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Cultural Perspective
Though it is not a comprehensive nutrition guide, the Bible does include insight into a
variety of life topics, including food and health. Given that our bodies are thought of as the
temples of the Holy Spirit, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit,
who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a
price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.” (I Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV). Our bodies are holy
and should5be handled respectfully, as the verse serves as a reminder. It's a command to live a life
that pleases God and to abstain from actions that would bring Him disgrace. In addition, the
verse highlights that God, who bought us with the blood of Jesus Christ, is the rightful owner of
us and that we are not our own. Thus, we must5honor God and carry out His purpose with our
bodies. It stresses the significance of taking care of the body; even though it does not offer any
particular dietary recommendations or encourage trendy diets.
The fruit of all the plants and trees that were produced on the third day of creation is what
God says humans are to eat, having formed humanity on the sixth day of creation and given our
initial purposes on the earth. These plants and trees, like every other living creature that God
created, were made to procreate, to be repeated again and again. In Genesis 1:29, “Then God
said, 'I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has
fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.” The original human diet is highlighted in this
passage. It encourages a plant-based diet by emphasizing5fruits, vegetables, grains, and seeds.
Plant-based diets remain significant in many societies for reasons pertaining to health, the
environment, or religious beliefs.
Although God first instructed Adam to follow a plant-based diet, He later told Noah that
he was free to eat any kind of animal. God only gave permission for humanity to eat a broader
range of foods after the Flood. According to Genesis 9:3 “Everything that lives and moves about
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will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.” As I did
with the vegetation, I give everything to you. This suggests that eating meat is part of a larger
dietary allowance. The5acceptance of animal and other food consumption5signaled the change
from a fruitarian to an omnivorous diet. Nonetheless, it was still acceptable to be a fruitarian, and
the Bible never criticizes it. In addition to being a component of the curse, bread eating was
made possible by the omnivore diet. Eating bread is a component of the curse itself, not a
privilege. From creation to the Flood, this protracted period of nutritional development took
place over many years.
In the Bible, food is more than just a source of nourishment. It reflects God's plan for
sustenance, community, and obedience and has spiritual and cultural value. With meals, the Bible
opens and closes. In the Bible, the first quarrel arises over a forbidden meal; Jesus has a
meaningful feast with his disciples on his last night on earth; and the last vision of the new world
is one of a large, joyous banquet. God's first words to humanity are an invitation to eat. The main
character of the Bible, Jesus, is the one most closely linked to eating. Our culture has the same
perspective on food as the people in the Bible. They constantly indulged in fine wine and feasted
on delicious food. It was customary to have a feast to celebrate winning. As we see in Isaiah
25:6, “On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a
banquet of aged wine— the best of meats and the finest of wines.” This included the greatest
wine and food. It was customary to eat in biblical times. Nonetheless, walking was a common
way for individuals in biblical times to get enough exercise. Regretfully, we like feasting like
those in the Bible, but we also do not exercise enough which contributes to the obesity epidemic
in the world.
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In terms of eating habits, our society lacks self-control. A common coping strategy used
by people is food, either to prolong happy feelings or to deal with stress, boredom, or anxiety.
Eating to relieve your emotions can sometimes worsen them and cause shame and regret, even
though it may temporarily help. Proverbs 23:20, “Do not join those who drink too much wine or
gorge themselves on meat.” Though gluttony and intoxication are mentioned explicitly in this
passage, the meaning is more expansive. The idea applies5to people who overindulge in food or
drink frequently. However, it also describes people who are driven by cravings and desires. Part
of that error is the contemporary "You Only Live Once" mentality, which encourages
unrestrained consumption.
Ensuring enough nutrition is essential as it prevents numerous age-related illnesses and
diseases and aids in energy maintenance. Your body gets fuel from a balanced diet. You get the
nutrients your body needs from the foods you eat to maintain a healthy brain, muscles, bones,
nerves, skin, blood circulation, and immune system. (Grosvenor et al., 2021). The bible tells us
in I Corinthians 10:31, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of
God.” In some ways, my eating habits now honor God, but in other ways,5they do not. I now
understand that consuming unhealthy items, such as soda, chips, and sweets, does not exalt God.
In actuality, these foods and beverages are breaking down the body, which will ultimately result
in illness. I am trying to take excellent care of the body God has given me. My goal is to eat only
three times a week of meat and more fruits and veggies every day and exercise 300 hours per
week. I am aware that there may be difficulties; however, I must discipline myself to do the right
thing so that I can honor God daily.
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