APPENDIX D continued from page 15
Diet and the Bible
In Acts 15:20, 29 (pg.14) and in Acts 21:25 Paul speaks of the gentile converts and mentions only the things that would be overlooked and that are most important. He doesn't say to pay tithe or not to steel or murder, but mentions the overlooked things that the gentiles might do wrong. If we say that this is wrong then we say it is O.K. to commit fornication for either all or none is true. Why would God constantly keep hammering this thing about blood and strangled animals if he is only speaking of the normal amount of blood that spills out when carved up for food? Why would Paul say not to eat animals that are strangled if that is an old testament law? How much harm could there be in letting the blood stay in the meat a few hours before carving it up? If what God says here is only what normally happens anyway then why does God make such an issue of it?
Many modern doctors and scientists have testified that the blood is what caries the germs and the uric acid etc. that are harmful for us. They testify that meat becomes tender by letting these germs slowly eat through the meat and tenderize it by eating it up into a microscopic sponge. I know that if my muscles could be cut with a fork that they would be all sliced up by now. They testify that even cooked meat still has many of these germs present plus the poisons they produce. They seem to be saying that God was right all along. Because our bodies are the temple of the Holy Ghost (1 Cor. 6:19-20, Rom.12:1) it is our duty to God to have health reform in our lives. That is to use the most healthful food available, prepared in the most healthful manner (Isa 55:2).
God wants us to be healthy (3 John 2) and the creator designed a perfectly sound body, and He
wants to help us keep it that way. If we are to eat anything then I would think that God forgot to
tell us that some things are poisonous and as our designer didn't show much concern for our
health for what we eat clearly affects our health and our health clearly affects the mind and
spiritual perceptions. This is why the diet was made an issue at the beginning of Daniel. So that
we could have a clearer mind and understanding of His word. Thus victory over indulgences of
appetite make it possible to have victory over other sins.
Some of your questions answered:
What about 1 Tim. 4:1-5 "Now the spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall
depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; (2) speaking lies in
hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; (3) forbidding to marry, and
commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanks giving of
them which believe and know the truth. (4) for every creature of god is good, and nothing to be
refused," This scripture passage refers to meats "Which God hath created to be received with
thanksgiving" by his people. These meats, as we have already discovered, are the clean meats
listed in Lev 11 etc. Verse 4 makes it clear that all "creature of god" are good and not to be
refused provided they are among those created to be received with thanksgiving (the clean
animals) v.5 tells why these animals (or foods) are acceptable: 1. They are sanctified by God's
word which says they are clean, 2. and by a prayer of blessing which was offered before the meal.
Please note, however, that God will destroy people who try to sanctify themselves while eating
unclean foods (Isa. 66:17).
What about Mat. 15:11 "Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which
cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man." Please read verses 1 to 20. The subject in this
chapter is eating without first washing the hanks. (see verse 2) the subject is not eating but
washing. The scribes taught that any food eaten without a special ceremonial washing by the eater
defiled a man. Jesus said that the ceremonial washings were meaningless. He listed certain
evils-murderers, adulteries, thefts, etc. Then he added, "these are the things which defile a man:
but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man." Matt.15:19,20.
What about Peters vision of Acts 10, doesn't it say all manner of beasts are to be eaten? The
subject involved in the vision is not animals, but people. God gave peter this vision to show him
that the gentiles were not unclean as the Jews believed. Cornelius, a gentile, sent men to visit
peter (God told him to do so) and peter would have refused to see them if this vision had not been
given him before the men arrived. Having had the vision peter welcomed them, explaining that
ordinarily he would not have done so, but he added that "God hath showed me that I should not
call any man common or unclean." (Verse 28) here Peter gives the interpretation of the vision. In
the next chapter (Acts 11) the church members withstood peter and criticized him for speaking
with this gentile. So Peter told them the whole story of his vision and its meaning. Verse 18 says,
"When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, then hath God
also to the gentiles granted repentance unto life."
What about Rom. 14:3,6,14,20 "Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not
him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. etc."? Verses 3 and 6 are
a discussion of those who eat certain things verses those who do not. The passage does not say
either is right, but rather counsels that neither pass judgment on the other, but rather let God be
the judge (see verses 4, and 10 to 12). Verses 14 and 20 are referring to foods that were first
offered to idols (and were thus ceremonially unclean to the scribes and pharisees) and to the clean
and unclean meats of Leviticus 11 (read 1 Cor. 8:1,4,10,13) the point of the discussion it that no
food is "unclean" or impure just because it has first been offered unto idols because an idol is
"nothing in the world" (1 Cor. 8:4) But if a man's conscience bothers him for eating such food, he
should leave it alone or if it causes offense to a brother, he should likewise abstain. How else
would these verses make sense in the light of all the other texts on the subject of meat?
What about Jesus feeding the people loaves and fishes etc? These meats were provided by
Israelites and were in accordance with the health laws. If they were not wouldn't the scribes and
pharisees have condemned Christ for breaking that mosaic law?
Why did God make the hog, if not to eat? He made him for the same purpose that he made the buzzard or mouse or lobster or catfish as a scavenger to clean up refuse. And the hog serves this purpose admirably.
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In choosing man's diet in Eden God showed what was the best diet and no animals were eaten.
When Israel was in the wilderness God kept them from eating flesh. They rebelled against this and
God gave them birds to eat but many died from it. When God did permit flesh foods he had strict
standard of what we were permitted to eat. No animal fat was to be eaten. No animal from which
the blood had not been carefully drained was to be eaten. No animal that was not cleaned under
sanitary conditions or that had touched the other diseased animals was to be eaten. Even whole
types of animals were never to be eaten under any circumstances like the pig. These animals are
found to be high in parasites. (See pgs. 13-15)
Health Promise CARD:
I promise not to eat anything that
is poisonous or injurious to health.
I pledge to my Lord and Saviour
that I will not eat any dead carcass
or blood or caffinated drinks or use
tobacco or alcohol in accordance
with the health laws of God.
Signed- Dated
Cut out and put in your wallet.
For more on the Health message and how to keep yourself health or cure illnesses by cooperating with God by using the methods that God has provided in nature write for a copy of Healing by God's Natural Methods by Al Wolfsen published by Teach Services, Donivan Rd. Box 368 Brushton, N.Y. 12916
