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DIET AND HEALTH IN THE BIBLE

"Then do not let anyone judge you in eating, or in drinking" Colossians 2:16

What does this mean? Does this mean you can eat any plant?

Does this mean you can eat any animal?

Does this mean you can drink anything?

What should we eat?

And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." (Genesis 2:16-17)

Before falling into sin man's diet was fruits and herbs that yielded seeds (Genesis 1:29).

In the beginning before man sinned:

1. every plant yielding seed

EVERY HERB BEARING SEED... (a seed plant which does not develop woody persistent tissue)

GRAINS - wheat, corn, rye, barley, rice, oats, millet, etc.

SEEDS - sunflower, sesame, flax, pumpkin seeds, etc.

LEGUMES - soybeans, lentils, peas, peanuts, other beans, etc.

SUCCULENT FOODS CONTAINING SEED - eggplant, okra, bell peppers, squash, green beans, pumpkins, cucumbers, tomatoes, melons, etc.

2. every tree yielding seed

... and EVERY TREE, in the which is THE FRUIT OF A TREE YIELDING SEED ..... (a woody perennial plant, shrub, or bush).

FRUITS - citrus fruits, sweet fruits, palm fruits, etc.

NUTS - almonds, pecans, cashews, brazil, walnuts, etc.

After man sinned, he was driven out of the Garden of Eden, and no longer had access to the wonderful tree of life. Man had to gain his livelihood by tilling the earth, and the "herb of the field" (originally food for the animals) was added to his diet.

GENESIS 1:30 ... "And to every beast of the earth and to every fowl of the air, and to everything that creep upon the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for meat; and it was so."

In the beginning after man sinned:

"And to Adam He said, because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, You shall not eat of it: Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life.

Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the plants of the field.

In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you have been taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return." Genesis 3:17-19

3. plants of the field

And it shall bring forth thorns and thistles for you, and you shall eat the plant of the field. Genesis 3:18

Leaf: beet greens, brussel sprouts, cabbage, collard, etc.

Flower: globe artichoke, broccoli, cauliflower.

Root: carrots, beets, potatoes, turnips, etc.

Although vegetables (green herb) were not part of the Original Diet given to man, they were added to man's diet after he sinned and are part of his diet today.

I believe God gives a more detailed list out of love and so man would not eat poisons plants.

They are told again by God that they could eat any Green plants (herbs) of the field. This Hebrew word for herb (`eseb), occurs 33 times in 32 verses in the Hebrew Bible. Today we do not have a perfect understanding of every Hebrew word in its historical context. They must have understood that it was referring to certain plants. There is no record of someone eating a poisonous plant and dying in the Bible.

After the flood:

4. the flesh of animals

GENESIS 9:3 "Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs. But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood."

At the time of the flood the earths soil and climate was dramatically altered. In many places on earth it would not be possible to obtain enough food from plant sources during all times of the year. It was at this time that God gave man permission to eat animal flesh. Yet even in this God gave instruction that the blood must be drained from the carcass before eating it.

Note what does this verse say:

1. They are told again by God that they could eat any Green Herb of the field. This Hebrew word for herb (`eseb), occurs 33 times in 32 verses in the Hebrew Bible. Today we do not have a perfect understanding of every Hebrew word in its historical content. They must have understood that it was referring to certain plants because there is no record of someone eating a poisonous plant and dying in the Bible.

2. The focus is on eating the flesh not other parts of the animal. Common sense would tell us to avoid other parts of the animals and God's focus is on the flesh. Therefore, that is where our focus should be and not other parts of the body.

3. The animal would have to have the blood removed. This verse was given after the Flood, 1656 years after creation.

At that time, they clearly understood what they could and could not eat. People back then like today understood certain parts of the animal were to be avoided. Any animal that has disease if eaten can kill you. People did not eat sick or diseased animal meat. Today, many animals are sick and carry diseases, these animals should always be avoided. In Japan, many people enjoy eating the flesh of the poisonous blow flesh.

EAT NO BLOOD

GENESIS 9:4 ". . . but you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood."

LEVITICUS 7:26-27 "Moreover you shall not eat any blood in any of your dwellings, whether of bird or beast. Whoever eats any blood, that person shall be cut off from his people."

NOTE: I Do believe in giving blood transfusions to someone who is going to die or be severely anemic without this life-saving measure. The command forbids the eating of meat with the blood, not saving lives with it.

ALCOHOL

There are two kinds of wine spoken of in the Bible. One of these was the juice of the grape, and was pressed from the fruit into the cup as it was needed to drink (Genesis 40:11). It is this kind that is said to bring good cheer (Judges 9:13). The other kind was that which had stood until it fermented, and alcohol had formed. The most important argument raised by moderationists (Christians who approve moderation in drinking) is that the Bible never forbids the consumption of alcoholic beverages. For centuries spokesmen for total abstinence have attempted to refute this argument, but their cause would be better served by an honest admission that no text in either the Old or the New Testament may be construed as an absolute prohibition of alcoholic drink.

The closest to such a prohibition is Proverbs 23:31 "Do not look upon the wine when it is red, when it gives off bubbles in the cup, when it swirls around smoothly." A reader searching for the Lord's will might take this text to mean, "Do not look longingly, with an eye of desire, upon alcoholic wine." The hebrew verb for longingly is an imperfect, second person, masculine, singular, apocopated ending, with the strong prefix attached. We can best understand this verse to mean, do not have a strong attachment to alcohol. This word longing is used on 3 occasions in the Old Testament and is also translated as staring or glaring upon. In other words, do not develop a taste for wine to the point of intoxication. The reader might surmise that whether he is permitted to drink depends on his motive. Drinking wine is all right if he is using it like any other beverage, as a means of satisfying ones thirst or as a form a pain medicine, but wrong if he is seeking the effects of intoxication. The implication he might draw is that he can take wine in moderation but not in excess, to the point of drunkenness. In defense of drinking in moderation, he might point out that the evils enumerated in Proverbs 23:29-35 are all associated with excessive drinking. Moreover, he might cite those texts where Paul seemingly takes some drinking for granted among the believers he addresses. For example, "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess" (Eph. 5:18). "Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given ["devoted"] to much wine" (1 Tim. 3:8). When it moves upright, is speaking of the process of fermentation. Satan tempts men to indulgence in that which could cloud reasoning and numb spiritual perception.

The Old Testament gives a warning to Israel, "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging; and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise." (Proverbs 20:1).

WARNING

PROVERBS. 23:29-32

Who hath woe?

who hath sorrow?

who hath contentions?

who hath babbling?

who hath wounds without cause?

Who hath redness of eyes?

They that tarry long at the wine;

They that go to seek mixed wine;

Look not thou upon the wine when it is red,

When it giveth his color in the cup,

When it moveth itself aright.

At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.

Where can we find a more vivid picture of the debasement and the slavery of the victim of alcohol? Even when awakened to a sense of his misery, he has no power to break from the snare; he "will seek it yet again."

(Proverbs 23:35)

ISAIAH 5:22 "Woe to men mighty at drinking wine, Woe to men valiant for mixing intoxicating drink."

ISAIAH 28:1,2

Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim,

Whose glorious beauty is a fading flower

Which is at the head of the verdant valleys,

To those who are overcome with wine!

Behold, the Lord has a mighty and strong arm,

Like a tempest of hail and a destroying storm,

Like a flood of mighty waters overflowing,

Who will bring them down to the earth with His hand."

"Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." I CORINTHIANS 6:10.

"But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard." I CORINTHIANS 5:11

I do not believe that Christ provided such a beverage during the Lord's Supper. How could something which is decaying represent the blood of the spotless Son of God?

If you choose to drink: please keep in mind the following:

1. Alcohol is something that should always be taken in moderation. Historically, water was always added. To drink unmixed wine(wine without water) was considered to be barbaric historically.

2. Pastors should not drink.

3. Deacons if they choose to drink, should only drink in moderation.

4. Anyone who is in bondage to alcohol should avoid all alcohol.

5. When a stumbling block to your brother: all food and drink should be avoided. "But whoever causes one of these little ones believing in Me to offend, it is better for him that a millstone turned by an ass be hung on his neck, and he be sunk in the depth of the sea." Matthew 18:6

6. Wine and beer server in public today would be consider strong drink. "Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise."�E(Prov. 20:1). Ancient alcoholic wines were always mixed with water otherwise they were consider barbaric.

7. Christians Are Commanded to be Sober-minded or Morally Alert, Ready for the Lord's Return (1 Thes. 5:4-7; cf. 1 Pet. 1:13; Luke 21:34).

8. Alcohol Can Lead to Moral Recklessness: do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18).

9. Scientific research says moderation is always best. According to science:

women should drink only one five ounces glass of wine a day.

men should drink only two five ounces glasses of wine a day.

10. YOU ARE THE TEMPLE OF GOD

I CORINTHIANS 10:31 "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

I CORINTHIANS 3:16, 17 "Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are."

I CORINTHIANS 6:19, 20 "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's."

Follow God's direction for good health, long life, and happiness.

"Beloved, in regard to all things, I pray for you to prosper and to be in health,

as your soul prospers." 3 John 2