Is God Interested, in More than Just.....

[Jay T]

Most people think God is interested in just the 'spiritual' life of a person.
But, upon closer investigation of the Bible, we can find that God is interested in the physical, just as much as the spiritual aspects of man.

To the point where, God has told us what to eat, and not to eat.

Some people think, that that is taking God's truths just a little to far, by telling us what we can eat and not eat.

So...the question becomes....Does God have the right, to tell us such things at that ?

 

[Muad'Dib]

God has the right to tell us anything He wants to. But I think the spiritual life of a person is indeed what God is most concerned with. Jesus broke a number of the rules on such things. Healing on the Sabbath is the first one that comes to mind. Part of Christ's point was that, people had become so preoccupied with rules and rituals that they forgot the big stuff, like loving and forgiving their fellow man.

Now, obviously God wants you to be healthy. That is the whole purpose of those rules. But spiritual life is what you need to be most concerned with.

 

[antitox]

Most people think God is interested in just the 'spiritual' life of a person.
But, upon closer investigation of the Bible, we can find that God is interested in the physical, just as much as the spiritual aspects of man.

To the point where, God has told us what to eat, and not to eat.

Some people think, that that is taking God's truths just a little to far, by telling us what we can eat and not eat.

So...the question becomes....Does God have the right, to tell us such things at that ?

Yes, God is concerned for our physical welfare too. If He tells us to do a specific thing, then it is for our good because He sees the big picture.. Or He may direct us to do something that may be right for an event that we are approaching up ahead of us.

 

[Soma-Sight]

I suer dont eat at McDonalds anymore thats for sure....

Its definately unbiblical...

Ever saw that fast food documentary..... (Supersize Me!.....)

The guy that eats fast food for a month ends up getting fat and disease ridden....

Your better off eating random cactus plants than a quarter pounder.... :

 

[Merry Menagerie]

Only because we are the temple of the HOly Ghost. So in an indirect sense it's all about 'spiritual' anyway.

 

[Vic C.]

I suer dont eat at McDonalds anymore thats for sure....

Its definately unbiblical...

Ever saw that fast food documentary..... (Supersize Me!.....)

The guy that eats fast food for a month ends up getting fat and disease ridden....

Your better off eating random cactus plants than a quarter pounder.... :

Ugh, I saw that too.

But I could go for a nice Wendy's baked potato with sour cream and chives. ;-)

 

[Jay T]

I suer dont eat at McDonalds anymore thats for sure....

Its definately unbiblical...

Ever saw that fast food documentary..... (Supersize Me!.....)

The guy that eats fast food for a month ends up getting fat and disease ridden....

Your better off eating random cactus plants than a quarter pounder.... :

On the new earth we will eat a vegan diet, grown by ourselves.
Fruits and vegetables as this world only saw, in the Garden of Eden.

 

[Scott]

Fruits and vegetables as this world only saw, in the Garden of Eden.

Its great to see someone has all the answers. Unfortunately we know nuts and grains don't exactly fit into either of those catergories. We've only be given a glimpse of New Jerusalem, not a detailed map. Personally, I'll hold off on making any predictions.

 

[Quath]

I suer dont eat at McDonalds anymore thats for sure....

Its definately unbiblical...

Ever saw that fast food documentary..... (Supersize Me!.....)

The guy that eats fast food for a month ends up getting fat and disease ridden....

Your better off eating random cactus plants than a quarter pounder.... :

Heh. Is Outback Steak House Biblical? ;)

I have heard several criticism of the movie, Supersize Me. One link is at Tech Central Station. The gist is that the guy gorges himself and act out in an unrealistic manner. Nutritionists are saying it sent the wrong message. Overeating anything and not exercising will mess you up no matter where you eat.

Quath

 

[Scott]

The gist is that the guy gorges himself and act out in an unrealistic manner. Nutritionists are saying it sent the wrong message. Overeating anything and not exercising will mess you up no matter where you eat.

True, overeating is bad but overeating some things are worse than others. First rule of thumb is eating out anywhere is usually not a wise choice nutritionally.

 

[Soma-Sight]

On the new earth we will eat a vegan diet, grown by ourselves.
Fruits and vegetables as this world only saw, in the Garden of Eden.

Sounds pretty Godly to me! :angel:

 

[Scott]

Though not completely accurate.

 

[Drew]

Most people think God is interested in just the 'spiritual' life of a person. But, upon closer investigation of the Bible, we can find that God is interested in the physical, just as much as the spiritual aspects of man.

I have come to believe that we have, to a large extent, misunderstood the whole distintion between the "physical" and the "spirutual". I no longer think of these domains as being as distinct as I once did. In fact, I think that they are, in a sense, inseparable.

So I would say God's interest in the physical (as per Jay's observation) is quite understandable - the spiritual and the physical cannot be teased apart and considered as separate "things".

 

[Nocturnal_Principal_X]

Most people think God is interested in just the 'spiritual' life of a person.

Really? Just curious how you came to that conclusion.

But, upon closer investigation of the Bible, we can find that God is interested in the physical, just as much as the spiritual aspects of man.

True, read 1 Corinthians and particularly the part about the body (that is your body) being the temple of the Holy Spirit.

To the point where, God has told us what to eat, and not to eat.

Perhaps, however; look at what the New Testament says about things to eat. Also consider that based on what people know about nutrition today it would be wise to be mindful of what one eats because such thinking could be detrimental to ones health. A good example would be eating too much sweetsâ€â€obviously if that is the primary part of your diet your probably not going to be a very healthy person.

To Some people think, that that is taking God's truths just a little to far, by telling us what we can eat and not eat.

Perhaps, people may have some bases due to things spoken of in the New Testament, however; more study and prayer should guide them in their convictions on the matter.

So...the question becomes....Does God have the right, to tell us such things at that ?

Of course God has the right, He has the right to do whatever He wantsâ€â€He is God. Besides God would not ever ask us (humans) to do anything that would be sinful because He would not command us to do something that is against His nature.

 

[Lonelyguide]

I have come to believe that we have, to a large extent, misunderstood the whole distintion between the "physical" and the "spirutual". I no longer think of these domains as being as distinct as I once did. In fact, I think that they are, in a sense, inseparable.

I wonder what makes you say so.

Be that as it may ... in that case it may interest you to learn that "Heaven and earth shall pass away, etc" was merely intended to express that these two will cease to exist as separate states.

 

[Drew]

I have come to believe that we have, to a large extent, misunderstood the whole distintion between the "physical" and the "spirutual". I no longer think of these domains as being as distinct as I once did. In fact, I think that they are, in a sense, inseparable.

I wonder what makes you say so.

Hello Lonelyguide (and others):

Don't have much time but I will say the following:

1. I believe that most historians would tell us that the notion of the immaterial soul, the "ghost in the machine" if you will, is essentially a Greek idea and that the Hebrew people had no such concept.

2. An immaterial soul, distinct from the body poses a famous and challenging philosophical problem - how does an immaterial soul "reach over" into the domain of the physical and exert a causal effect in the domain of the strictly material (i.e. the body)? How does a non-physical soul initiate very physical events in the brain that are clearly associated with human actions.

3. Another member of this board (guibox) has made very compelling Biblical arguments against the notion of an immaterial soul.

I think the soul / spirit is more properly conceived of as a "phenomena" that accompanies physical activity in the brain and not really a "thing". Of course, such a conception does not detract from the reality of the existence of a soul or spirit.

 

[bibleberean]

1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.


Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

 

[Drew]

The whole method of defending a position by "verse wars" - the use of individual verses seem highly suspect to me. Consider the familiar "goats and sheep" passage as follows:

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

This certainly seems like salvation by works. Presuming that one does not believe in salvation by works, one has to admit that "verse wars" is an unreliable guide to discerning the truth.

The important truths lie in the overarching story, not in the content of individual texts. In North American fundamentalism, this whole notion of thinking that individual "snippets" of scripture can be used to formulate a theology is so widespread, people take it for granted. I really think a more sophisticated approach is needed.

 

[bibleberean]

Drew,

Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.Pretty hard to take this out of context.

Jesus said that the body and soul are separate. Couldn't be clearer.

Jesus was a Jew and God manifest in the flesh. I don't think he would have said both body and soul if they were not two distinct features that make up 2/3rds of man....

And,

Your example is not a good one to make your point.

 

[Drew]

Your example is not a good one to make your point.

Just as you argue, I will claim that the following statement "couldn't be clearer":

"Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat....."

How is this not clear? Based on North American language usage, this is an unambiguous declaration that being admitted to the kingdom is a direct consequence of the actions of feeding the poor, etc.

If you are going to counter-argue, you need to draw some kind of distinction and actually argue for that distinction. In other words, what is your reason to not take the above at "face value" on the one hand, and yet take at face value Jesus words from Matthew 10:28 on the other.