Biblical Health Study Archives | Page 3 of 13

Which Type of Eater Are You?

What Is The Primary Purpose of Food?

At first glance, discussing the primary purpose of food may seem trite and unnecessary.

At some level, we all understand that food is meant to nourish the body. When we are hungry it satisfies our growling stomachs. When we wake up, it replenishes us with fuel for the coming day. It is well known that we can’t live long without food.

Yet, as I look around at the mainstream “eaters” in our world, I don’t have the sense that nourishment is the primary purpose for eating. In fact, it seems the primary motivator for eating food is pleasure. But I can’t point the finger at others without having four fingers pointing in my direction. Continue reading “Which Type of Eater Are You?” →

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Reformed Health exists so you can take control of your own health and be all that God has designed you to be. The information shared on Reformed Health is the sole opinion of the author and is not meant to diagnose or treat any illness. None or our claims have been evaluated by the FDA or any other government organization. We are not medical doctors, nor do we have any medical doctors on staff. If you are having a health emergency, please call 911, contact your doctor, or visit a local emergency room. Always consult your doctor before engaging in any new exercise regime.

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Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.

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Eat Until You Are Satisfied! (Are You Eating Enough?)

Posted on by Mischelle Sandowich

Eat Until You Are Satisfied! Proverbs 13:25 teaches that God provides the righteous enough to satisfy their stomach. The word satisfy in this verse is so-bah in the Hebrew and it means full. It is elsewhere translated abundance and fully satisfied.

This means that God wants you to enjoy plenty of food. What an important principle in the discussion of moderation!

Eating moderately does not mean we have to starve or eat just enough to stay alive. God provides us with an abundance of food — and we should take advantage of His provision.

Last week we wrote about the dangers of overeating. Today we will explore the dangers of under-eating — or not eating enough.

There are several ways that we can be starving ourselves of the nutrition we need. I wrote about this topic here: How to Starve to Death on a Full Stomach. The body requires a certain amount of nutrients to function properly. One doctor has identified 90 necessary nutrients for life: Continue reading “Eat Until You Are Satisfied! (Are You Eating Enough?)” →

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Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.

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Is Eating Too Much A Sin? 7 Bible Verses on Overeating.

Posted on by Mischelle Sandowich

7 Bible Verses on Overeating

Last week we introduced the topic of overindulgence in the Bible. Now, we are going to explore 7 Bible verses on overeating.

We previously discussed Paul’s example of buffeting (disciplining) his body as to not be disqualified from the prize. The surrounding context (I Corinthians 9:27) is a 3 chapter discourse on the topic of food. Paul had mastered his body, making it his slave — rather than being a slave to his body.

I Corinthians 9:27 is one among many verses that teach the principle of self-discipline. And while we can do nothing apart from Christ, we can do all things through His strength. Paul, however, when talking about disciplining his body, does not highlight Christ’s work (though necessary) in the process. Rather, Paul highlights that he is the one who is responsible to master his body. He is actively, presently, and actually making his body a slave. Read more about that here.

Now we will present 7 Bible verses that address the topic of self-control and food. Continue reading “Is Eating Too Much A Sin? 7 Bible Verses on Overeating.” →

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Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.

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What Does It Mean to Abstain From Food Sacrificed to Idols?

Posted on by Mischelle Sandowich

Food Sacrificed to Idols

Recently we shared 3 Overlooked Dietary Laws in the New Testament. At the Council of Jerusalem several dietary restrictions were discussed. These restrictions can be found in Acts 15:20 and repeated in Acts 15:29 and 21:25:

New converts were to abstain from eating food contaminated by idols (the Apostle Paul teaches more about this issue in 1 Corinthians 8-10)
They were to not eat meat that was killed by strangulation or smothering (it was to be killed by bleeding out)
They were to abstain from eating blood

In the previous post, I did not share the implications of these restrictions. Rather I demonstrated that God is concerned with food. He was concerned with food at creation and He was concerned with food at the close of the book of Revelation. And He was concerned with food everywhere in between — from lid to lid.

Now, at the request of my readers, I will share more specific applications concerning these three dietary laws in the New Testament. Today I will discuss the topic of abstaining from food sacrificed to idols. Continue reading “What Does It Mean to Abstain From Food Sacrificed to Idols?” →

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Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.

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Eat Only What Is Necessary: Introduction

Posted on by Mischelle Sandowich

Should We Buffet (buhf-it) or Buffet (buh-fey)?

Everyone likes a good buffet (buh-fey). One of my favorites is Panda Palace in Bakersfield, California. With so many Chinese dishes to choose from, it is easy to eat to the point of discomfort. The first plate always brings the most pleasure: chow mien noodles, pot stickers with dipping sauce, sautéed green beans, orange chicken, General Tso’s chicken, beef and broccoli, and spicy sauces all around.

The law of diminishing returns, however, sets in after the second plate. It is mostly the memory of the yummy first plate that drives me to eat more. But with my stomach satisfied, the taste sensations are not as strong. Then, by time I go for thirds, my stomach is protesting: too much food!

If I eat like this, I am usually waddling out of the restaurant wishing I had stopped at the first plate. The pleasure of tasty food is subdued by the Continue reading “Eat Only What Is Necessary: Introduction” →

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Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.

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10 Ways Food Impacts History, Life, and the World in the Bible

Posted on by Mischelle Sandowich

10 Ways Food Impacts History, Life, and the World in the Bible Food is the very substance that God chose to nourish the human race — and food plays a very important part in life, the world, and history. It is in the very first chapter of the Bible that God creates food — even before He creates man. And the Bible closes its final chapter in Revelation with the tree of life which bears twelve kinds of fruit with leaves that heal the nations. Also in this last chapter we see the water of life offered to all who are thirsty. Continue reading “10 Ways Food Impacts History, Life, and the World in the Bible” →

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Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.

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Food: A Stumbling Block to Believers and Non-believers

Posted on by Mischelle Sandowich

Around the World in 80 Days.

What does the 1956 version of Jules Verne’s classic Around the World in 80 Days have to do with food and stumbling blocks?

When Victorian-era Englishman Phileas Fogg undertakes a wager to travel around the globe in 80 days in a hot air balloon, he takes in tow his faithful (but new) French manservant Passepartout (pass-par-TOO) as his traveling companion. Passepartout’s couriosity and love for adventure (and women) gets him into all kinds of interesting predicaments, including getting shanghaied in China, roped into a bull fight in Spain, and enlisted as an acrobat in a Japanese circus.

Holy Cow.

But when attention seeking Passpartout attempts to save a damsel from a flower hungry bull in India, things don’t go as expected. Continue reading “Food: A Stumbling Block to Believers and Non-believers” →

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Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.

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Food Fosters Fellowship and Community

Posted on by Mischelle Sandowich

Food Fosters Fellowship This is part nine of the series 10 Ways Food Impacts History, Life, and the World in the Bible.

Pot Providence.

Christians don’t believe in luck, but rather in God’s providence. Yet many churches have employed the term “luck” in their common meal. That meal of course is the “pot luck” dinner.

To be consistent (and somewhat playful), my husband and I have renamed the “pot luck” to a “pot providence” because God ordains everything that comes to pass. Some churches prefer to call it a “fellowship meal” — which is an even better name.

But whatever you call it, church members love to spread out a buffet of carefully prepared dishes from savory to sweet to enjoy together as a family of believers. And while those meals are being enjoyed, people grow closer to one another through conversation, laughter, and fellowship.

But food and fellowship is not reserved for Sundays.

Food and Family.

In daily life, it is well known that sitting around the table at mealtime fosters a strong and cohesive family with children who are confident of the love of their parents.

And can you imagine a family reunion or holiday that did not involve food? When planning for such events, food is one of the first considerations.

The big questions at Christmas might be Continue reading “Food Fosters Fellowship and Community” →

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Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.

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The Food that Brings Judgment from the Almighty

Posted on by Mischelle Sandowich

Careless Communion.

The most interesting communion ceremony I observed was while working as a house parent for teenage girls. The job allowed many opportunities to visit various churches desiring to minister to the less fortunate girls in our care.

During Communion, one non-denomination church passed out prepackaged grape juice cups similar to single serving coffee creamers with pull off paper lids. But inside the lid was a small wafer of bread. It was like fast food communion.

How the elements were dispensed was not a problem for me. But as I listened to the pastor invite the congregation to partake, I realized that the church had Continue reading “The Food that Brings Judgment from the Almighty” →

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Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.

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Food A Sign and Seal of the New Covenant

Food: A Sign and Seal of the Covenant

Posted on by Mischelle Sandowich

Metaphor_ Breath-20

This is part seven of a 10 part series titled 10 Ways Food Impacts History, Life, and the World.

Common for Holy.

Have you ever wondered why God would choose common elements like bread and wine to represent something holy like a sacrament? According to the Westminster Confession of Faith, “sacraments are holy signs and seals of the covenant of grace” instituted by God as revealed in the Scriptures.

Sacraments.

The Christian church has two biblical sacraments, baptism and communion.

Baptism is the sign and seal that we are washed from our sins and united to Christ into the covenant of grace. The sign is performed with water (washing) and represents the true baptism which is by the Spirit of God.

Communion, or the Lord’s Supper, is the sign and seal of the New Covenant in Christ’s blood, a symbol of the death of Christ for our sins.

The first element of Communion is a regular reminder of the body of Christ (His death for our sins) and is represented with a piece of common food, namely bread. And the blood He shed is represented by a common drink, namely wine.

Why would God chose common food and drink as the medium for something sacred? Continue reading “Food: A Sign and Seal of the Covenant” →

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