(Unless of course you are fasting, on an unhealthy diet, or have an eating disorder. To the latter two, I hope this brings you clarity and conviction that causes you to run to the loving arms of Christ.)
Eat every day, everyone.
I am writing this to explain why healthy eating is an important part of walking with Jesus. God has infused in me a passion for nutrition (I’m actually about to declare a minor in nutrition), and I promise it’s from the Lord because before I knew him I just ate a lot of candy. You can ask my parents. My nickname as a child was “candy bones.” Plus, one time when I was in fourth grade, I ate so much junk food when I got home after school that I threw up in the middle of the night because I was so sick from what I ate. Praise God for redemption and my selfless mom who cleaned up the smelly concoction of Drumsticks, cheese puffs, and Slim Jims when I didn’t make it to the toilet in time. Thanks, mom.
On that note, let’s begin.
1. Your Body Is a Temple
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says our (those who put their trust in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ) body is:
{ A temple of the Holy Spirit }
This is a big deal. The Spirit of God now dwells in your body. Therefore, you, as an individual saint, are a vessel, and we, as the body of Christ, are vessels set apart because of the Spirit in us. Because of He who is now in you, your desires are changing to look like those of Christ. The way you talk is different than the way you used to talk; the way you think is different than the way you used to think; the way you approach schoolwork, converse with co-workers, treat people, date and see yourself are all different from before you knew Christ because He has shown Himself to you and granted you with His Spirit. So then, is the way we eat not also supposed to look different from that of the world?
In Galatians 5:23, when it says self-control is one of the fruits of the Spirit, does that only apply to anger or to all aspects of our life including the way we eat? I want to clarify that in the same way self-control doesn’t mean controlling your tongue to the point where you never speak (it’s necessary to speak truth, talk with friends, and share the gospel), it also does not mean controlling yourself to the point where you never eat – or to the point where you’re consumed by constantly watching what you eat. We’ll discuss this more in depth in the fourth point.
In Galatians 5:23, when it says self-control is one of the fruits of the Spirit, does that only apply to anger or to all aspects of our life including the way we eat? I want to clarify that in the same way self-control doesn’t mean controlling your tongue to the point where you never speak (it’s necessary to speak truth, talk with friends, and share the gospel), it also does not mean controlling yourself to the point where you never eat – or to the point where you’re consumed by constantly watching what you eat. We’ll discuss this more in depth in the fourth point.
{ Not your own}
You. Are. Not. Your. Own. It's not about you. It's not about me. It's not about John Piper. It’s not about Charles Spurgeon. It’s not about C.S. Lewis. I know those last three really cut to the heart for some of ya’ll, but seriously if anything or anyone is on a pedestal in your life besides Jesus Christ, it is an idol. God owns you, and praise God that He’s finally got a hold of you because you have no clue how to run your own life.
“For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died, and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15 ESV).
Brothers and sisters, let the love of Christ seep into and control every aspect of your being. It is so much better than controlling your own life.
{Brought at a price (the blood of Jesus Christ)}
This goes off the latter part of the verse above this. The love of Christ controls us, and we are no longer our own because we have been bought at the price of Jesus’ blood. Man, what a heavy truth, but what a great reminder that in exchange for our dirty rags, the Lord gave us His Son, so that we may have life and life to the fullest. I truly think if we remind ourselves of this truth, it will change us even down to what food we consume and the size of the portions we eat. Because of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Spirit permeates every detail of our lives, and He will not stop doing so until He has all of you.
{For the purpose of glorifying God}
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
What does this mean? How did I bring praise to God in the way I eat or drink?
Let’s jump back a few verses to verse 23, “’All things are lawful,’ but not all things are helpful. ‘All things are lawful,’ but not all things build up.”
In the Old Testament, there were multiple laws about what kinds of meat to eat. When Christ came, he fulfilled the law. The law was only a shadow that pointed to the person who is Jesus. I don’t know if the Jews in this passage still follow the law and do not believe the Messiah has come yet, or if because they have lived under this law for so long, they still feel guilty for eating the meats they were once commanded not to. Regardless, Paul is telling the church of Corinth (who are not Jews) that although they have freedom to eat any meat they want, they should not do so with those who are Jewish for the sake of Jews’ conscience.
Paul’s self-control of not eating certain meats when he was with Jews, the selflessness of giving up a freedom for the advancement of the kingdom and for unity’s sake, and his humility in all this reflects the character of Christ. In this passage, which is pertaining to what and how they should eat, Paul exhibits self-control, selflessness, humility and love, and in these ways reflects God’s character (His glory) in the way he eats.
We can also apply this principle to the context on our own culture. For example, you have the freedom to eat a bacon cheeseburger with fries and a root beer. Is it OK to eat this everyone once in a while? Sure. Is it beneficial to your body to eat these types of things more than every once in a while? No. Another thing to consider is when you eat this hamburger, are you thanking God for the freedom to be able to eat this in moderation, or are you indulging in your fleshly desires? I am not saying eating a hamburger has to be an over-spiritual activity, but God should not be separate from anything you do. You reflect the self-control of the Spirit and the humility of Christ when you recognize your body is no longer your own to do as you please, but rather His vessel to be used for His purposes.
In summary, your body is a temple of God and should be treated like so. Your body and its entirety is God’s; it has been bought with His blood, so you are no longer to indulge in the passions of the flesh but rather walk by the Spirit. In light of these truths, we are to care about the many aspects of our lives including what food we consume and the portion sizes of food we eat.
2. It Is How Your Body Is Designed
When you eat well, you feel good. You have more energy. Your body functions efficiently. You don’t get sick very often (unless you’re not sleeping enough). Overall, when you’re giving your body proper nutrients, you live a fuller physical life, and this pours into to your emotional and spiritual well-being.
This goes off the latter part of the verse above this. The love of Christ controls us, and we are no longer our own because we have been bought at the price of Jesus’ blood. Man, what a heavy truth, but what a great reminder that in exchange for our dirty rags, the Lord gave us His Son, so that we may have life and life to the fullest. I truly think if we remind ourselves of this truth, it will change us even down to what food we consume and the size of the portions we eat. Because of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Spirit permeates every detail of our lives, and He will not stop doing so until He has all of you.
{For the purpose of glorifying God}
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
What does this mean? How did I bring praise to God in the way I eat or drink?
Let’s jump back a few verses to verse 23, “’All things are lawful,’ but not all things are helpful. ‘All things are lawful,’ but not all things build up.”
In the Old Testament, there were multiple laws about what kinds of meat to eat. When Christ came, he fulfilled the law. The law was only a shadow that pointed to the person who is Jesus. I don’t know if the Jews in this passage still follow the law and do not believe the Messiah has come yet, or if because they have lived under this law for so long, they still feel guilty for eating the meats they were once commanded not to. Regardless, Paul is telling the church of Corinth (who are not Jews) that although they have freedom to eat any meat they want, they should not do so with those who are Jewish for the sake of Jews’ conscience.
Paul’s self-control of not eating certain meats when he was with Jews, the selflessness of giving up a freedom for the advancement of the kingdom and for unity’s sake, and his humility in all this reflects the character of Christ. In this passage, which is pertaining to what and how they should eat, Paul exhibits self-control, selflessness, humility and love, and in these ways reflects God’s character (His glory) in the way he eats.
We can also apply this principle to the context on our own culture. For example, you have the freedom to eat a bacon cheeseburger with fries and a root beer. Is it OK to eat this everyone once in a while? Sure. Is it beneficial to your body to eat these types of things more than every once in a while? No. Another thing to consider is when you eat this hamburger, are you thanking God for the freedom to be able to eat this in moderation, or are you indulging in your fleshly desires? I am not saying eating a hamburger has to be an over-spiritual activity, but God should not be separate from anything you do. You reflect the self-control of the Spirit and the humility of Christ when you recognize your body is no longer your own to do as you please, but rather His vessel to be used for His purposes.
In summary, your body is a temple of God and should be treated like so. Your body and its entirety is God’s; it has been bought with His blood, so you are no longer to indulge in the passions of the flesh but rather walk by the Spirit. In light of these truths, we are to care about the many aspects of our lives including what food we consume and the portion sizes of food we eat.
2. It Is How Your Body Is Designed
When you eat well, you feel good. You have more energy. Your body functions efficiently. You don’t get sick very often (unless you’re not sleeping enough). Overall, when you’re giving your body proper nutrients, you live a fuller physical life, and this pours into to your emotional and spiritual well-being.
“Eating a healthy breakfast is associated with improved cognitive function (especially memory), reduced absenteeism, and improved mood,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.
God was precise in the composition of our bodies. He structured our organs, muscles, blood, nerves and bones to live off the plants of the field, fruit of the trees and vines, animals of the land, and fish of the sea. It was meant to be good! The burst of juicy flavor when we sink our teeth into a grape is supposed to remind us that God has created the very taste of this fruit, for from Him and to Him and through Him are all things. Food, as all things, was created to reflect the goodness of God and lead us to worship the Creator. But, as all things, we have worshipped the creation rather than the One who created it.
3. You Have Limitations
There are consequences to your eating habits. If you go on eating as you please, eventually you will go to the doctor for a checkup, and the doctor will inform you that you need to cut certain things out of your diet because your cholesterol is too high. According to the CDC website, “A poor diet can increase the risk for lung, esophageal, stomach, colorectal, and prostate cancers.”
You have limitations. Recognize them. Embrace them. They are how Christ’s power is made known through you.
I want to add that because you have limitations, you will not always eat the perfect amount of vegetables, fruits, grains, dairy and proteins that you are supposed to eat every day. It’s OK. There is so much grace. We rest in the finished work of Christ, not our own. However, out of a heart that has experienced the grace and love of Jesus Christ, let us honor Him, brothers and sisters, with the temple that belongs to Him.
4. My Intentions for Eating Healthy Are Not OK
Maybe you are eating healthy because you are concerned about your outward appearance. Maybe eating healthy is like a competition to you; you want to do it perfectly and you are disappointed in yourself when you fail to meet the daily recommendations. It could be that you think eating healthy is eating as little as possible and only when necessary. Perhaps you have taken healthy eating to an unhealthy level, and it has begun to consume you to the point where it is an idol in your life.
First, let me clear up a few of these lies.
A benefit of eating healthy is a lower risk for obesity, but so many guys and girls think they are overweight when they are not at all. Although eating healthy and exercising could very likely cause you to lose weight if you are overweight, this is not where the focus for eating healthy should be.
“But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7 ESV).
In this verse, Samuel is looking for a king to replace Saul, and he has come upon a man named Eliab who was probably tall, strong, and good-looking. Samuel says surely this must be the Lord’s anointed (v. 6). Then God says you don’t get it Samuel; I’m not looking for the tallest, strongest, most handsome man in all of Israel, but the one whose heart loves me and walks in all my ways. Then David, who was the youngest of all his brothers and was short, which was not a highly regarded physical quality of a man or a king, was chosen to be king of Israel and became one of the greatest kings.
God does not so much care if we lose the right amount of weight or eat perfectly healthy, but he does value your heart in doing these things. When we recognize our bodies are not our own but are the temple of God and in light of that truth, desire to be careful about what we put into that temple, this is honorable before the Lord.
Back to the main point. Your intentions are probably impure to some degree in just about everything you do because you're in the flesh. For example, I want to honor the Lord in my schoolwork, so I work diligently and with excellence, but many times I find myself working for my own selfish gain, on my own strength, and desiring to receive the praise from my hard work. When I do this, I have put my schoolwork before God in some aspects, and it has become an idol. Should I stop doing my homework and quit studying? Should I drop out of school? I sure don’t think my professors, parents, friends, or the Lord would say yes to either of these questions. The same principle applies to eating healthy. Because your intentions are impure, should you stop eating healthy? No. Eating healthy is a good thing, but the motives and intentions of your heart have made it wicked. So what should you do? What can you do? Absolutely nothing. There is nothing you can do to change your own heart, BUT the Father has the power to do anything. Absolutely anything. Pray that the Lord would change the perverted intentions of your heart in eating healthy, and He will. He is faithful to do the things His children ask in His name, according to His purposes.
5. How Do I Do This?
I hope by now you understand why Christians are called to a different standard in their daily eating, but let’s get practical about this healthy eating thing.
Here is a link to a very helpful website:
http://www.choosemyplate.gov/myplate
On this website, you can get helpful tips on how to eat healthy, but the most beneficial thing you can do on this website is on this link:
http://www.choosemyplate.gov/myplate/index.aspx
Here, you can type in your age, gender, weight, height, and amount of daily physical activity, and it will show you how much of each food group you are recommended to eat daily.
Some general tips from me:
· Be aware but not obsessive. Examine the nutrition labels because it is important to know what you are putting into your body and the nutrients you are taking in.
· Try to eat more natural foods with fewer preservatives.
· Buy a variety of fresh vegetables and fruits.
· Take multivitamins daily (I take kids chewable vitamins because they taste good, give me necessary nutrients, and are cheaper than the others).
· Try to include vegetables, fruits, whole grains, protein foods, and a little dairy throughout your daily meals.
One last thing, I do not want to hear that eating healthier is more expensive. Maybe if you bought all organic groceries from Sprouts then yes, it would be substantially more expensive. However, fruits and vegetables are inexpensive. Also, it is not usually more expensive to switch out your bread for whole grain bread, pasta for whole grain pasta, or chips for whole grain crackers. I have inherited from my father the wonderful quality of being cheap, or, as I like to call it, being wise with my money. If I can eat healthy on my budget, you can too my friends.
