God and Your Health

I think it’s time to have a conversation about health.

I know it’s a craze and you might get irritated by all the talk about natural, organic, non-GMO, gluten-free, no MSG, essential oils, sugar-free, and so on and so forth.

Some people like to say: “I have Jesus. All I need to know is that He loves me.” But if you are using that as an excuse to be lazy about theology, I want to remind you that Christ is not a sparkly accessory to add to your life. He is Master.

He is master in every area of life. So He is master when it comes to health. Have you surrendered this area of your life over to God?

When you think of God, do you think of an obese, ignorant, slovenly dressed man with a careless attitude?

I don’t think so.

So the question is, why do we, as His children – His representatives on this earth – think that we can be gluttonous, slovenly dressed, lazy, ignorant, and careless?

Ephesians 5:17-18

¹⁷ Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,

I believe that God wants us to be healthy. In body, mind, and soul. This life isn’t simply for our pleasure, but for His glory! And heaven isn’t some dreamy, hazy realm. We’re going to live. So we better start learning how to live right now. Here on earth. Do your research. Study. Be wise. Be responsible. Be Christ-like.

No, you can’t eat whatever you want. For one, the Bible expressly says that gluttony is a sin. And two, your body is God’s temple! I think that’s a very good reason to be serious about taking care of your body and eating good, wholesome foods!

1 Corinthians 6:12-13 & 19-20

¹² All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. ¹³ Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.

¹⁹ 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? ²⁰ For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Philippians 3:18-19

¹⁸ For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: ¹⁹ whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. 

Have you thought about what you’re putting into that temple?

What are you putting into your mouth? High fructose corn syrup? MSG? Sugar? Canola oil? Tobacco? Have you considered whether these things are affecting your ability to do the kingdom work God has called you to? Whether you’re fighting fatigue, stomach aches, obesity, depression, headaches, irritability, frequent flus, or lung cancer, are you thinking about God’s glory when you eat, or only your pleasure?

If you can’t give up certain foods for the sake of your health – for the sake of the temple of your God – then it appears you have erected an idol.

Yes, food can be an idol. And I, in fact, believe that food is a very big idol to many Americans.

It is a sin to choose food over kingdom work. Food over submission to God. Food over kindness and sacrificing for your neighbor.

Proverbs 3:7-8

⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
⁸ It will be health to your flesh,
And strength to your bones.

Eating unhealthy food can affect our ability to love God and love people well.

And don’t just consider your current state of health, consider the future. Do you know the ingredients of the things you’re consuming? Have you looked into how they affect your body? Will they have a negative effect on you ten years down the road?

Proverbs 31:17

¹⁷ She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms.

What about what you’re putting on your body? Shampoo? Lotion? Soap? Hand sanitizer? Perfume? I’ve heard so many stories of women who were really struggling with health issues and things, and after getting rid of shampoo with parabens or some such in them, they experienced a lot of healing.

How about vaccines? Have you looked up what’s in them? Did you know about aborted baby parts being used in vaccines and for vaccine research? Are you doing your due research, or are you blindly trusting your health (perhaps your children’s health) to doctors who may or may not know what’s in the vaccines they are giving out? And may or may not care?

I think these are important things to think about! Weigh the risks. What if vaccines do cause autism, chronic migraines, SIDS, etc.? What if the junk in many shampoos and perfumes (and plastics) do lead to female problems, infertility, and inability to maintain a pregnancy? What if all the artificial stuff put in processed food does make the risk of cancer higher?

I believe a Christian does well to consider these things and make thoughtful choices. We make wise, mature choices, and then trust the rest to God. Yes, we may die tomorrow. Or we might live to a ripe, old age.  Only God knows and He is in control. But it is our responsibility to make good choices concerning health.

Saying: “I’ll eat what I want, smoke, drink, and do whatever I want with my body … and when I die, I’ll be with Jesus! Don’t you want to be with God?” is perhaps just an immature way of declaring: “I don’t want to be disciplined and obedient. I want to do what I want, regardless of the consequences or what God has to say.”

1 Corinthians 10:31

³¹ Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 15:30-34

³⁰ And why do we stand in jeopardy every hour? ³¹ I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. ³² If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”

³³ Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” ³⁴ Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.

No, we are not going to just do what we want because we’re going to die anyway. We have something to live for! Christ! Our precious Lord and Heavenly Father! And our dear brothers and sisters in Him! We do not have to live in ignorance. We have a choice. We can either sleep in ignorance and shame, or we can awake to righteousness and truth. We can seek Him. We can make a choice to consciously make life decisions – big and small – for His glory.

It is to God’s glory that we take care of the bodies He intricately wove together in our mother’s womb.

This is not about being paranoid or obsessed. To me, being healthy does not mean obsessing about my weight, having a hot “beach body”, or saving myself from death and destruction. It means making choices about how I eat & live that are honorable to my Creator God! It means being self-controlled. It means using the incredible mind God gave me instead of just following what everyone else does. It means living to bring glory to Him – in the little things and the big things! It means being passionate about His kingdom and my part in it.

So what are you going to choose?

Perhaps God wants you to serve Him faithfully for a hundred years. So you better get in shape, and give up those doughnuts and cigarettes, friend!

Pray. Study the Word. Love on people. Laugh! Move your body. Go on a walk. Work out. Limit your screen time. Read some good books. Try some new recipes. Limit sugar. Cook wholesome foods. Go to the chiropractor – get your spine all in order so that your body can signal and function properly. Research vaccines, parabens, microwaving food in plastic, fake sugar, and the like. Get wisdom. Make informed decisions. God gave you a beautiful, complex brain … use it for the sake of your health! For the sake of the Kingdom. For the sake of Truth. For the sake of His glory!

3 John 1:2-3

² Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. ³ For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. ⁴ I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

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