longer to be followed. In fact, God specifically told him not to call unclean that which he has called clean. (I encourage you to read this. I love symbolism and Peter was told this three (3) times.) Acts 10: 9-16

Finally, let’s go to I Timothy 4:1-7. All bold and italics are mine. I think it is extremely interesting that the scripture reads “1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.”

I think this is a very strong word and one I do not take lightly.

I also would like to add that I definitely respect Romans 14 and Paul’s admonishment to us to not judge others who decide to do differently from us. My only problem is when that chosen difference is presented in the arena of church (and church dinners, etc.). At least here in America, a person who rejects health foods as a life style is seen as being irresponsible at the least and being downright “in-your-face” towards God at the worst. Verses 1 & 2, and then 14, are especially poignant. Why should I purposely choose to consider something unacceptable that Jesus himself does not? And yes, I certainly see verses 19-23. Also 14b – 15 and 20. My issue is not on an individual level. It is when the church does not question it but rather accepts, condones, and even at times, encourages it. I see no reason to put laws upon myself (and others) that He doesn’t. In fact, what is Galatians about?

Scriptures for Thought

In praying about and pondering the Health Food Issue within the bounds of a believer's life, I have gathered these references for thought. I am listing them without comment, but welcome input and discussion.

Please understand that this is not an eternal issue. My desire, rather, is to free believers from self-imposed bondages that have no scriptural basis and that keep them from freely interacting with the world and all the junk in it. How can we be lights in the midst of darkness if we separate ourselves from it?

Peters vision: Acts 10: 9-16
Jesus – defilement: Matt 15: 10-20
Fear not of God: II Tim 1:7
Latter times – food: I Timothy 4:1-7
Jesus final word to the eleven: Mark 16:18

I read this in the context of Matt 4:5-7. Would I intentionally drink a glass of poison? No.
Do I worry about trace elements of pesticides that might be on fresh veggies? No.

Our bodies being the temple of God: I Corinthians chapters 3 and 6 in their entirety.
Live according to our conscience: Romans 14

About Me

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I am a non-conformist in a culture that worships conformity (to something, even non-conformity) and that can be interesting. I am married with children. I love nature and melding in with the outdoors and find it sad that so much of today’s culture chooses to live within the confines of 4 walls in order to experience creature comfort. And most importantly, I love Jesus and pray that my life reflects Him and his Truth.