The Cause of Disease

When we meditate on God’s Word, we will find that the Bible has much to say about health and wellness.  It speaks of various diseases and how to deal with them.  The Scriptures teach proper health and hygiene on topics such as hand washing, quarantine, circumcision, proper treatment of dead bodies, and proper disposal of human feces (Num. 19, Lev. 13:46, Gen. 17:12, Deu 23:12-13)

The Bible even addresses alcohol abuse, and instructs us to be filled with the Spirit, rather than drunk with wine Eph. 5:17-18. 

There are numerous diseases related to alcoholism (Prov. 23:19-21, 29-34). These include damage of nerves and body organs, damage to newborns, and sexual disorders. But in addition to these, there are also many highway deaths and broken homes that result from alcohol abuse.

Healthy sexuality
The Scripture teaches us to avoid sexual immorality I Thess. 4:3-5. Homosexuality, incest and adultery lead to terrible consequences such as debilitating, sexually transmitted diseases and neurotic behavior. Those who violate God's instructions concerning sexuality not only affect themselves directly, but also create problems for society as a whole.

Emotional wholeness
The Bible teaches us the role of faith in coping with stress and dealing with anger (Ps. 23, Prov. 29:11) There are numerous psychological disorders and aberrant behaviors that result from our failure to exercise faith in Jesus Christ.

None of these diseases
Many years ago I read an excellent book, called None of These Diseases, written in 1967 by doctors S.I. McMillen and David E. Stern.  It has recently been revised, and is still in print.  While I don’t agree with every single point they made, I do agree with much of it.

The main premise of the book is that we should live the lifestyle God commanded, and when we do we can claim the promise found in Exodus 15:26 that we will have "none of these diseases."

Harmony with the Creator
It is said that ever molecule oscillates at its own unique frequency.  And the authors of this book teach that there are about 150 trillion DNAs and cells in our bodies. They state, “The human body is living in divine health when the 150 trillion cells are in the same frequency or harmony with the creator. Each cell has a north and south pole and generates galvanic electric power.” – S.I. McMillen, David E. Stern

They go on to write, “The harmony or frequency in the cell arrangement is disrupted with negative emotions that originate in the human mind.” S.I. McMillen, David E. Stern. I agree. When we enter into sinful emotions or behavior, we disrupt our own inner health and well being.  This adversely affects our body at the smallest cellular level.  This underlying, unhealthy state of our being predisposes us to the development of illness and disease.   

Some people would say that this teaching advocates mind control, such as that taught by the New Age or by so-called Christian Science.  The authors of the book make a clear distinction that sets this apart from such false practices.  They state, “The original and true mind control is the impartation of the mind of Christ that occurs through a spiritual metamorphosis when the born again experience takes place.” S.I. McMillen, David E. Stern.  I agree with this. Christ must control our minds.  When we have the mind of Christ, then we are free and at peace.  We are able to do that which pleases our Creator, and which leads to divine health.

Fear is the primary negative emotion
Along these lines, the authors note that fear is the primary negative emotion in life.  This is what the Word of God teaches.  Satan keeps people in bondage by constantly enslaving them with the fear of death.  If you think about it, most of what people are concerned about can be traced back to a basic fear of death.  This fear is a force that disrupts our spiritual, physical, and emotional well being. This opens the door to a host of health problems.

Love is supreme
So what is the biblical answer? The Bible teaches “Perfect love casts out all fear.”  So when you love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and you love your neighbor as yourself, then it dispels all that fear.  You are not a slave to it any longer. You are free to love, and this is a major key to divine health.

Like Solomon wrote, “Better is a dish of vegetables where love is Than a fattened ox served with hatred.” (Pro 15:17).  If there is love inside your heart, then you’re better off eating a simple meal that doesn’t taste so great than eating a delicious feast that includes fatty meat when there is hatred inside your heart.

The authors also admonish us to “ALWAYS KEEP BURIED IN YOUR MIND THAT WORDS ARE SEEDS AND PRODUCE AFTER THEIR KIND.” -- S.I. McMillen, David E. Stern.  So it begins with a thought, and our thought becomes a word.  That word then produces after its own kind and we get what we say.  The words then beget physical actions, which can become habits. Those habits then become a lifestyle.  And once we develop a lifestyle, it secures our destiny.  This can work for good or for evil in our lives and the lives of those we touch.

Attribution notice: Most Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Most other Scriptures taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®, unless otherwise noted.

Author's note: This post is part of a series.  If you enjoyed it, you may also like the other posts in this blog available through the links in the side bar. You may also access my blog directory at "Writing for the Master."

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe.

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"

_________________________________________________

Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.

Which Foods Are "OK" to Eat?

There was an ancient religious belief that what goes into a person defiles him spiritually. Likewise in our modern, scientific world, we’ve come to believe that the germs or foods that go into us make us sick. The idea is that sickness comes from the outside and goes into the body. But here is what Jesus taught.

After He called the crowd to Him again, He began saying to them, "Listen to Me, all of you, and understand: there is nothing outside the man which can defile him if it goes into him; but the things which proceed out of the man are what defile the man. ["If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."] When he had left the crowd and entered the house, His disciples questioned Him about the parable. And He *said to them, "Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?" (Thus He declared all foods clean.) And He was saying, "That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. "All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man." (Mar 7:14-23)

The Pharisees and all the Jews did not eat unless first they carefully washed their hands. This was one of the traditions of the elders that they observed. But in doing so, they invalidated the Word of God. Nothing outside a man can defile him if it goes into him. This includes germs and foods. Jesus declared all foods clean. So what defiles a man?

You've heard the saying, "You are what you eat"?  Fitness and nutrition expert, Jack LaLanne, used to say, "The food you eat today is walking and talking tomorrow."  It's true that what you eat is used by your body to build cells, so that food you put into your mouth becomes part of your body.  But Jesus said it’s what proceeds out of the man that defiles him. It’s about the heart. This includes things like evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. So perhaps we should coin a new phrase, "You are what comes out of your mouth." 

Whether we wash our hands before we eat is not the primary concern. Instead our concern should be bringing glory to God. This is why Paul taught, “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1Co 10:31). If you are doing everything for God’s glory, including your eating and drinking, then you will be aware that while all things are lawful, not all things are beneficial or profitable (1 Co 6:12).  That means that even though you are permitted to eat any food, not all foods are good for you to eat.

For example, as the first century Jerusalem Council decreed, you should "abstain from things contaminated by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood." (Ac 15:20). That means you will do well to avoid eating meat that is either sacrificed to idols, or comes from strangled animals, or has the blood still in it. In fact, you should not eat any blood, even if it is no longer in the meat, as in the case of blood sausage and blood pudding. Likewise, there are other things that you may choose not to eat, because they are unhealthy for you, even though you are permitted to eat them. If you live this way, you will be careful about what you eat, but you won’t need to be focused on what goes into your mouth.  Instead you will be Christ-centered.

Attribution notice: Most Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Most other Scriptures taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®, unless otherwise noted. 

Author's note: This post is part of a series.  If you enjoyed it, you may also like the other posts in this blog available through the links in the side bar. You may also access my blog directory at "Writing for the Master."

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe.

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"

_________________________________________________

Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.