Pard
Member
So I have decided that I should search the scriptures for myself and, with God's help, come to a conclusion as to what I ought and what I ought not do. I think that this is a better solution then trying to conform to what man tells me the Bible says. I honestly feel that I have been instructed to search the Bible, find what is good and right, and do it. These decisions should be based partially upon my level of faith (also a lot on scriptural harmony, God's moving of me, and my own belief that much of the Word is seen and understood just through our lives and applying logic and reasoning on the matter. This last bit is something I've derived from Romans 1), and so the when I mature in faith I ought to reevaluate and make sure I am doing the utmost for God's glory. Just in the same way that a man going to a more casual or "liberal" church is just as much a Christian as the man going to the more strict or "conservative" church. Each church serves a purpose, because everyone is at a different stage in their faith-life. Some are stronger in faith than others, and those who are stronger can believe more of the Bible than others. Neither man going to be turned away from the gates of Heaven, because even the faith of a mustard seed is enough for Christ.
Now one of the things I have come to in my search is the topic of food and what to eat and what not to eat. It's kind of clear in the Old Testament (starting way back in Genesis with Noah) that God has decided there are foods that are clean and there are foods that are unclean. In Leviticus He specifies what is and what is not clean, and I can only assume that He either told Noah or Noah already knew (for he, Noah, was the only righteous one of his day) what was clean and what was unclean.
And still, before the time of Leviticus we also see that there is a distinction in food, when we look at Daniel. He, Daniel, asked to each only vegetables and water for ten days and then, after ten days, they'd see if his diet made any PHYSICAL difference to that of the pagan king's diet. After ten days Daniel's diet was clearly better for the body. This, to me, shows that dietary rules set by God are clearly for more than ceremonial reasons, they have an intrinsic goodness about them.
I do believe that there are good things to eat and they ought be eaten and then there are bad things and they ought not be eaten. For example, "junk" food really is junk and it should be abstained from. It serves no purpose for the body, and in fact it prevents the body from being run at its maximum. Now some people will say that this is wrong. Junk food does serve a purpose, it's a "comfort" food. Well, does not the Bible say: "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."(1 Corinthians 10:31)? So yeah, "comfort" food isn't glorifying God, it's for your own self, and not for God in the least.
And what is junk food, really? It is good food that has been refined and processed until it is junkie. And, although maybe the Bible doesn't speak on it, to me it makes sense that this is junk. God made all things that are edible good, didn't He? With the exception of very basic refining, so as to even make the item edible (like wheat and most all grains, which require grinding or milling), why would God require any of His edible creations to be altered by man to be good? To me it seems rather obvious that good food need not be altered, and it makes sense from a health and what do you get out of it point of view as well. Whole wheat is better than regular wheat that has been refined and bleached. Corn is ok (although my body clearly has no need for it :D ) but when you refine it you get corn syrup and this is not so good for you (but corn starch is ok, and that is just dried and ground, or milled, corn, just as wheat is just ground or milled).
So this is what I've been working on thus far. I'm not done by any stretch of the imagination, but it's coming along. If I were to rely on the Old Testament alone I'd be very certain about only eating clean meats as well. Currently I am trying to tackle that topic. The problem, of course, is that it's a VERY heard topic to tackle. Looking at it objectively it is a topic full of emotion because we all love our pork (and other yummy unclean meats). I do fear that part of my concluding upon this portion of the topic is going to end up having some bias towards the unclean, if only because I do love them so much. And I am curious what others think of this concept. Is all meat good and clean now? Or is it still as it was? Do gentiles count, even if it still is as it was or are we gentiles free from those "burdensome" rules?
I'll write a follow up post soon, but right now I am being asked to get off the computer, and so I shall!
Now one of the things I have come to in my search is the topic of food and what to eat and what not to eat. It's kind of clear in the Old Testament (starting way back in Genesis with Noah) that God has decided there are foods that are clean and there are foods that are unclean. In Leviticus He specifies what is and what is not clean, and I can only assume that He either told Noah or Noah already knew (for he, Noah, was the only righteous one of his day) what was clean and what was unclean.
And still, before the time of Leviticus we also see that there is a distinction in food, when we look at Daniel. He, Daniel, asked to each only vegetables and water for ten days and then, after ten days, they'd see if his diet made any PHYSICAL difference to that of the pagan king's diet. After ten days Daniel's diet was clearly better for the body. This, to me, shows that dietary rules set by God are clearly for more than ceremonial reasons, they have an intrinsic goodness about them.
I do believe that there are good things to eat and they ought be eaten and then there are bad things and they ought not be eaten. For example, "junk" food really is junk and it should be abstained from. It serves no purpose for the body, and in fact it prevents the body from being run at its maximum. Now some people will say that this is wrong. Junk food does serve a purpose, it's a "comfort" food. Well, does not the Bible say: "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."(1 Corinthians 10:31)? So yeah, "comfort" food isn't glorifying God, it's for your own self, and not for God in the least.
And what is junk food, really? It is good food that has been refined and processed until it is junkie. And, although maybe the Bible doesn't speak on it, to me it makes sense that this is junk. God made all things that are edible good, didn't He? With the exception of very basic refining, so as to even make the item edible (like wheat and most all grains, which require grinding or milling), why would God require any of His edible creations to be altered by man to be good? To me it seems rather obvious that good food need not be altered, and it makes sense from a health and what do you get out of it point of view as well. Whole wheat is better than regular wheat that has been refined and bleached. Corn is ok (although my body clearly has no need for it :D ) but when you refine it you get corn syrup and this is not so good for you (but corn starch is ok, and that is just dried and ground, or milled, corn, just as wheat is just ground or milled).
So this is what I've been working on thus far. I'm not done by any stretch of the imagination, but it's coming along. If I were to rely on the Old Testament alone I'd be very certain about only eating clean meats as well. Currently I am trying to tackle that topic. The problem, of course, is that it's a VERY heard topic to tackle. Looking at it objectively it is a topic full of emotion because we all love our pork (and other yummy unclean meats). I do fear that part of my concluding upon this portion of the topic is going to end up having some bias towards the unclean, if only because I do love them so much. And I am curious what others think of this concept. Is all meat good and clean now? Or is it still as it was? Do gentiles count, even if it still is as it was or are we gentiles free from those "burdensome" rules?
I'll write a follow up post soon, but right now I am being asked to get off the computer, and so I shall!
