The Body and the Mind
God cares about our physical state and wants us to have the best health. A person’s mind, spiritual nature, and body are all interdependent. Because of the close relation between mind and body, when the mind is healthy, the body is healthy as well (Exodus 15:26; Proverbs 14:30). And conversely, when the mind is sick the body gets sick also. The apostle John wrote, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers” (3 John 1:2).
God’s Health Principles
The Creator gave health principles because He knows what is best for the human bodies He made. “The Lord commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive” (Deuteronomy 6:24). And He promised health for those that obey His physical commands: “You shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you” (Exodus 23:25).
Ignoring God’s health principles (ex. good diet, physical activity, avoiding addictive substances and harmful drugs…etc.) might cause a person to get sick. Special attention and care should be given to our bodies because they are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God“ (1 Corinthians 10:31). Health principles are certainly part of the Christian faith.
Ignoring God’s health commands often leads to sickness and disease. Following God’s principles results in “saving health” (Psalm 67:2) and more abundant life (John 10:10). With our cooperation, God can use these great health principles to greatly minimize and eliminate the effects of the diseases of Satan (Psalm 103:2, 3).
The Unclean Foods
God points out the following food groups as being unclean in Deuteronomy 14 and Leviticus 11:
A. All animals that do not both chew the cud and have a split hoof (Deuteronomy 14:6).
B. All fish and water creatures that do not have both fins and scales (Deuteronomy 14:9). Nearly all fish are clean.
C. All birds of prey, carrion eaters, and fish eaters (Leviticus 11:13–19).
D. Most “creeping things” (or invertebrates) (Leviticus 11:21–44).
E. Swine flesh (Isaiah 66:15–17).
These chapters make it clear that the majority of animals, birds, and water creatures humans ordinarily eat are clean. But according to God’s rules, the following animals are unclean and are not to be eaten: cats, dogs, horses, camels, eagles, vultures, hogs, squirrels, rabbits, catfish, eels, lobsters, clams, crabs, shrimp, oysters, frogs, and others.
The Bible says, “No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11). So, if God withholds a thing from us, it is because it is not good for us. If we truly love the Lord, we will be happy to obey His health laws because that’s the way we may achieve optimal health and happiness.
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
