The Relationship Between the Body and the Mind
God cares about our physical state and wants us to have the best of health. A person’s mind, spiritual nature, and body are all interdependent. Because of the close relation between mind and body, when the character prospers, the body is better able to be healthy (Exodus 15:26; Proverbs 14:30). Conversely, when the health of the body is ignored and bad habits take place, the spiritual life gets negatively affected and harmed. 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). If the body is abused, the spiritual aspects of the mind cannot fulfill what God planned them to do.
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 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).
Do Eating and Drinking Have Anything to Do With Health?
Certainly. The apostle Paul wrote, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God“ (1 Corinthians 10:31). Ignoring God’s health principles might cause a person to lose his sound judgment and fall into sin. “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
What Was the Eden diet?
The diet God gave people in the beginning was fruit, grains, and nuts. “God said, ‘See, I have given you every herb that yields seed … every tree whose fruit yields seed. … Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat’ ” (Genesis 1:29; 2:16). Vegetables were added after the fall (Genesis 3:18). This may have been due in part to the loss of certain elements from the tree of life.
What Are the Unclean and Forbidden Foods?
God points out the following food groups as being unclean:
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).
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.
E. Swine flesh (Isaiah 66:15–17).
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, happiness and purity.
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
