Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Salome on March 14, 2008 at 7:04am

When you discover that the Standard American (I would say Western!) Diet actually is engineered to make people fat and hungry so they buy more and want to eat more so that the manufacturers/suppliers get more money out of them, this is not such a mystery.

Never judge, because you also don't know what emotional, physical, disease issues they are facing. It has been my experience that judgment comes back on us - in one way or another - if we dare to dish it out!

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Raw Caribeña on June 23, 2008 at 9:50pm

I remember a couple years ago (I think), I had watched an episode of a show where the wives or husbands spend a week at the home of another family. The cultures of the family are usually polar opposites ie: vegetarian vs. meat-eater, rural vs. city etc... This episode was about a conservative wife/mother who spends a week with a New Age family into different religions etc... and vice-versa. As a Christian, I felt embarrassed watching the episode because the Christian woman was severely obese and she kept trying to Bible-thump the other family. She was always offended by their "worldly ways" and would storm off when feeling challenged. The other family was a picture of health and balance, participating as a family and enjoying physical activities together while bonding. Once the wives returned to their homes, the Christian woman began to lose her mind, literally. She freaked and screamed and talked about the other family as being from the dark side. She looked like a monster freaking out like that. It was great tv fodder. Her children were stunned with their mother's behaviour and were kind of cowering and saying nothing. The children had a fine time with the New Age wife/mother. At the end of the show, each wife has money they give to the other family and writes in a letter what the money is intended. Well, you can imagine that the Christian woman decided to use a large portion to buy Bibles for them and I can't remember what else. The New Age woman did not impose any other her values and instead thought of things that would make the Christian woman and her family happy. The children of the Christian family had said their mother wanted gastric by-pass surgery. So the N.A woman said to use that portion of the money to help offset the costs of the surgery.

I wondered after the program what the Christian woman's pastor and church thought of the episode.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Stephanie on April 1, 2008 at 9:30am

Probably because most "christians" are in the dark about a very intimate, personal relationship with God...and genuinely having the Holy Spirit dwell within them. After all, that was the real point Jesus came to earth to make... The real Good News He came to set a very real example for us to follow.

Those who deny or ignore that...are denying and ignoring the only source of full truth in anything.

So God lets them wander around blind and with half truths in alot of ways...much like the children of Israel he left wander in the wilderness for 40 years... For they profess each week, but never truly hear or do what Jesus came to say...and to emulate.

God may even be more apt to enlighten an honest atheist about the wisdom of His raw diet...than a hypocritical professed "christian".

Unfortunately, those who go around proudly calling themselves christian today, yet denying the true power...were written about long ago.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Chantal-Fleur on May 21, 2008 at 5:04pm

Awesome thread, thanks for starting it, Beloved!

Lots of points made that I experienced as well, the understanding of prayer, Eastern traditions, etc..

But a great deal is really what has been mentioned as well & what I would call "Selective Reading" - Christians cherry picking from the scriptures. I guess we all fall short in that, at least I am aware that I do. Revelation is progressive, God is patient with us but still we gotta work on eliminating this attitude, on putting God's word over our own view of the world in all things from relationships over sin to health, fears and self concept.

So, for instance, when it comes to Genesis, pastors love to stress the dominion & authority part & how it is signifies the state before sin entered the world. However, they somehow forget to mention that Gen 1:29 is the way God desired for us to eat BEFORE sin entered the world as well. Does that make sense? Simple cherry picking in my eyes - with dramatic consequences for so many brothers & sisters in the Lord...

Yet, I see a shift in the Christian communities that I am in touch with. A revolution within if you want to say so. Patience & endurance is all we need.

Interesting thing for instance:
At a Night of Bliss in March in Johnnesburg, Pastor Chris, the Nigerian healing minister, mentioned how important it is for people to take care of their bodies. If you receive healing but continue in your self-destructive ways of eating & couch potating don't be surprised if this healing will just be temporary. It is up to you to keep this blessing with you.
I could really feel how tired he was of people being healed by him & then coming back to him a year later complaining that the blood pressure went up again or that the cancer returned...

Last thing to make you guys smile:
One eve my pastor had his funny moment. He's very young & very loving & frank with us. Anyways, he started to joke bout our flaws so to say. We gotta learn to laugh bout ourselves, right?!
I knew he would comment on my eating habits cos there is not even another vegetarian in our congregation (yet!). What he came up with was: "When you read the story about Cain & Abel offering sacrifices to God, you must have gone like 'Dang, Lord, you picked the wrong one! Nothing wrong with Cain, Father. Pick Cain, pick Cain!'" I had to laugh bout that myself. & if there is anyone out there with a proper interpretation of that episode in the Bible, please share with me...

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Salome on May 22, 2008 at 4:36am

Very good post, Chantal-Fleur! I have had the same experience - prayed for many, lots got healed, some did not, and then my heart failed!
I found out that I had Rheumatic Heart Disease - a result of a viral infection. It was progressive and nothing the doctors could do about it. Surgery, medication, more medication, feeling I was "finished". Even being a vegetarian did not improve my situation.
Until 1 year ago when I had a wake-up call. They wanted me to go on Warfarin to thin out my blood ("You know it is Rat Poison and once you go on it you never come off" my mother said), so I did some research, change to a RAW VEGAN diet and came off most of my medication. Saw Cardiologist in March and ... BP normal, Valve opening 2 (0.5 better than last reading), Breathing better, stamina better, energy levels ok and I am now ready to get back into ministry.
Did I pray, Yes! And so did every other strong ministry I was in touch with. Did I trust God? Yes, and still do for that total miracle. But I also took responsibility for my own health and well-being and I have already encouraged many, many to change their diet!
Today, I am still struggling to get my weight down (endless medication, not being as busy as I used to be, etc, but I am working on it!)
Blessings to you all!
Salome

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Raw Caribeña on June 23, 2008 at 9:59pm

I remember my pastor had preached about the offerings of Cain & Abel and what it meant. He had said that it wasn't about the meat vs grain but rather about faith. Cain did not have truth faith in the Lord. His sacrifice was in vain.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Seon on July 31, 2008 at 11:49pm

i think part of it has to do with the fact that many associate holistic health with mysticism and other religions. whether this association is real or not, this perception can deter christians from exploring it.

▶ Reply to This

• 1
• 2