Christian Diet and Lifestyle
Bible Marking Assignment Lesson 7

What we eat and drink and the way we dress and spend our money all reflect on our relationship with Christ, and whether we glorify God or dishonor Him.  Those who willingly destroy their health by drinking, smoking, not exercising, eating improperly, or using illegal drugs, will suffer the inevitable crops from the seeds they sow.  The Lord purchased us with His blood, and He does not take it lightly when we throw away honor, dignity, and life and health, with riotous living!

See 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 and 10:31.

God gave mankind a vegetarian diet in the beginning.  He did allow mankind to eat flesh food after the flood, (probably due to the postflood condition of the earth), but He gave very specific instructions regarding which animals could and could not be eaten.  This was because He had created certain animals for other reasons than food for man, and these “scavengers” were
“unclean” to eat.  Who would know better than the Creator what was best for man’s diet?  The Lord made these distinctions about clean and unclean creatures from creation -- even before the flood.  These distinctions were made many centuries before Abraham, from whose lineage the “Jews” came.  These distinctions are not “Jewish” in any way!  The stomach of Jews is no different from the digestive system of anyone else!  Pigs, rabbits, dogs, cats, shrimp, vultures, mice, lobsters, eels, were some of the creatures that Yahweh said were unclean and therefore unfit for human consumption.  When we disobey God’s instructions regarding diet and lifestyle, we are the ones who shorten our life spans, and diminish our quality of life.

See Genesis 1:29, 7:2, Leviticus 20:25, and Deuteronomy chapter 14.

The Lord said that those who continue to ignore His instructions regarding diet will suffer destruction when His Son returns.  As we have said, the Lord takes it very seriously when we willingly destroy our health and bodies, and therefore offer to Him sickly sacrifices.  Of course, sickness comes upon many people arbitrarily, but when we ignore God’s instructions, we invite
disease and early death!  It is the willing disobedience that bring the displeasure of God and prevents His blessing of health.

See Isaiah 66:15-17, Proverbs 23:2 and 20, and Romans 12:1.

The Bible tells us to have a “merry heart” and to avoid eating too many sweets, and it also advises us to get proper exercise, and not overeat.  The Word of God also tells us not to drink
fermented wine (called strong drink).  In the Bible, grape juice is called “wine”.   But the Lord tells us not to drink the wine when it is fermented, and “moveth itself in the cup.”  “Wine is a mocker,” and those who are deceived by it are not wise! Jesus Himself would not take strong drink while on the cross, even to deaden the terrible pain He was under.  He wanted His mind to be clear in order to save us!

See Proverbs 17:22, 23:31, 25:16-17, Ecclesiastes 5:12, and Matthew 27:34.

Our bodies are the “temple of the Lord,”  and all believers are called to be “kings and priests” of God.  The priests in the Old Testament era were forbidden to bring strong drink into the temple, under pain of death.  Yahweh, our heavenly Father,  cares more about our living temples then ones made out of wood and stone!

See Revelation 1:6 and Leviticus 10:9-10.

Regarding dress, we are “ambassadors” for Christ.  The Lord wants us to dress in a manner befitting the uniform of a Christian.  We are to be clean, modest, and neat in our dress and appearance.  If we study the Word of God on this subject, we will find many verses that indicate that the Lord is not pleased when we wear body ornaments or jewelry.  He told the people to remove these things when He was about to draw close to them.  The New Testament instructs us not to wear gold or pearls, or other adornments.  Rather, we are to have the adornment of a meek, quiet, and golden character!  Many times in the Bible, the wearing of jewelry is painted in a negative light.

See 2 Corinthians 5:20, Isaiah 53:2, Exodus 19:10, Exodus 33:5-6, Genesis 35:14, 1 Peter 3:14, 1 Timothy 2:9-10, Isaiah 3: 18-23, and Revelation 17:1-5.

The Lord also wants us to choose good entertainment.  We are not to watch or listen to that which is ungodly.  We are counseled to be entertained by that which is true, holy, noble and good!

See Philippians 4:8-9, Matt. 5:29,2 Corinthians 3:18, 1 Corinthians 10:21,1 Peter2:11, and Psalm 1:1.