What Does the Bible Say About Ice Cream?

It is somewhat with fear and trembling I enter into this article on the biblical perspective of health.

The world says, “You are what you eat.” This viewpoint not only saturates the secular world but sadly a major portion of the Christian world too. It is only first world countries that have this attitude. The larger part of the world is not so affluent and blessed to have better sanitary food processing, free-range chickens, and groceries free from genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and pesticides.

Even more sad, we have entire “ministries” based on food, supplements, and warnings of ingredients found in our diets. You dread to eat with them because you will hear a sermon about the ingredients in your choice of food or drink, especially diet colas. I do not believe God intended for us as Christians to spend hours a day examining our food ingredients and how each one is processed and packaged.

Diet and exercise do not produce health. Health comes from God.

Diet and exercise do not produce health. Health comes from God. Simple obedience to His principles produces healing and sustains health. This is true for the whole world, wealthy nations as well as poor. The argument is advanced that it is just common sense that what you eat affects your health. But, when common sense contradicts the Word of God, go with the Word. The Bible view will stand the test of time and common sense will not.

Christian friends of mine, who have written books and spent years recommending certain types of food and supplements, died at younger ages of heart attacks and many times with cancer. Oddly enough, it was cancer they thought they were preventing with their diet and supplements. I really think that fear over food is worse than the food itself. God’s plan is simple. Bless with prayer and eat what is put in front of you. Then, spend your days in study of His Word, and tell the world of Jesus’ love for them. Or as the prophet Micah put it, “He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you. But to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). No mention is made of watching what you eat.

If you disagree or have any prejudgments, read this article, and compare your thoughts to Scripture. All my views on health are from both the Old and New Testament.

There Have Always Been Food Critics

Even in Jesus’ day, the Pharisees made lengthy teachings over food, it’s preparation, and the washing of hands before eating. Jesus’ response made the disciples become concerned over the probable response of the religious leaders.

“So He said to them, ‘Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?’ And He said, ‘What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts...’” (Mark 7:18-21).

Jesus gives us the whole concept of God’s view of eating and spirituality. He had previously told His disciples: “...Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34).

What comes out of your mouth comes from the heart. In other words, your heart controls your health, not your food. Righteousness and faith-filled words are more important than food. Words of unbelief and fear will defile your health and well-being. You are not what you eat. You are what you think (Proverbs 23:7).

Paul told the same thing to the affluent Romans who were taught by their society the health benefits of eating right. “The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17 NASB).

Righteousness is freedom from original sin and a walk of daily holiness. Peace is the result of salvation and daily growth in God’s Word. Joy is a life of praise, worship, and living with the expectation of God’s deliverance from all of life’s problems. These three do more to keep you in health than examining product labels.

We think we can clean up the food before it goes into our bodies, when Jesus told us in Mark 7:19, the stomach purifies all foods. Two problems come from trying to purify our own foods before we eat them. First, our brain is not better at purifying what we eat than our stomach. Our stomach purifies all the food that comes into it and then eliminates the bad ingredients through our waste. Second, if you do not put bad things into your body, how do you build up immunities?

While the food is in your stomach, being purified, the body begins building up immunities. Bad things are needed to have immunities created. If you travel to a foreign country and need an immunization, doctors put a little bit of the disease into your body and within a couple of days, you are immunized. Maybe we have more allergies today because we try to clean up everything with natural foods, filtered water, and cleaner air before we put it into our bodies. A doctor told me that he recommends to every mother to give her children at least one glass of tap water a week. You cannot eliminate impurities from life, but you can build up immunities to them by praying over them and eating what is in front of you. When I was young, if my tootsie roll pop fell out of my mouth, I picked it up and put it back in again. I have been inoculated against earth worms, ants, and dirt. I think I’m all right.

Even your body was designed by God’s grace. He made your stomach to do the work—not you. Your body is at work whether you think about it and know it or not. You do not have to work to get your digestive system to function, your filtering organs to operate, or your intestines to pass off the waste. Your body will digest food properly even when you sleep. This is grace! But we still work to improve God’s plan, trying with our wits to eat healthier.

A Good or Bad Attitude Affects Health—Not Food

Oh, the power and health benefits of joy.

“Then he said to them, Go your way, eat the fat [baby back ribs], and drink the sweet [Pepsi], and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10) (Author comments bracketed).

Christian fellowship has always been accompanied by good-tasting food and drink. Church picnics are not known for their tofu, filtered water, and vegetable plates. But the joy comes from the fellowship with those attending and the giving of extra food to those who are needy or not present. The joy you have eating and drinking is better for your health than the food.

Or as Solomon put it: “A merry heart does good, like a medicine, but a broken spirit [bitterness] dries the bones” (Proverbs 17:22) (Author comments bracketed).

Bitterness causes deterioration, the drying of the fountain of your blood, and the bone marrow (Proverbs 3:8). Considering these verses and the health benefits of joy, the one profession which should produce the longest life would be that of a comedian. And it’s true. Think of the long lives of George Burns, Bob Hope, and Red Skelton (if you are old enough). Laughter is the best medicine.

My mother commented to my sister and I about a story in Reader’s Digest many years ago. A man was in the hospital dying of cancer. He asked his daughter to do one thing for him, to bring old movies of the Three Stooges. He hadn’t seen them in years and wanted some joy before he died. He could be heard laughing up and down the halls of the hospital, and over the days, his cancer went into remission. Maybe the Bible is right!

Trust and Praise in God’s Plan for Your Future Brings Health

“Why are you cast down, O my soul?And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God....” (Psalm 42:11) .

Confidence in knowing God’s future for you will quiet fear and worry, and praise will bring a change of attitude and physical health.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to you flesh, And strength to your bones” (Proverbs 3:5-8).

Knowing you are in God’s hands and on His path, lifts responsibility off your shoulders and produces peace. You also experience freedom from arrogance. Walking with God and turning from evil produces and increases health. Health begins in the core of your being (navel) and spreads from there. Walking with God also brings moisture to your bone marrow. These are all symbols of divine health. Solomon has even more to say about trust in God as a source of health. Again, we read from Proverbs 4:20-23:

“My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.”

Notice, out of the heart—not food—flow the issue of life, including health. God’s Word contains health for every part of your body. No man-made medicine can cure the entire body. But, by looking at the Word continually, hearing it daily, and hiding it in your heart, health is released to all your flesh. What part of your body is sick? The Word of God, hidden in your heart, will heal it and then give continual health.

God’s Word contains health for every part of your body.

Freedom from Strife in the Home Produces Health

“An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones” (Proverbs 12:4).

Solomon says that peace in a marriage can extend the length of your life. Peter also says a good marriage aids your prayer life (1 Peter 3:7).

Telling the Truth Is Healthy

“He who speaks truth declares righteousness, but a false witness, deceit. There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health” (Proverbs 12:17-18).

The tongue can produce life or death, sickness or health: “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit” (Proverbs 15:4).

Encouraging Words from Others Produce Health

“A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful ambassador brings health” (Proverbs 13:17).

How a message is presented can produce harm or give health. Giving hope and proper direction, even in a rebuke, can be life changing to someone. Solomon has much more to say on the healing power of a good report.

“The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and a good report makes the bones healthy” (Proverbs 15:30). A good testimony brings hope to the one who is sick, hope brings healing and health (Psalm 42:11).

“The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, and adds learning to his lips. Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweetness to the soul, and health to the bones” (Proverbs 16:23-24).

Good words bring health to those you speak to, but good words can also bring health to those who speak them. The power of good words from your mouth cannot be taught enough.

Peace Is One of the Greatest Producers of Health

“A sound [peaceful, tranquil] heart is life to the body, but envy is rottenness to the bones” (Proverbs 14:30) (Author comments bracketed).

One of the greatest producers of health is a heart and life at peace. Peace saturates every fiber of your being, bringing health. Anger and jealousy rot the bones, where healthy blood should come from. A clear conscience also produces peace. A clear conscience, and resulting peace, is a great producer of health.

Sharing Your Goods and Home with Others Produces Health

“Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; when you see the naked, that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh? Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.” (Isaiah 58:7-8).

This verse simply tells of the power of love. Sharing your food and clothing with the needy brings health. So does opening your home to the poor.

My mother and father moved to Oklahoma before I was born. They had no place to stay, but a couple who heard of their need, opened their basement to them. They were Christians and my parents were not. They invited my mom and dad to a revival meeting, and they reluctantly accepted out of gratitude for the free room. Both my parents were saved and filled with the Holy Spirit that week, and I consider myself to be in the ministry today because of the generosity of the couple who opened their home to them.

Love in action not only meets the needs of others but also brings health to your own body. Love has wonderful healing powers. Love also has protecting power. Your righteousness will guard you from the front, and the Lord will be your protection from the rear.

Submission and Honor toward Leadership Produces Health

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother,’ which is the first commandment with promise: ‘that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth’” (Ephesians 6:1-3).

Andrew Wommack said he was watching a National Geographic special on television one night, and they ran a documentary on the longest living group of people found on earth. They were found in the mountains of Japan. The first thing mentioned was their diet. It is so natural to think they must eat something we have not discovered yet. Yet Andrew said the first thing he thought was they honored their parents. In fact, they worship their parents in the religion of Japan. Attitude—not food—produced their health.

Submission toward authority begins with children in the home. This carries them throughout life. They will always have to submit to someone, a boss, policeman, commanding officer, teacher, or pastor. Submission brings with it prosperity and health. The two hands of wisdom include riches and honor, (prosperity) in the left, and length of days (health) in the right (Proverbs 3:16).

Health Comes from the Soul

“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers” (3 John 2).

Prosperity of the soul overflows to our financial life and physical health. Again, the heart has more to do with health than diet or exercise.

All Food Comes from God

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer” (1 Timothy 4:1-5).

Paul told Timothy that the closer we come to the return of Jesus, the more we would hear false doctrines and lies from Satan. One of those lies would be the forbidding of certain foods. How many times have we heard warnings against red meat, pork, milk, coffee, eggs, sugar, and fat? After a while we hear they have been found to be all right. Paul called accepting this as giving heed to seducing spirits.

The verse says that all foods, meats, and drinks are created by God, and we should receive and eat them with prayer and thanksgiving. God did not plan for prayer over a meal to work until the 21st century. By this time would the additives in food be greater than the power of God in prayer? No. Whatever harmful elements are in or on our food are handled by our stomach which purifies all food. If the elements are more harmful than our stomach can purify, prayer over the meal will further sanctify the food. One of God’s promises to believers would be, “…If they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them” (Mark 16:18).

Health and Fitness

Health comes from God. Health is spiritual not natural. Yet, the health found in the Word of God, and obedience to it, spills over into our natural body. Nowhere in the Bible does it say health comes from diet and exercise. In fact, we have found out it says the exact opposite. Health comes from our heart attitude. So, are diet and exercise addressed anywhere in the Word of God? Of course! I am not saying these are not good, but I am saying they are overrated when compared to God’s Word. Fitness is good and does play a part. We will examine scripture in a moment.

Health comes from God. Health is spiritual not natural.

Diet and exercise produce fitness, not health. Fitness is natural rather than spiritual. You can be fit and not healthy. You can also be healthy and not fit. Of course, it is better to be both healthy and fit, but the two are not the same. Many fit people today with very little body fat, who routinely exercise, have had heart attacks and even strokes in young age. Their problem is not a lack of exercise or improper eating but worry and stress. On the other hand, many people who are not fit are none the less healthy. All their vital signs seem to be in acceptable ranges. I heard that doctors are calling this group of people obese-healthy. Being moderately overweight is not necessarily an indicator of poor health.

What about Food and the Bible?

The only sin attached to eating in the Bible is not what you eat, but how much you eat. With both the eating of food and the drinking of wine, excess is a sin, not indulging. “Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess…” (Ephesians 5:18 KJV).

One of the fruits of the Holy Spirit is temperance, not prohibition. Anything in life that is good can become bad. Excessiveness can turn the good thing into a sin. All food is given by God to be eaten, not over indulged in. Eating and drinking smaller amounts will bring your weight into balance and keep it there. This is good natural thinking and spiritual thinking as well.

What about Exercise and the Bible?

Since fitness is temporary, it must be constantly reinforced. Diets must be continually monitored, and exercise must become a way of life.

For bodily exercise profits a little (briefly, for a short while), but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come” (1 Timothy 4:8).

If you begin an exercise program, you must stick with it. When you stop, you lose all the ground you gained. But on the other hand, 1 Timothy tells us, one revelation from God’s Word can change your life forever. It can affect your earthly life until you die and then you can carry that revelation into eternity.

All this verse is saying is, don’t go overboard on the natural (diet and exercise), but do go overboard on the spiritual. Both the natural and spiritual have their place, but get your priorities straight. The first is natural and temporary. The second is spiritual and eternal. Health comes from God, not your stomach or your workouts at the gym. It is by grace.

“For by grace you have been saved [sozo][healed] through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works…” (Ephesians 2:8-9) (Author comments bracketed).