Health Message...Curse or Blessing?

[k4c]

Since I've been in the SDA I have noticed many people within the church in bondge to the meticulous care of the flesh. Good health and meticulously watching what we eat seems to be right up there with holiness. The only problem is that the flesh is dying every day, which means the battle for holiness, found in healthy flesh, will soon be lost over time.

To me, I don't see the New testament focusing on the physical body, but rather, the focus is on the inward man.

Romans 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

God tells us that exercise of the physical body only profits a little but godliness promises life now and in the age to come.

1 Timothy 4:8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.

He also tells us how food is meant for the stomach and both food and stomach will be destroyed in the end but sexual immorality comes from the heart.

1 Corinthians 6:13 Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.

No doubt it's a blessings to eat right and be healthy and God has given us instruction to make this to happen but to have an entire health message that governs every move and is watched by every eye can be very oppressive and condemning and can even hinder our freedom we have in Christ to enjoy the abundant life God wants us to have in the here and now.

To me, I see good health and exercise as part of the abundant life but not as a means to holiness or acceptence by God.

Romans 14:3 Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him.

If our diet is causing a health issue or a pant size issue then just cut back or make changes until the problem is corrected. It's just that simple.

What are your thoughts?

 

[ricker]

Since I've been in the SDA I have noticed many people within the church in bondge to the meticulous care of the flesh. Good health and meticulously watching what we eat seems to be right up there with holiness. The only problem is that the flesh is dying every day, which means the battle for holiness, found in healthy flesh, will soon be lost over time.

To me, I don't see the New testament focusing on the physical body, but rather, the focus is on the inward man.

Romans 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

God tells us that exercise of the physical body only profits a little but godliness promises life now and in the age to come.

1 Timothy 4:8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.

He also tells us how food is meant for the stomach and both food and stomach will be destroyed in the end but sexual immorality comes from the heart.

1 Corinthians 6:13 Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.

No doubt it's a blessings to eat right and be healthy and God has given us instruction to make this to happen but to have an entire health message that governs every move and is watched by every eye can be very oppressive and condemning and can even hinder our freedom we have in Christ to enjoy the abundant life God wants us to have in the here and now.

To me, I see good health and exercise as part of the abundant life but not as a means to holiness or acceptence by God.

Romans 14:3 Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him.

If our diet is causing a health issue or a pant size issue then just cut back or make changes until the problem is corrected. It's just that simple.

What are your thoughts?

Quite a few views and no responses, so I will oblige.

"Health message" is something made up by Adventists or/and Mrs. White as far as I know. Your post seems to be intelligent and correct as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Mankin]

It's a nice thought. Taking care of one's physical health is good. However, it is mostly blown out of proportion so that it becomes something of vital spirtual importance, which is ludicrous.

 

[k4c]

It's a nice thought. Taking care of one's physical health is good. However, it is mostly blown out of proportion so that it becomes something of vital spirtual importance, which is ludicrous.

There is a link between our health and our spiritual life but I believe it has to do with ejoying the abundant life now and how it can falsely effect how we interpret our status with God, rather than, how God truely sees us. Health and wellness can effect our relationship with God when we begin to blame God for our condition. But this is something that comes from ourselves and not God. This is why a heavy focus on a health message can do more harm than good if presented wrong or interpreted wrong.

God wants us to be healthy and happy and has given us principles to promote this but sometimes bad things happen and sometimes we make life long bad health choices. God sets before us life and death and He prays that we choose life. In the same breath He tells us that whatever we plant, that's what we will reap, most of us are somewhere in the middle when it comes to the physical life. But either way, He loves us and accepts us.

Remember, food for the stomach and the stomach for food but both will be destroyed in the end. Both being destroyed in the end tells me not to focus on the physical as much as the spiritual and don't let the physical falsely determine our status with God.

 

[EastCoastRemnant]

Unfortunately, I have seen unhealthy members of our church that are following all the right 'rules'. It seems that because sister White didn't speak on the dangers of refined flour and sugar, these are the vices of many today. One of the former pastors in the church we used to attend was well over 300 lbs and loved his sweets during potlucks.

I believe the things we need to be concerned with and focusing on as a church, as God's people, are being overshadowed by the militant health advocates in the church. They do not represent all, of course, but their voice is usually the one being heard the most. As I have stated before, we have become like the Jews before the first advent, so consumed with our works that we are not showing the world the character of God... maybe because we don't truly understand the character of God.

 

[k4c]

Unfortunately, I have seen unhealthy members of our church that are following all the right 'rules'. It seems that because sister White didn't speak on the dangers of refined flour and sugar, these are the vices of many today. One of the former pastors in the church we used to attend was well over 300 lbs and loved his sweets during potlucks.

I believe the things we need to be concerned with and focusing on as a church, as God's people, are being overshadowed by the militant health advocates in the church. They do not represent all, of course, but their voice is usually the one being heard the most. As I have stated before, we have become like the Jews before the first advent, so consumed with our works that we are not showing the world the character of God... maybe because we don't truly understand the character of God.

Nice sermon...

 

[EastCoastRemnant]

Nice sermon...

Not trying to preach... just my humble opinion.

 

[k4c]

Not trying to preach... just my humble opinion.

I'd sit under your preaching any day...

 

[EastCoastRemnant]

All praise be to God!

 

[Princessdi]

This is news to me and a whole lot of SDAs who base their decisions not to eat refined sugar. Now, I can't give you "chapter and verse" per se, cuz I didn't pay it any attention, however, this quite a popular teaching within our church based soley on the writings of EGW, because the Bible definitely says nothing about it.

Unfortunately, . It seems that because sister White didn't speak on the dangers of refined flour and sugar, these are the vices of many today. One of the former pastors in the church we used to attend was well over 300 lbs and loved his sweets during potlucks.

 

[EastCoastRemnant]

This is news to me and a whole lot of SDAs who base their decisions not to eat refined sugar. Now, I can't give you "chapter and verse" per se, cuz I didn't pay it any attention, however, this quite a popular teaching within our church based soley on the writings of EGW, because the Bible definitely says nothing about it.

I look it up on my White estates CD tomorrow.... the reason why I say that is because I've seen a lot of sweets at potlucks, as well as processed 'Swiss steak' and other less than healthy dishes. As I recall, sister White spoke against potlucks too I believe...

 

[ricker]

As I recall, sister White spoke against potlucks too I believe...

She probably did, since potlucks are harmless, good for felowship, enjoyable, and not prohibited by the Bible.

 

[SoldierOfTheKing]

I don't think there was any refined sugar in Biblical times. Nor was there, in EGW's time, the industrial product known as corn syrup, which is unfortunately difficult to avoid because it seems to be added to all kinds of processed foods, from bread to ketchup, and the artificial sweeteners used as substitutes are even worse.

 

[EastCoastRemnant]

She probably did, since potlucks are harmless, good for felowship, enjoyable, and not prohibited by the Bible.

I apologize for mis-speaking about what sister White may have said regarding potlucks... I searched the CD and unless I'm not using the proper search terms, she didn't speak against the practice as a whole...

 

[k4c]

I apologize for mis-speaking about what sister White may have said regarding potlucks... I searched the CD and unless I'm not using the proper search terms, she didn't speak against the practice as a whole...

Can you find where she says the Bible doesn't condone drinking fermented wine? Maybe that was a misquote too because it seems kind of strange to say something that is easily proven wrong.

 

[OntheDL]

For the Greek mindset, the body is temporary, not important. But for the Hebraic mindset, the body is sacred. A healthier body leads to a healthier mind. How can a peculiar people be a people of sicklings?

Much like the sabbath, the health message is a curse to those who see it as a burden, but a blessing to those who delight in it.

You choose it to be a curse or a blessing.

Since I've been in the SDA I have noticed many people within the church in bondge to the meticulous care of the flesh. Good health and meticulously watching what we eat seems to be right up there with holiness. The only problem is that the flesh is dying every day, which means the battle for holiness, found in healthy flesh, will soon be lost over time.

To me, I don't see the New testament focusing on the physical body, but rather, the focus is on the inward man.

Romans 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

God tells us that exercise of the physical body only profits a little but godliness promises life now and in the age to come.

1 Timothy 4:8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.

He also tells us how food is meant for the stomach and both food and stomach will be destroyed in the end but sexual immorality comes from the heart.

1 Corinthians 6:13 Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.

No doubt it's a blessings to eat right and be healthy and God has given us instruction to make this to happen but to have an entire health message that governs every move and is watched by every eye can be very oppressive and condemning and can even hinder our freedom we have in Christ to enjoy the abundant life God wants us to have in the here and now.

To me, I see good health and exercise as part of the abundant life but not as a means to holiness or acceptence by God.

Romans 14:3 Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him.

If our diet is causing a health issue or a pant size issue then just cut back or make changes until the problem is corrected. It's just that simple.

What are your thoughts?

 

[k4c]

For the Greek mindset, the body is temporary, not important. But for the Hebraic mindset, the body is sacred. A healthier body leads to a healthier mind. How can a peculiar people be a people of sicklings?

Much like the sabbath, the health message is a curse to those who see it as a burden, but a blessing to those who delight in it.

You choose it to be a curse or a blessing.

Good health as a form of religion can torment and burden the mind.

 

[OntheDL]

I'm not a 100% vegeterian as I'd like to be. But I know animal product is acidic in nature and promotes cancer and bad health in general; and the alcohol kills the link between brain cells and alter the state of mind.

My failure comes from my love and taste for them over my knowledge of their danger. So it really comes down what you love more. Pleasure of death of this world or the good health, good mind and better spiritual state of the promise.

 

[wpage]

God as Jesus Christ at one point defines himself as one who came eating and drinking...

He was a tradesman and did quite a bit of walking. So certainly he was physically fit.

If you are not following Christs regimen exercise would be good.

 

[OntheDL]

Good health as a form of religion can torment and burden the mind.

True. But...

We aren't saved by works. But the saved demonstrate the works.

That's the difference between burden and blessing.

In our local small group's get-together, we never say 'oh man, do I really have to eat this or not eat that?'

We know what's good to eat and what's not even when sometime when we fail to do what's right.