We should know that food was created for both sustenance and pleasure (Deuteronomy 14:26, Acts 14:17). It was God who gave us both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food to eat and enjoy. Therefore we are not people who believe physical world and body as evil. Rather Christian faith elevates body as good. Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). And God created us with different tastes, a tongue with lots of taste buds (an average of 10,000)! Food therefore is a blessing.
But the Bible also speaks clearly against gluttony and drunkenness (Proverbs 23:20-21, 28:7, Deuteronomy 21:20-21). Puritans' Westminster catechism interprets the sixth command, “Thou shalt not murder” to the extreme that we should not murder ourselves by not taking care of our bodies. It tells of an appropriate use of food, rest, exercise. Being unwell most of the times is because we are not caring for our bodies. Some genetically are strong. Some are not. Romans 8:28 tells that God causes all things for his good. This includes people with genetic problems too. Any case we need to be stewards of our own bodies. Matthew 22:37 exhorts us to love God with all our heart, soul and mind.
Also God transforms us to his image, not as human models. We don’t have to be outwardly beautiful. What is the difference between moral atheists who care for their body and us? Christ is our identity. We are his bride. He has clothed us with his garment of righteousness. We are beautiful. He says to us, “This is my beloved daughter/son in whom I am well pleased.”
Practical Guidelines:
· You can always enlist the help of a physician or nutritionist.
· Develop a thank list. When you are not tempted to overeat, purge or starve, write out a list of items you are thankful for.
· Do not complain over food. (when you get it late and so on) They gave vinegar to Jesus when he was thirsty.
· Learn godly view of food and eating (1 Timothy 4:3-5). It is easy for us to make lists of food that are bad, not remembering that God created them and that they are good. Receive it with gratitude and prayer. Know that most of the world is starving without food.
· Begin to memorize scripture to use when tempted: Philippians 4:13, 1 Corinthians 10:31, Romans 14:20, 1 Corinthians 6:20, 1 Timothy 4:4-5, Colossians 3:17
· Develop a contingency plan when you are tempted in the area of food: cry out to God in humble trust. Start reciting the memory verses and start moving away from the source of temptation. Hear some gospel music or go for a walk.
· Even if you have started eating sinfully, remember that your desire to be perfect and your resulting condemnation and further self-indulgence will compound your problem rather than give you peace. We cannot be perfect by ourselves.
· Read and meditate on Christ’s suffering even for sin related to food. (like Isaiah 53)
· Mediate on Christ’s perfections: He ate perfectly his whole life. He never binged or starve himself for ungodly reasons. He was never vain about how he looked because his identity was solely in who he was as his Father’s son.
A study on food in the Bible has this interesting fact: God frequently tested people in the area of food. Some major tests on food in Scriptures are:
· Adam and Eve were first tested with food (Genesis 3:1-7).
· The Israelites’ wandering for the extra forty years was part of a test. And part of the test was food. The Israelites also went back in their minds wanting the food of Egypt many times. Interestingly, it was God who gave them food tests in the wilderness (Deuteronomy 8:3).
· Children of Israel failed the test. Jesus was the only one who passed this test. The area which we stumble in was one of the areas he was tested in (Matthew 4).
· This speaks to the difficulty of the test. Jesus is our hope and righteousness even in this regard.
Why are so many fitness and health books being published every year? They work for a little while and then what happens? What we need is not a law from outside, but a transformation from within. Law does not make us better. That is why God sent Jesus. Jesus offered his body for us, our gluttony and for our other bodily cravings. He died on the cross for every such sin of us. He rose again assuring freedom from our guilt of sin and to help us lead a victorious life. Let us apply this gospel and live in freedom and gratitude.
· The Israelites’ wandering for the extra forty years was part of a test. And part of the test was food. The Israelites also went back in their minds wanting the food of Egypt many times. Interestingly, it was God who gave them food tests in the wilderness (Deuteronomy 8:3).
· Children of Israel failed the test. Jesus was the only one who passed this test. The area which we stumble in was one of the areas he was tested in (Matthew 4).
· This speaks to the difficulty of the test. Jesus is our hope and righteousness even in this regard.
Why are so many fitness and health books being published every year? They work for a little while and then what happens? What we need is not a law from outside, but a transformation from within. Law does not make us better. That is why God sent Jesus. Jesus offered his body for us, our gluttony and for our other bodily cravings. He died on the cross for every such sin of us. He rose again assuring freedom from our guilt of sin and to help us lead a victorious life. Let us apply this gospel and live in freedom and gratitude.
(Courtesy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7W5HI0TbZ90)
