God-Pleasing FOODS Okay, I know for a fact that this section will be the most controversial, even among those who profess to be Bible-believing, conservative Christians. I am thankful to be included in this group. (Jesus included me, AMEN!). Rather than offend by giving “my opinion”, I challenge you to look to God’s Word for what is food. As is said of the believers in Acts 17, we need to search the scriptures daily to see if what we have been taught is truly from God's Word or actually human opinion and/or tradition. The food issue was never seriously studied in my family until my mother found out she was dying of cancer. In December of 1986, she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma...a very fast-acting cancer of the bone marrow. The doctors gave her 18 months at the most to live. She prayed for a miracle, and then she went to God’s Word for what to do. My parents had been reading through God’s Word for YEARS. The doctors were telling Momma what chemotherapy they would be using to kill the cancer cells. These chemicals also kill the healthy cells though. So Momma wanted to use an aggressive body strengthening diet while she was on chemo. She lived 5 years beyond what the doctors “gave her”. I truly believe that was God rewarding her for her obedience in seeking to please Him in diet. One of my favorite dieting plans states that we should go back to Genesis 1:29 & 30 for our diet plan, which would mean our food intake would consist solely of fruit, vegetables, seeds, and nuts. That is a very delicious & nutritious diet, and with certain vitamin & mineral supplements the raw fruits & veggies diet is a VERY healthy one! BUT in Luke 11:11-13, Jesus is explaining that if we ask for food, someone who loves us would not give us a scorpion, serpent, or rock. The 3 food items Jesus mentions are bread, fish, and an egg, none of which are mentioned in Genesis 1:29 & 30 for food. Hmmmm... If we went back to the Garden of Eden in Genesis 1-3, we would be going back to the wonderfully rich soil, pure water, protection from the sun's harmful radiation, weed-free soil, and lack of disease.... It was PERFECT, as God created it, before the curse of sin. After the world-wide flood of Noah's day recorded in Genesis 6-8, we are told that mankind was permitted to eat meats. Mind you, this was hundreds of years before the dietary law was given by God through Moses to the children of Israel, yet Noah knew which animals were "clean" and which were "unclean" (Genesis 7:2 & 3), also used for sacrifice for the LORD. Noah had to take the clean animals on the ark by sevens instead of by twos, or after the first offering the clean animals would have been extinct! The LORD allowed Noah and his family to become meat eaters after they left the ark (Genesis 9:3), only they were told by God to abstain from partaking of the blood (Genesis 9:4-6). Next we're told in Genesis 18:7 & 8 that Abraham "killed the fatted calf" and gave of it to the angels to eat with butter, milk, and cakes of bread. There is the dairy! But mind you, it was PURE..."organic" we call it today. Abraham didn't have his milk cows shot up with drugs and hormones to produce more milk for his family and servants. We don't have that kind of quality in our bulk market today (See "Promised Land Dairy" in my links though *_* ). BUT, dairy was definitely allowed, as were beef and bread. Please don't get on a "thou shalt not eat dairy" kick and call it scriptural. David, a man after God's own heart, was given cheese by Abigail...to appease his wrath after her foolish husband Nabal offended David and his army (II Samuel 17:29). And Job, long recognized as the oldest book of the Bible, even mentions cheese (Job 10:10)! So in answer to the "no animal products" argument, both dairy and eggs were allowed. Now for the meat of the Word! What meat is "clean" according to God's Word? I think we all know, but let's review *_* According to the dietary law God gave His people, Israel, as recorded in Leviticus 11 and again in Deuteronomy 14, any animal that chews the cud and has cloven hooves is "clean". That includes cattle and sheep, deer, and goat; but not swine / pigs as they do not chew the cud, and not horse as they don't have cloven hooves, and not camels since they have cloven feet but no hooves (as with rodents - mice, rats, bats, rabbits, squirrel). Certain birds were included and excluded as well, basically excluding those which were "scavengers", eating dead things. The chicken is clean meat, as is the turkey and pheasant. But the vulture, owl, and eagle are not to be used for food. Quite understandable, and rarely argued *_* Some insects are considered clean, which really is ICKY to me! But that's what God said! And John the Baptist LIVED on locust and wild honey! Seafood...ut oh. See, this is an easy one for me since I became FATALLY allergic to biblically "unclean" seafood in my teens. But God's Word says concerning fish that it must have fins and scales: salmon, snapper, mullet, bass, trout, mackerel, tuna, et cetera! This excludes crustaceans, mussels, catfish, bottle-nose dolphin, shark, stingray, seals, whales.... But what it DOES include is really TASTY and incredibly healthy for us. When we eat these clean meats, they are to be made "kosher"--drained of blood during preparation. I wish we had a kosher deli & meat market nearby, but we don't. So we use "kosher salt" and go through the koshering/blood-removing process explained on the box! Something I have noticed with all these Bible-allowed foods is that there was not an over abundance of them in Bible days, and thus the children of Israel were not gluttoning out on meat and dairy and sweeteners (honey) like the average American does today! They ate a majority of raw fruits & vegetables, seeds and nuts, dried fruits, and whole grains made into bread. These other food groups--meat, dairy, and sugars--were for "special occasions", not part of their "daily bread". So, what's wrong with living on beef jerky, mixed nuts, cheese sticks, tater chips, and sour cream???? LOL...believe me, if it were healthy for my body and pleasing to God, I'd figure out a way!!!! But let me sum up the "problem" in one word: NUTRITION We need to have a balanced diet. Moreover, processing takes much if not all nutrition out of food. I challenge you to find a container of NUTS in your local grocery store...any kind of nuts, or even sunflower seeds...that is not salted &/or roasted. I'm no rocket scientist, but heating and salting of the food KILLS it for almost all nutritional purposes! We NEED to be eating "live" foods...uncooked foods that still contain their vitamins, enzymes, minerals...that still NOURISH our bodies when we eat them! I came to a bit of a temporary standstill, as I was reading a book that was covering EXACTLY what I'm wanting to cover here. It is a book called "God's Keys to Health and Happiness" and makes some really excellent, Bible-based points on health and diet. It just went through the fact that Jesus was the embodiment of the law, having kept the moral and dietary laws, and BEING the fulfillment of the ceremonial/sacrificial laws. Yes, we are under grace, AMEN!!!! But shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? GOD FORBID! We are saved by grace to walk in newness of life, to walk in the Light, to walk in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Psalm 119:9 & 105, Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Do you want to please the LORD? Search the scriptures for what God tells us is clean, light, righteous.... And obey Him for His name's sake out of a heart of LOVE for your Creator and Redeemer! NOW, what have we covered so far? Our bodies were created to be nourished with veggies, fruit, nuts, and seeds. We are biblically allowed to eat meat and dairy and sweeteners, but in moderation. The Bible tells us what meats are considered and created by God as "clean" foods... meat that God called "clean"/"for food" in His dietary law and long before Moses' day, and foods that are processed in a clean manner hygienically. WHAT ABOUT PETER'S VISION???? "Didn't God revoke His prohibition of certain foods when He gave Peter a vision in Acts 10?" Read it! We must keep it in the context of the passage if we're going to correctly interpret it. The focus of this passage was on unclean people, not unclean food. Yes, God used food as an example, but food wasn't His focus. God wanted Peter, a Jew, to make a visit to Cornelius, a Gentile. According to custom, that was a big-time social no-no. If a Jew entered a Gentile's house, the Jew would be considered unclean by his own people. To make this visit possible, God had Cornelius send a committee to Peter's house to prepare him for his trip to Cornelius's house. But how was Peter going to know that he could accept the Gentile visitors into his house? God gave him a vision using the most unclean of foods. Did Peter think God was telling him to eat unclean food? No. We know from the context that Peter's interpretation of his vision concerned people, not food; for we read in Acts 10:28, And [Peter] said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. In Acts 11, because Peter was criticized for visiting with Gentiles, he explained the vision God gave him. In Acts 11:18, we read of Peter's critics, When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. It is clear that these people also interpreted Peter's vision the way he did, dealing with people rather than changing dietary laws. WHAT ABOUT I TIMOTHY 4:3???? Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. I have been taught that this means we can eat anything. Frankly, that is contrary to God's Word. Was swine flesh created for human consumption? This meat that is so abominable to God that Satan has had his people in the past and will again in the future offer swine flesh on the altar of God in His holy temple, was this meat truly created to be received? The verse is concentrating on those abstaining from all meats. God allowed mankind to eat meats! He even commanded the eating of lamb for part of the "everlasting ordinance" of the holy day of Passover! Here is an excellent summary I found at a Bible diet site: “The foods approved by God as recorded in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14 superceded the Genesis diet found in the first chapter of the Bible. God declared in Leviticus 11:2, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth. Adam, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus ate biblically clean meats. The Bible is specific as to the type: 1. The meat of animals with a cloven or split hoof that also chew the cud (Leviticus 11:3) can be eaten. This includes cows, goats, sheep, oxen, deer, buffalo, etc. 2. Avoid animals, such as the camel, that even may chew the cud but do not have cloven or split hooves (Leviticus 11:4). This includes, but is not limited to horses, rats, skunks, dogs, cats, squirrels, rabbits, and possums. 3. Do no eat swine (pigs). They have divided hooves, but they do not chew the cud. These are unclean animals (Leviticus 11:7-8). In fact, pigs are so unclean that God warns us not to even touch the body, meat, or carcass of a pig. The Hebrew words used to describe ‘unclean meats’ can be translated as ‘foul, polluted, and putrid.’ The same terms were used to describe ‘human waste’ and other disgusting substances. 4. Eat any fish with fins and scales, but avoid fish or water creatures without them (Leviticus 11:9-10). Those to avoid include smooth-skinned species such as catfish, shark, and eel as well as hard-shelled crustaceans such as shrimp, crab, lobster, oysters, and clams. 5. Birds that live primarily on insects, grubs, or grains are considered clean; but avoid birds or fowl that eat flesh. They are unclean." So.... We should make every effort to have the majority of our food intake be raw fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Clean meats and animal products (eggs, cheese, butter, milk) are allowed but should be eaten in moderation. Okay, back to processing.... It has come to my attention that one by one the artificial sweeteners on the market are discovered to be "not so good" for us. Okay, so they're being found to be carcinogens in many cases. I had a reaction to Splenda after using it for YEARS, and I truly believe I was close to kidney failure. I no longer want artificial sweetners in ANYTHING I eat or drink. I'm including bleached, processed cane and beet sugar here. What did I mention about Bible foods? That they had a limited amount of sweeteners, and that they were unprocessed, natural sweeteners? So, what do I use? I do my best to refrain from putting bleached sugar into my children's bodies. We use raw, unbleached sugar...still has the enzymes...and GREAT flavor! We use honey on our cereal, and LOVE it! (Makes me think of "a land flowing with milk and honey" *_* ). We still eat that occasional "candy", but it's not a daily--or even weekly--occurance by any means. For weight loss purposes, when I can afford it, I use Stevia, an all-natural sweetner available at health food stores. Now, I can go on and on about how freshly juiced fruits and veggies are SOOOO much better for you than bottled or canned (which have basically NO nutritional value). I can go on and on about eating and juicing only ORGANICALLY GROWN veggies and fruits...no pesticide side dishes, please! I could harp on the dangers of meat from the general market...to stick with farm fresh / organic even with the biblically "CLEAN" meats. But let me sum this whole page up with this: The closer you can come to pure, fresh, God-created foods, THE BETTER Use your instincts on this one, though they may be dulled by years of salted, microwaved, buttered popcorn!! Is it "natural", God-created? Is is something that Jesus would have eaten? Is it something that FEEDS your cells, strengthens your mind and body? Or is it something that when we ingest it, our antibodies kick in trying to get it out of our systems as quickly as possible? Think about it, and begin eating accordingly *_* A word to the wise: If you don't buy it, you won't eat it!! If you DO buy it... I think you get the picture! If you go to the grocery store at 10:45 in the morning, "starving to death", chances are you will buy junk. Soda. Chips. Instant this and pre-made that. Lester Roloff--man of God, evangelist, and healthy eater *_*--used to call grocery stores "food mausoleums"! That's because aside from the refrigerated and produce section, the foods are literally processed to death!! Keep that in mind when you shop. Go on a full tummy *_* Spend the majority of your time in produce and the refrigerated or freezer sections buying LIVE, nutrient-rich foods with which to NOURISH your family, not just "fill them up". I hope this helps. I know that being a work-at-home wife and mommy...a keeper at home...gives me more time to prepare this kind of food. I truly enjoy preparing nutritious meals for my family. So, you don't like to cook? "Allergic" to green foods except Andes Mints and Pistachio pudding? Never peeled a carrot in your life? Don't want to think about all the work this takes? Pray about it! Ask the LORD to give you such a love for your family that you have a heart's desire to feed them healthy, body-building, cell-nourishing, God-honoring meals instead of the drive-thru burgers and fried stuff. Mind you, there ARE healthy alternatives even in eating out!! Try going to Sweet Tomatoes! Try Mexican restaurants' salads! Try oriental restaurants that don't use MSG! They're out there! Hey, try Arby's grilled chicken salad! Or one of my favorites is Chick-Fil-A's salads and wraps...YUMMMM! Just remember to stay away from the soda...try a bottled water! Talking about this...about healthy alternatives being out there if we'll look for them, makes me think of this verse: There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man; but GOD IS FAITHFUL, Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. I Corinthians 10:13 God will give us a way out...a way to escape the fast food mentality our nation is cursed with. Just ask. BackNext Click the VOTE NOW button below to vote for Caleb's Country Corner Graphics and 4 Seests in Paradise! (you can vote once a day, here and at the first 3 below) ~Begun February 27th, 2003~