A Christian Diet - Ten Commandments of Eating

1) How we eat does effect our health.

"Blessed are you, O land, whose king is of nobility and whose princes eat at the appropriate time—for strength and not for drunkenness" - Ecclesiastes 10:17

"They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth." Philippians 3:19

"Do not be with heavy drinkers of wine, Or with gluttonous eaters of meat; For the heavy drinker and the glutton will come to poverty, And drowsiness will clothe one with rags." - Proberbs 23:20-21 (NASB)

"And put a knife to your throat if you are a person of great appetite" (Proverbs 23:2).

"But this kind [of demon] does not go out except by prayer and fasting” (Words of Jesus found in Matthew 17:21). According to Merriam-Webster's online dictionary, one definition of fasting is to "abstain from some foods".

"At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead" - Daniel 1:15-16

2) We should not test God with our health. 

In Luke 4:12, Jesus says "You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.” This was a response to the devil tempting Jesus to jump off of a tall building, testing God and his angels to save Jesus from this unhealthy decision. Similarly, Christians are often tempted to destroy our bodies, not by jumping off a cliff, but by eating unhealthy and destructive "foods" and chemicals. Whether we test God by jumping off a cliff or by ingesting life-shortening foods and substances, it is still considered sin in the Bible.

3) Plant-based foods (fruits, vegetables and grains) were specifically designed for human consumption. Damaging drugs and dangerous chemicals are never labeled as food in the Bible.

"Then God said, 'Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food.'" - Genesis 1:29 (New Living Translation)

"Then the land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill and live there in safety." - Leviticus 25:19

"The fruit will be good food, and the leaves will be used for healing" - Ezekiel 47:12

"But in the fifth year you may eat its fruit. In this way your harvest will be increased. I am the Lord your God." (Leviticus 26:4)

"On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations." - Revelation 22:2 (NLT)

Jesus almost certainly ate a kosher diet - rich in fresh fruits and vegetables - which is consistent with Jewish tradition (Matthew 5:18-19). Out of hunger, Jesus approached a fig tree for food (Matthew 21:18-22). Jesus often used fruits and vegetables as a positive metaphor (John 15:1-6, Luke 13:6-9, Luke 8:5-15).

"Take wheat and barley, beans and lentils, millet and spelt; put them in a storage jar and use them to make bread for yourself." - Ezekiel 4:9



4) The Bible also declared certain meats OK to eat. 

"Every moving thing that is alive shall be food for you; I give all to you, as I gave the green plant." - Genesis 9:3

"Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people." - Matthew 14:19

"And the pig, though it has a divided hoof, does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you." (Leviticus 11:7). "I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved. So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven." (Words of Christ) - Matthew 5:18-19

5) The Bible speaks against animal cruelty. 

"Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel." - Proverbs 12:10.

"Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God."  - Luke 12:6

6) Vegetarianism is not prohibited. However, being judgmental is prohibited. 

"One person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? They are responsible to the Lord, so let him judge whether they are right or wrong." - Romans 14:2-4 (NLT)

"What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.” Matthew 15:11

"You may eat any meat that is sold in the marketplace without raising questions of conscience. For the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it." note: this was regarding meat (most likely kosher) that was offered to idols - 1 Corinthians 10:25-26

7) We should enjoy our food.

God "richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment." - 1 Timothy 6:17

"There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God." - Ecclesiastes 2:24

"Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot." Ecclesiastes 5:18

 "Better a small serving of vegetables with love than a fattened calf with hatred". - Proverbs 15:17

"For why should my freedom be limited by what someone else thinks? If I can thank God for the food and enjoy it, why should I be condemned for eating it?" - 1 Corinthians 10:29-30

8) Our health matters to God.

"Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit." - 3 John 1:2

"[My words] are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body." - Proverbs 4:22

9) While drunkenness and gluttony are sins, alcohol in moderation is not sinful.

"No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments." - 1 Timothy 5:23

Jesus turned water into wine. - John 2:1-12.

"It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble." - Romans 14:21

10) We should be thankful for our food.

"God created those foods to be eaten with thanks by faithful people who know the truth." - 1 Timothy 4:3

Obese Christians

A recent study finds that "Young adults who frequently attend religious activities are 50 percent more likely to become obese by middle age" (Link). Obesity is linked with heart disease and diabetes, both of which can be fatal. In fact, obesity causes as many as one out of every ten deaths (Link).

I find it ironic that many Christians who are obese also claim to be pro life. But how can you be pro life when you follow and promote a diet that leads to disease and death? By eating healthy, we choose life over death by avoiding obesity. "Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live" (Deuteronomy 30:19)!

I think that obesity is often justified by Christians who misinterpret the following Bible verses:

"What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.” (words of Jesus) - Matthew 15:11

Myth:  Here Jesus is clearly saying that diet has no effect on a Christian's health. Therefore a diet rich in deep-fried Twinkies, triple Whoppers, Diet Mountain Dew and even hallucinogenic mushrooms is perfectly healthy for Christians. In fact, the faithful can even expect perfect abs and a stunning physique when eating unhealthy.

The Truth: Here Jesus is saying that food is for our physical health, not our spiritual salvation. Taken in context, this comment by Jesus was a response to those enforcing ceremonial hand washing rituals. These "moral police" were more concerned with ritualistic ceremonies than a loving attitude. That being said, Jesus was not promoting a destructive, gluttonous diet filled with chemicals, preservatives and drugs. It is still wise to "eat for strength and not for drunkenness" (Ecclesiastes 10:17).

"They will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” - Mark 16:18

Myth: If Christians can drink poison and handle snakes, we can definitely handle McDonald's and Burger King every day. We also do not have to worry about cancer-causing chemicals such as sodium nitrate, benzoic acid, aspartame or MSG. In fact, chemicals found in cigarettes have been proven to cause cancer (Link) do not affect Christians at all.

The Truth:  Some churches in the U.S. have taken up "snake handling" in their services. This often results in death (Link). Unfortunately, far more Christians have died early deaths because of unhealthy eating. Like the snake handlers, many Christians expect that God will simply make up for unhealthy living, even though Jesus said to never test God (Luke 4:12)! "They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite" (Philippians 3:19).

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"Do not be with heavy drinkers of wine, Or with gluttonous eaters of meat; For the heavy drinker and the glutton will come to poverty, And drowsiness will clothe one with rags." 

- Proberbs 23:20-21 (NASB)
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Still not convinced about what the Bible has to say about food? Check out my other post, "The Ten Commandments on Eating."

What Was Jack Lalanne's Religious Affiliation?

photo by nathancremisino on www.flickr.com

"You don't have to call it God or Jesus. That's religious humbug to a lot of people, but you've gotta believe that nature and spiritual things surround us. That is what put us here! I thank the universe for that every day of my life." (Link)

"There is a Supreme Being—something that's in us and all around us that will accomplish all things...Without spirituality you can't have self-mastery, because self-mastery is being able to control your emotions and control your life, and without this Supreme Being—this "God" or whatever you want to call it—without that power, you couldn't do it." (Link)

Lalanne used to close his TV show singing "May the good Lord bless you and keep you too." (Link)
Lalanne is reported to have once said that "religious belief was the greatest killer of human lives throughout history." (Link).

Lalanne once said "Billy Graham was for the hereafter. I'm for the here and now."  (Link)

"Living is tough, it's hard, and most people, especially religious people, spend too much time on their spirituality, hoping that this spiritual thing is going to do something for them. It doesn't work that way! They've forgotten all about honesty and integrity and really getting down to the nitty-gritty." (Link)

"[My health and fitness] is a religion with me. It's a way of life. A religion is a way of life, isn't it?" (Link)

“Does God knock at your gym door in the morning?  NO!  Jesus said he’d help those who help themselves.” - Jack Lalanne (Link)

Should Christians Use Homeopathy?

For an in depth analysis of homeopathy from a Catholic viewpoint, I recommend reading this post here --> LINK

The Bible Encourages Natural Medicine

"The fruit will be good food, and the leaves will be used for healing" - Ezekiel 47:12

“On each side of the river stood the tree of life…and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations” (Revelation 22:2)

"He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him." Luke 10:34

"Now Isaiah had said, 'Let them take a cake of figs and apply it to the boil, that he may recover.'" Isaiah 38:21

Doctors are Welcomed in the Bible

"Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings" - Colossians 4:14

"On hearing this, Jesus said, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.'" - Matthew 9:12

Jesus Encourages Common Sense  Decision Making (Positive Results are Better than Negative Results).

“Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebub" (Luke 11:17-18).

"Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit." (Matthew 12:33)

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." (James 1:17)

Homeopathy in Christian Tradition

1862, Pope Gregory XVI awarded Charles Ozanam the Order of Saint Gregory the Great. Ozanam was a French Orthodox Physician who converted to homeopathy (link)

Pope Paul VI (1897-1978) was the homeopathic patient of Antonio Negro, an Italian Orthodox physician who converted to homeopathy. Pope Paul VI awarded Negro the Order of St. Gregory for his work in homeopathy. (link).

Pope John Paul II was a homeopathic patient of Francesco Eugenio Negro (son of Antonio Negro).

Pope John Paul II beatified Mother Teresa, who had a special interest in homeopathic medicine because of its effectiveness and low cost. Mother Teresa opened her first charitable homeopathic dispensory in Calcutta in 1950. She even prescribed homeopathic medicines herself sometimes.

Pope John Paul also beatified Antoine Frederic Ozanam (the brother of homeopath Charles Ozanam) in 1862 (link).

The Christian Orthodox Church has a history of supporting homeopathy: "The Russian Orthodox church rendered help on all levels of its organization taking an active part in the spreading of homeopathy in the Russian Empire when the rural clergy treated peasants with homeopathic medicines and urban clergy participated in activities of the homeopathic societies. Thousands of Russian rural priests treated people with homeopathic drugs in the villages" (link).

The Catholic Church's Current Stance on Homeopathy

"As a rule of thumb, so long as the therapy does not involve participation in a non-Christian spirituality, it is allowable. As a matter of prudence though, homeopathic treatments should not be used to the exclusion of traditional medical treatments, particularly in emergency or life-threatening circumstances" (link).

More Interesting Verses...

"When they came to the oasis of Marah, the water was too bitter to drink...So Moses cried out to the Lord for help, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. Moses threw it into the water, and this made the water good to drink." (Exodus 15:23-25).

"Then [Elisha] went out to the spring that supplied the town with water and threw the salt into it. And he said, 'This is what the Lord says: I have purified this water. It will no longer cause death or infertility.' And the water has remained pure ever since, just as Elisha said" (Exodus 2:19-22).

"For an angel of the Lord went down and stirred up the water at certain times. Whoever first stepped in after the stirring of the water was healed from whatever disease which he suffered." (John 5:4)

"Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes.  'Go,' he told him, 'wash in the Pool of Siloam' (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing." (John 9:6-7)