Post by Bro.Jeff on Feb 22, 2015 20:34:32 GMT
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31
Question? how do we glorify God? scripture tells us "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." 1 Corinthians 6:20. We glorify God with our bodies and our spirit(mind). Now that we have cleared that up, let us move onward with our study. "The Christian Diet." Does God care about what we eat? Does the bible tell us what we should eat? The answer to the following questions are YES. God has bought us, we are in return to glorify him, but still the question lingers, how do we glorify God with our bodies? By the way eat and drink, and by the way we care for our bodies. For example is God glorified when we drink soda? how about coffee? or drinks that contain alcohol? The answer is NO!! But why is he not? lets start with soda. If you look at the nutrient section, under the list of ingredients you will see "caramel coloring" which is a know carcinogen. carcinogens cause cancer, and cancer eventually kills. The bible says "what? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the holy ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" 1 Corinthians 6:19 and "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you? if any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." 1 Corinthians 3:16,17. When we drink soda we are destroying the body(temple) that God has bought, and therefore God has to destroy us. What about coffee? Here are some inspired words concerning coffee. "Tea and coffee do not nourish the system. Their effect is produced before there has been time for digestion and assimilation, and what seems to be strength is only nervous excitement. When the influence of the stimulant is gone, the unnatural force abates, and the result is a corresponding degree of languor and debility. The continued use of these nerve irritants is followed by headache, wakefulness, palpitation of the heart, indigestion, trembling, and many other evils; for they wear away the life forces. Tired nerves need rest and quiet instead of stimulation and overwork. Nature needs time to recuperate her exhausted energies. When her forces are goaded on by the use of stimulants, more will be accomplished for a time; but, as the system becomes debilitated by their constant use, it gradually becomes more difficult to rouse the energies to the desired point. The demand for stimulants becomes more difficult to control, until the will is overborne and there seems to be no power to deny the unnatural craving. Stronger and still stronger stimulants are called for, until exhausted nature can no longer respond." Ellen G. White, MH pg. 326
With that being said, do we really want coffee in our temples? or soda? Can you see why God is not glorified when we consume these items? They are destroying our health. A sound body equals a sound mind. God wants us to be in peek condition that we may serve him better. Its not about food, its about obedience. We are charged in the 12th chapter in the book of Romans, to "present our bodies a living sacrifice unto God." We were purchase by God, we need to diligently seek to put the best into our bodies, and know what it is that we are consuming, and the effect of it upon the system. The way we eat and drink shows us where we are with God. Look at Daniel's example, or even Adam and Eve example. Food can be associated with obedience or disobedience. Finally alcohol need i to mention this? We all know not to drink alcohol and anything that contains it right? But just in case you didnt know, or maybe your convicted, or just rebellious here something to consider. "Intoxication is just as really produced by wine, beer, and cider as by stronger drinks. The use of these drinks awakens the taste for those that are stronger, and thus the liquor habit is established.Moderate drinking is the school in which men are educated for the drunkard’s career. Yet so insidious is the work of these milder stimulants that the highway to drunkenness is entered before the victim suspects his danger. Some who are never considered really drunk are always under the influence of mild intoxicants. They are feverish, unstable in mind, unbalanced. Imagining themselves secure, they go on and on, until every barrier is broken down, every principle sacrificed. The strongest resolutions are undermined, the highest considerations are not sufficient to keep the debased appetite under the control of reason. The Bible nowhere sanctions the use of intoxicating wine. The wine that Christ made from water at the marriage feast of Cana was the pure juice of the grape. This is the "new wine ... found in the cluster," of which the Scripture says, "Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it." Isaiah 65:8 It was Christ who, in the Old Testament, gave the warning to Israel, "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise." Proverbs 20:1. He Himself provided no such beverage. Satan tempts men to indulgence that will becloud reason and benumb the spiritual perceptions, but Christ teaches us to bring the lower nature into subjection. He never places before men that which would be a temptation. His whole life was an example of self-denial. It was to break the power of appetite that in the forty days’ fast in the wilderness He suffered in our behalf the severest test that humanity could endure. It was Christ who directed that John the Baptist should drink neither wine nor strong drink. It was He who enjoined similar abstinence upon the wife of Manoah. Christ did not contradict His own teaching. The unfermented wine that He provided for the wedding guests was a wholesome and refreshing drink. This is the wine that was used by our Saviour and His disciples in the first Communion" Ellen G. White, pg.332,333
My Goal is never to condemn any man. We all have our struggles, I am here to enlighten my brothers and sisters in Christ. Revelation the 14th chapter tells us to "Fear God and give Glory to him for the hour of his judgment has come." Also the 12th chapter of Ecclesiastes states that, "God will bring every work into judgment whether good or evil." So God in his judgment, will judges us base upon how we treat our bodies, and our health. Remember whatever we do to the body affects the mind also. By the way, God is actively judging now, base on Daniel,7,8,9& Revelation 14&20.
Let none who profess godliness regard with indifference the health of the body, and flatter themselves that intemperance is no sin, and will not affect their spirituality. A close sympathy exists between the physical and the moral nature.—[The Review and Herald, January 25, 1881] Counsels on Health, 67 CD 43.1
With our first parents, intemperate desire resulted in the loss of Eden. Temperance in all things has more to do with our restoration to Eden than men realize.—The Ministry of Healing, 129, 1905 CD 43.2
The transgression of physical law is the transgression of God’s law. Our Creator is Jesus Christ. He is the author of our being. He has created the human structure. He is the author of physical laws, as He is the author of the moral law. And the human being who is careless and reckless of the habits and practices that concern his physical life and health, sins against God. Many who profess to love Jesus Christ do not show proper reverence and respect for Him who gave His life to save them from eternal death. He is not reverenced, or respected, or recognized. This is shown by the injury done to their own bodies in violation of the laws of their being.—Manuscript 49, 1897 CD 43.3
The diet appointed man in the beginning did not include animal food. Not till after the Flood, when every green thing on the earth had been destroyed, did man receive permission to eat flesh. MH 311.1
In choosing man’s food in Eden, the Lord showed what was the best diet; in the choice made for Israel He taught the same lesson. Flesh was never the best food; but its use is now doubly objectionable, since disease in animals is so rapidly increasing. Those who use flesh foods little know what they are eating. Often if they could see the animals when living and know the quality of the meat they eat, they would turn from it with loathing. People are continually eating flesh that is filled with tuberculous and cancerous germs. Tuberculosis, cancer, and other fatal diseases are thus communicated. MH 313.2
The tissues of the swine swarm with parasites. Of the swine God said, “It is unclean unto you: ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcass.” Deuteronomy 14:8.
Yes everything we eat and drink must be for his glory! I hope this opened, the eye of any truth seeker, The great responsibility of caring for our bodies and mind. We can ask Jesus to help us with our unnatural cravings, and to give us a craving for more wholesome foods, so he may be glorified. Please do not neglect this duty! The information is before you. It's time to make a decision. Remember this "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent" Acts 17:30 KJV.
