Biblical Principles of Health

Have you noticed in today's culture that people are searching for perfection, and a lot of times they do so by searching for the newest health gimmick? People spend enormous amounts of money on adjustments, injections, prescriptions, procedures, and personal trainers. Some listen to gurus; others focus on a quick fix or pill to cure health issues! In the course of a year, Americans will spend more than a trillion dollars on health care and billions on supplements and alternative medical treatments—yet they are far from being the healthiest people in the world!

More than 60% of people in the U.S. are overweight. More than 30% are obese. There are many Americans who suffer from heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, and other illnesses. Millions take drugs for mental disorders. The story is similar in other developed nations. For many people, the modern quest for health is a pricy and never-ending search for a "holy grail" that almost always fails to produce the health and peace of mind most people are looking for.

But here's what we need to ask: why? Are we missing an important aspect of health? Our society is focused on many aspects of health, but one may argue that we have forgotten the importance of the greatest dimension of health. We are focused on extremes—some believe that we should only use herbal supplements and natural remedies, while others swing the other way with massive cosmetic surgeries. We have replaced the one true God with a false god of health. It is important to remember that the one true God does care about our bodies and how we take care of them. Dozens of verses in the Bible are devoted to the subject. It can be easy to make a god out of health if we don't focus our attention first on the God who made us, and second on how best to take care of our bodies with His help and guidance! God has given us guidelines to live by in His Word—the Bible. In it are many basic principles that are taught which, if followed, will aid in living a healthier life.

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 says: "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body" –(ESV).

We can learn a lot from reading the Bible; however, it is not like a textbook in this area. Scripture is more of a guide on how to live our lives, and we can apply its principles to our health. In the Old Testament, the Levites were the "physicians" of the Israelites, and they would provide direction and instruction on how best to live a healthy life. The Bible was written thousands of years ago, yet it still has great information in it for us to listen to even today! The truth that is revealed in the Bible has been confirmed by medical science even thousands of years later.

CLEAN AND UNCLEAN MEATS

In Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14, the concept of clean and unclean meats is discussed. These laws are recognized but may be misunderstood by many. People often refer to these laws as "Jewish" food laws because they are still followed by Orthodox Jews; Muslims and others also observe similar food restrictions.

Many of the animals considered to be unclean in the Bible are scavengers (e.g., snails, crabs, lobsters, and gulls); their ecological role is to devour dead plants or animals. Other unclean animals are filter feeders (e.g., clams and oysters); their ecological role is to purify water in lakes, streams, and estuaries. Still other unclean animals are predators (e.g., tigers, snakes, and crocodiles) whose role in the ecosystem is to keep the population of other animals under control. The reasons these animals are unclean to humans are many, including the ecological ones discussed here.

There are more than just ecological reasons behind the laws not to eat unclean animals. There are a lot of animals that are considered unclean that carry parasites; these parasites could cause many serious diseases in humans. Some of these unclean animals include pigs, bears, squirrels, and raccoons, which could carry trichinosis or other diseases. Lung and liver flukes can be transferred to humans from animals such as crabs or crayfish, which are considered scavengers. There are filter-feeding organisms, such as clams and oysters, which—if consumed by humans—could pass on toxic heavy metals, pathogenic bacteria, and viruses. These creatures were designated by God as a "cleanup crew," and eating them is also consuming what they have eaten. This would be similar to eating things in a vacuum cleaner or garbage disposal, which we would never do. The laws that God set up in the Bible were not so that the Israelites could not eat good food; they were set up for protection. By avoiding unclean meats, it was the first step in preventing major diseases that we see spread throughout the world.

BIBLICAL DIET

The Bible also contains medical information that has been discovered in science as well. In Genesis 9:4 and Leviticus 3:17 and 7:23–26, the Bible states that blood from any animal is not to be consumed; however, in many other cultures, mixing blood with other things or consuming blood is normal practice. The blood of animals is not clean and can include many viruses and bacteria which can, in turn, transmit diseases. This command given by Moses from God was, again, for the protection of the people of Israel.

The Bible also includes a command not to eat visible fat on an animal; this is also very important. Even as we look at the modern diet, we should not be consuming this visible fat. There have been many studies that have linked high-fat diets to heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancer. Countries with populations that consume high-fat diets have also had leading causes of death become linked to that. High-fat foods include hamburgers, french fries, triple-thick milkshakes, ice cream, and heavy salad dressings. There are some foods that are actually 50% fat! Some examples are bacon, hot dogs, and cheese. As you can imagine, diets high in fat often lead to major weight problems.

God gave many options for us to eat. In Genesis, He lays out fruits, vegetables, and grains for food, as well as clean meats (Genesis 1:29, 2:16, and 9:3). There are complex carbohydrates and fiber in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, which are very important aspects of your diet. Nutritionists have continued to recognize these as essential to a good diet. At one time, fiber was actually not thought of as important; however, today we know that it adds bulk to the digestive system and helps prevent colon cancer and other diseases.

It's important to note, however, that eating "unclean" meats is perfectly fine now, according to Acts 10:9–16, where the ban was lifted. We also have much better food safety protocols and facilities now than the Israelites did.

ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE

The Bible does not specifically mention tobacco and different types of drugs. However, there are many principles from it that we can apply when discussing them. Paul writes that "your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 6:19, ESV) and that "If anyone destroys God's temple [the human body], God will destroy him" (1 Corinthians 3:17, ESV). The Bible is very clear that we are not to cause damage to our bodies, and the use of drugs and tobacco does cause damage. The Bible provides suggestions for prevention. The Ten Commandments are very clear that we are not to lust or have idols, and when we are addicted to or crave drugs, alcohol, or tobacco, we are in violation of the Commandments.

EXERCISE

In Matthew 4:19, Jesus called His disciples to follow Him. Although He primarily meant in a spiritual sense, this was also for them to physically follow Him around while on earth. In order for them to follow Him around, they would have needed to walk hundreds of miles each year. The disciples (as well as Jesus) had a very healthy lifestyle, which helped them carry out the mission that was before them.

Paul was clear that we need to focus most of our attention on spiritual matters. However, he did mention that "bodily training is of some value" (1 Timothy 4:8, ESV). It is interesting to note that modern research agrees with Paul. We must exercise a little bit each day to stay healthy. The benefits of exercise are vital for reducing cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and stress. Exercise also prevents diabetes, heart disease, and a host of other problems.

SPIRITUAL HEALTH

In recent years, there has been a push toward "spiritual health" within health education. This aspect of health recognizes beliefs and values as essential parts of health. Statistics have shown that people who believe in God, attend church regularly, and hold strong moral convictions are less likely to smoke, abuse intoxicants, or engage in inappropriate sexual activities. The Bible prohibits gluttony, lethargy, drunkenness, and sexual promiscuity. In society today there is a "you do you" and "if it feels good, do it" attitude, but this is in stark contrast to both biblical principles and health principles. When biblical values are taught by the family and reinforced by churches and schools, individuals are more likely to develop positive behaviors that promote health and prevent disease.

From Scripture, we learn that we are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26), that we will be held accountable for our actions, and that we should glorify God in our bodies (1 Corinthians 6:20). Our temporal bodies are not meant to last forever (Psalm 39:5, James 4:14, and Hebrews 9:27). Our real challenge is to learn to think like God, develop a character like His (Philippians 2:5), and show love for others (John 15:17).

There are many other laws regarding holiness and purity before God. Following these laws promotes physical, spiritual, social, emotional, and mental health. The challenge in 1 Corinthians to regard our bodies as the temples of Christ has never been more relevant. Many times, these laws are viewed as "don't do this" and "don't do that," but, in reality, they are for our health and well-being. As we continue to study health and physical fitness, consider how important a good understanding of the Word of God is and how it can lead to a healthier you.

Why were the ancient Israelites forbidden from eating unclean meat?

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At that point in history, eating those animals could have made them sick

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Why were the ancient Israelites forbidden from eating blood?

Blood can contain harmful viruses and bacteria

Individuals who have strong relationships with God are just as likely to engage in unhealthy eating, drug use, and sinful sexual behaviors as people who don't go to church. True or false?

False