Food Archives | Reformed Health

The Evolution of Food in the Bible

God, the Provider.

We have begun Principle #6 of Living Under God’s Design: Healthy Blood Through Real Food. Our last post, Eat Food That Has Been Created to Be Enjoyed, introduced the idea that God has decreed what food is to be eaten by His creatures. God’s very first command was a “food law.” He forbade Adam and Eve to eat fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

God has the right to tell His creatures what they can and cannot eat. He is the creator and owner of everything. Even more, God loves His creatures very much — especially the humans that He created in His own image. Food was never an afterthought of God: it was a loving provision from a loving God and Father who desires His creatures to flourish in the world He created for them so they could subdue the earth and multiply upon it.

And as part of God’s provision for man to flourish in His world, over time, He has ordained changes in the food chain, a sort of evolution of food.

We have already seen that God gave fruits and vegetables as man’s first sustenance. The first couple were allowed to eat of any of the plants God created, even the Tree of Life. The only food they were forbidden to eat was that produced by the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Let’s take a closer look. Continue reading “The Evolution of Food in the Bible” →

Disclaimer:

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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Conclusion: Healthy Blood through Moderate Eating

Posted on by Mischelle Sandowich

The Life of The Flesh.

There is a precious substance that flows through the veins of all human beings. This same substance secured eternal life to all who would believe.

Not only does this substance secure eternal life for believers, it is also what gives life to the flesh of our mortal bodies, according to the Scriptures.

Since this red liquid is so valuable, we must treasure and treat it with great care. This red liquid, of course, is blood. And the health of our blood, determines the vitality of our bodies. This is why we are continually examining and exploring ways to keep our blood as healthy as possible.

Where We’ve Been.

So far in our exploration of healthy blood, we have discussed the following principles:

And now we are concluding Principle 5: Healthy Blood Through Moderate Eating.

In this series, we first examined the role that food plays in the world around us. Food was not an after thought of God. He did not just create man and leave him alone to figure out how to find food. Rather God planted a beautiful garden with all kinds of food that was pleasing to the eyes and healthy to the body. He placed man in the garden to tend and keep it — and to eat of its wonderful bounty. Continue reading “Conclusion: Healthy Blood through Moderate Eating” →

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Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.

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Eat Only What is Necessary: Conclusion

Posted on by Mischelle Sandowich

Eat Only What is Necessary The last several posts in this series have been looking at the topic of moderation in the Bible.

Introduction!

In the Introduction we noted that our high calling in Christ is to bring our bodies under subjection to Christ in every area — this includes food and drink. The Apostle Paul set a great example for us when he taught that he made his body a slave for the sake of the gospel. According to I Corinthians 9:27, Paul was active in the process of subduing his flesh, moment by moment. And we saw that it wasn’t only his “hope” to discipline his flesh — it was his practice through the Holy Spirit so he would not be disqualified from the race. And his discussion of this topic is presented in the midst of a discourse on food.

We, like the Apostle Paul, must master our bodies, rather than letting food (or anything) master us.

Is Eating Too Much A Sin?

Next we looked at the topic of overeating. There we presented and expounded on 7 Bible verses that deal with self-control and food. Continue reading “Eat Only What is Necessary: Conclusion” →

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Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.

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Food Is Made to Energize the Body: 14 Bible Verses!

Posted on by Mischelle Sandowich

God Gave Food To Nourish the Body.

Most people would agree that food is designed to nourish and energize the body. Yet, in the last post in this series, we noted that many people have abandoned the practice of eating for nourishment. Instead, the fork goes to the mouth primarily for pleasure.

Pleasure eating can cause much harm to the body if it is left unchecked. Yes, God has designed food to taste good! But we must not allow taste (or pleasure) to control our diet. When considering what to eat, we should choose nourishment first and pleasure second.

We’ve already discussed the dangers of

Today we will share 14 Bible verses that demonstrate that food is designed to nourish and energize our bodies. Let this be an encouragement to consider your food choices each day. Are you eating for pleasure and convenience? Or are you seeking to use food for the purpose which it was designed?

Continue reading “Food Is Made to Energize the Body: 14 Bible Verses!” →

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Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.

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Which Type of Eater Are You?

Posted on by Mischelle Sandowich

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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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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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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