I'm wondering what we truly believe as Christians concerning our diet and health. With all of the nutrition information available and scientific studies and scary documentaries, have we begun to believe that a person who died of cancer may have lived longer if they had eaten healthier? I know that the initial response is probably yes. But what about the exceptions? We probably all know someone who has eaten junk, smoked like a chimney and drank like a sailor and yet lived to be 100 (or close to it). And likewise, we know people who were the very picture of healthy living and yet died at a young age, well before their time.
I'm not saying that science is wrong or can't be trusted. I'm saying that we serve a supernatural God. Do we really believe that God is still in control of life and death? The Bible says He has determined the number of our days on this earth. Cancer and diabetes do not take Him by surprise. And possibly, some of us may have been spared diseases without even knowing it because of His supernatural work in us.
There are many examples in the Bible of God sustaining His people supernaturally through food. The Children of Israel following Moses out of Egypt ate only manna for a long time. God only added quail to their diet because they complained so much, not because they weren't healthy.
Now, I'm sure many scientists have longed to study a piece of manna to find out what its nutritional makeup was. What was in that seemingly perfect food?! Even if we knew, we would be missing the point! It was a display of the supernatural power of God with the purpose of glorifying His name and increasing the faith of His people. Can you imagine what the surrounding countries must have been thinking when they heard about this huge mass of people wandering around in the dessert with no need to step one foot inside any city or town because their God was feeding them AND keeping their clothes and shoes from wearing out? After 40 years, I imagine that news had spread a long, long way! So it wasn't about the nutritional content of the manna at all!
Another example that I believe needs some commentary is Daniel and his three friends. I know that the Daniel Fast is a popular trend right now and I agree that it can have some great spiritual benefits as you deny your flesh and focus on God, but it was not intended to be an example of the ideal way to eat. I believe that the point of the story is God's supernatural work, not Daniel's wisdom. He and his friends refused to eat the meat offered to idols or drink the king's wine. Instead, they challenged their captors to let them only eat vegetables and drink water for ten days and then see if they weren't healthier than the others. At the end of the ten days, it says that they were better in appearance and "fatter in flesh" than those who ate the king's meat and wine. This was a miracle! It doesn't make sense that Daniel and his friends would be fatter than those eating meat!
A couple of other examples include Elijah and John. Elijah was fed only bread and meat (delivered by ravens) for a period of time (maybe up to a year) - no fruits or vegetables mentioned. And John the Baptist lived on locust and honey.
This doesn't mean that nutritional science is obsolete. I believe God created the world to exist within scientific laws of order and predictability. It's one of the primary proofs we can use to show unbelievers that there must be a God and Creator. But I also believe that the Creator of those rules can and does break them. Not only do we see the hand of God in the laws of nature, but we also see evidence of Him in the exceptions. With this in mind, let's just take a moment to examine ourselves. We need to be careful not to become obsessed with food. We women especially seem to be burdened with the pressure of making right choices as we feed our growing children and try to keep our own bodies fit and healthy. But how much of your precious time are you devoting to this? Does it make you feel superior to others or cause you to look down on those who make different choices? Do your actions bring you into fellowship with others or alienate them?
There is a lot of discussion in the New Testament about whether or not eating certain foods was sinful. And it seems to me that we have almost come back around to that mentality, like it is a sin to eat food which has been labeled "bad for you" because our bodies are the temple of God. And yes, gluttony is a sin and should probably be preached on a little more because it is a spiritual problem. God is always more concerned about our spiritual health than the physical.
I have personally felt those judgmental glances at the food on my plate or inside my kids' lunchboxes. And as I began my own journey towards becoming healthier, I did not feel inclined to ask the help of those who seem so knowledgeable. In fact, I have been so put off by some people that I don't even want to tell them that I am making any changes at all. How sad is that? But I'm just being honest. I don't want to become obsessed with food. I just want to take care of this body I have been given for the time I have left. My goal is not to be thin or to get in shape. Does that sound odd? Instead, my goal is to follow the prompting of the Holy Spirit. And recently I have felt convicted about eating for emotional reasons, something I have probably done for a long time. So I am choosing to not be controlled by my flesh, and am instead being conscientious about what I eat and when. But I believe the real importance of this practice is in the spiritual value. If I begin to focus too much on the mirror or the scale, then vanity kicks in, and that is not pleasing to God either. I'd rather be unattractive and walking with God than the other way around.
So, Let's keep our priorities set on those things with eternal value and remember what God has said about food
Ecclesiastes 3:12-13
I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; 13 also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man.
Mark 7:15-19
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.” ...
Luke 12:22-31
And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing....
Romans 14:1-23
...3 Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. 4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand...For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.
I Corinthians 8:8
But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.
I Corinthians 10:23-33
...31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God...
I Timothy 4:1-10
... 4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer....
