12All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. — 1 Corinthians 6:12 (KJV)
In 1 Corinthians, Chapter 6, apostle Paul teaches the church of Corinth on the basics of Christian freedom and here eating habits are given some special consideration. “Everything is permissible for me, but not all things are beneficial,” Paul explains.
Corinth, like many of the biblical locations, is in Greece by the Mediterranean Sea. It is not surprising that the Mediterranean cuisine with its rich vegetables, olives, figs and fish dishes is renowned for its health benefits. From the Jewish challah, bread that symbolizes the manna that fell from heaven, to the honey-coated baklavas of the more recent times these snacks are good for us in right proportions.
Five loaves and two fish
Food is for the stomach and the stomach for food, but what other foods are especially good for the stomach, according to the Bible? For green health enthusiasts out there I am happy to give you the answer that basically any fruit or vegetable, nut or seed, that you can put into the ground and it will reproduce will do marvels for you.
I am cautious of all kinds of genetic and chemical engineering, and I don’t buy the arguments its proponents make that doing it the new way is the same as the old. Maybe one day we’ll all turn vegetarian in our diet like in the original garden of Eden, but it must be something God, and not some lab or lobbyist, will then bring forth in the next chapter of human life.
Meanwhile, meats such as bison (buffalo), venison (deer) and lamb are something our Lord would eat, and which make appearances in the Bible in positive light. Not pork though, and not in the unsanitary conditions of the desert! Pork and shellfish are nature’s garbage collectors and there’s a warning about them in the Scriptures, which I’m not in the position to downplay so let’s not overindulge on those, shall we.
Then of course it is important not to make any food or drink our idol, and you obviously might like to skip something that’s used for some shady ritual. And please don’t forget table manners!
14 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. 2For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. 3Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. — Romans 14:1-3 (KJV)
As the New International Version puts it in Romans, Chapter 14, “The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them.” So we as believers indeed have this freedom of conscience, let’s not lose it.
It is good to remember we all live in different circumstances around the world, and even a fellow Christian on the same supermarket aisle may have to opt for the different item for various reasons. Same thing with fasting, which is a good, biblical practice, but may seem a luxury or pose a danger for someone driving to work each morning.
We’ll end with the words of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
11Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. — Matthew 15:11 (KJV)
God bless you, Dear Reader.
[This article was originally published on wisemansolomon.com on June 1, 2020.]
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