Food and Faith

This is post three of three on food. In this article I'll describe how I feel about food, faith, and trusting God. I'd like to provide a biblical view on how we should approach the links between food, disease and health in light of the promises God has given us.

Flaws in Our Food System

Like I mentioned in the previous two posts on food, today's food system is contaminated with all sorts of toxic substances. So many of the additives and preservatives in our foods have been linked to cancer, hyperactivity, etc. Even fruits and vegetables are not safe (from a worldly point of view)! So what are we as Christians to do? Well, I am definitely not against buying organic and unprocessed foods. In fact, I think that is usually a good idea. But many people don't have money to do this. Even if they did, I believe there are better ways to spend your money.

Respect Conviction

I don't want to get too generalized here. One of the amazing things about God is that He knows our quirks and differences. Thanks to the Holy Spirit, God's commands to one person regarding food may be different than the next person's. If God convicts someone that they need to be eating organic food, who am I to argue? I do not want to be so prideful as to undermine someone else's convictions. Paul talks about this concept at length in the book of Romans.

"As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. 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. 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.

One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God." Romans 14:1-6

Convictions from the Holy Spirit are more important than my opinions about food. But we need to separate our own feelings from the Word of God. Remember, "we have not been given a spirit of fear". Instead, we have been given a Spirit of self-discipline that always holds fast to the Word! So trust your convictions, only if they come into agreement from God!

Faith is Greater than Food

A permanent solution to our physical health is not found in food. Eating organic, taking natural vitamins, and other things are good but not critical. They should definitely not be the focus. Food does not make us clean or unclean. Jesus said this!

"It's not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth." Matthew 15:11

"I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean." Romans 14:14

We see that Paul had enough faith to accept the unconditional nature of the promises of God. He knew that God could and would keep his health regardless of his diet. However, Paul also operated out of love enough to respect the convictions of less mature believers. This is important! We need to act lovingly, and not with harsh judgement. You see, sometimes God limits Himself for us as to not overwhelm us. His Spirit seeks to build our faith, not turn us away. Paul knew this an respected others accordingly.

"If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died." Romans 14:20

So mature Christians need to know the supernatural power of God to keep us. This power is greater than food. But they also need to respect the work (or work in progress) that the Lord has done in other believers. Who are we to judge their spiritual progress?

Now I want to show you a better way. One more time, though, some things are not worth bringing to others if they become a stumbling block. Faith is greater than food, but Love is greater than faith.

"The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves." Romans 14:22

Instructions to Mature Believers

The solution, then, is to eat "whatever is set before us" out of faith. If you do not buy organic produce, glory to God! Let's rejoice all the more, as His "power is made perfect in weakness". Let's look to the Word to see where faith in God can take us. Keep in mind that faith is not a license to do anything.

"Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial"

With that being said, though, often faith can be built through hard situations. As long as we behold Jesus, and not the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, our faith can be built. Anyways, here are two examples:

We can drink HCFS-laden soda: "...they will drink deadly poison, and it will not hurt them at all."

We can eat poptarts: "I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself."

Faith in the fullness of the promises of God allow us to eat without fear. Eating in pure faith will never result in sickness or disease. In faith we can eat to the Glory of God, and testify to His healing power and not the benefits of this or that food!

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31

Trust Him, Don't Test Him

Keep in mind, though, that "not everything is beneficial". We cannot abuse God's word by making it a license to gratify the flesh. God's grace is not to be tested; "God cannot be mocked".

"What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?" Romans 6:2

The Holy Spirit will never lead us to test God, so let's walk in the Spirit. This way, we will not be tempted to "gratify the desires of the flesh" It takes discernment to know when our eating is acceptable, or when it is turning into fear or food idolatry. Food is not of critical importance, this is a matter of the heart! We can eat wrongly eat salad if we idolize it, and we can be justified and honor the Lord while eating ice cream.

"...Whatever is not of faith is sin" Romans 14:23

There comes a time when our eating may no longer glorify God's gift of faith to us. I don't know that anybody advocates purposely eating lead or washing their hands with acid. Obviously that's very extreme, but for many people, even a little junk food is a stumbling block for their faith. Everybody needs to draw a line somewhere, not according to the wisdom of the world or their own fear, but according to the measure of faith given them. And if we want more faith, let's ask for more, and receive it, so that God may be glorified!

"For the kingdom of God does not consist of food and drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit" Romans 14:17