Of course many folks use hamburger carelessly and never get sick. Maybe it's just a well functioning immune system in most people.
Good point indianabob. Or it could be that the words of our Lord are true, or maybe Im just misunderstanding Him.
Pro 18:20 A man can fill his stomach with what he says. The words from his lips can satisfy him.
Pro 18:21 Your tongue has the power of life and death. Those who love to talk will eat the fruit of their words.
Mat 15:17 "Don't you see? Everything that enters the mouth goes into the stomach. Then it goes out of the body.
Mat 15:18 But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart. Those are the things that make you 'unclean.'
Mat 15:19 Evil thoughts come out of the heart. So do murder, adultery, and other sexual sins. And so do stealing, false witness, and telling lies about others.
Mat 15:20 Those are the things that make you 'unclean.' But eating without washing your hands does not make you "unclean.'"
Mar 7:14 Again Jesus called the crowd to him. He said, "Listen to me, everyone. Understand this.
Mar 7:15 Nothing outside of you can make you 'unclean' by going into you. It is what comes out of you that makes you "unclean.'"
Mar 7:16 [If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.]
Mar 7:17 Then he left the crowd and entered the house. His disciples asked him about this teaching.
Mar 7:18 "Don't you understand?" Jesus asked. "Don't you see? Nothing that enters people from the outside can make them 'unclean.'
Mar 7:19 It doesn't go into the heart. It goes into the stomach. Then it goes out of the body." In saying this, Jesus was calling all foods "clean."
Mar 7:20 He went on to say, "What comes out of people makes them 'unclean.'
Mar 7:21 Evil thoughts come from the inside, from people's hearts. So do sexual sins, stealing and murder. Adultery,
Mar 7:22 greed, hate and cheating come from people's hearts too. So do desires that are not pure, and wanting what belongs to others. And so do telling lies about others and being proud and being foolish.
Mar 7:23 All those evil things come from inside a person. They make him "unclean.'"
Jas 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of injustice. The tongue is constituted among our members that which is spotting the whole body, and setting the wheel of our lineage aflame, and is set aflame by Gehenna."
Jas 3:7 For every nature, both of wild beasts and flying creatures, both of reptiles and those of the salt sea, is tamed and has been tamed by human nature."
Jas 3:8 Yet the tongue can no man tame - a turbulent evil, distended with death-carrying venom."
So is it really food that makes us unclean? Or is it what we say and do? Or am I totally misunderstanding all this? I feel like Im missing something, just not sure what. Obviously these are spiritual words, so what is the spiritual application?
I used to be quite afraid of germs and all sorts of stuff getting into my system before reading these verses. Now its like if I drop my favorite food on the floor (I hate to waste) I have no problem picking it back up and eating it. I use to go crazy if I saw my kids doing the same, but it never seemed to hurt them or me. I was once even forced to drink sewage water from hospital, but never had any ill effects afterward.
I have heard dear brother Ray say something like he is repenting by changing his diet, so he must know something I dont about what goes into our bodies. I just never had the nerve to ask. I have also heard him say that he totally depends on the Lord for healing. Maybe this is just an act of faith, for faith without works is dead.
I think I have been having a guilty conscience about what my family an I eat ever since reading this. We eat alot of meat, either store bought or from what ever I catch. We dont have many options where I live, and fresh fruit and vegetables are hard to come by, so its mostly canned or dry goods for us. Whats interesting is being a little overweight here in the arctic might actually be a good thing, with that little extra fat you stay warmer.
So do you all really think if I change my diet, quit eating poorly treated animals, I will live longer, have a better life, and be a better person? I really want to know, I value your counsel. Also please give me your thoughts about the verses above, I may be misinterpreting it, which wouldnt be the first time I did that. I really dont want a debate or arguments, I ask because I honestly dont know. Maybe I need to think about changing the way my family and I eat, because like I said I have had a guilty conscience about this for a few days now, and I just had to ask and let it out.
Just to let you know, I have nothing against people who want to change the way they eat, I think it is a good thing if it makes you feel better physically. I suppose a good, healthy combination of spiritual food and physical food may actually go hand in hand.
This is a great topic, thank you all for your input.
Peace, Grace and Love to you all
G.Driggs