For the past several years, I have been convinced that eating the kind of diet you read about in the book of Leviticus is the right way of eating. I have also gained a great deal of criticism during that time because it is evident that most people do not believe this way. I simply read the words in the Old Test. and followed them. I have also felt alot healthier by eating this way.
As of June 11th this year, I have changed my beliefs about food. I am, however, still convinced that it is far more sensible and healthy to eat the Leviticus diet. I plan to eat pork, shrimp, etc. now but definately not like I was doing years ago. My body was not made to deal with preservatives and such like nitrates and nitrites. Therefore, the lunchmeats, etc. will not be eaten on a regular basis.
I debated on whether or not I should even tell anyone about this change because I don't want to make a big deal about it. Yet, I felt the need to tell you all about it because I have been through a wonderful growing experience and want to share it with you.
The scripture I was reading on June 11th spoke to me for the first time even though I had read it many times before. I have come to the understanding that going through the whole ordeal of *believing and obeying what scripture says no matter what anyone else tells me* was something that God allowed me to go through. I believe it was all a big test to see if I was willing to do what He says....even when family was against it.
I would go through it all again to gain what I have now.
I can go to the grocery store now and look at food that was forbidden to me for such a long time and say "I can" instead of "I can't". I am able to enjoy feeling the freedom that comes from Jesus making all things new......and clean!
Why I didn't read and understand the scripture that would set me free from restricted eating, I don't know. I guess the test wasn't over yet. You know, now that I think about it, my family that was so vocal about my eating habits have just finally started being quiet about the way I do things. Apparently, I needed to weather the storm before finding the "freedom scripture".
Here is what I was reading when it finally sunk in....
Romans 14
The Weak and the Strong
1Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. 2One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. 4Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
5One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. 8If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
9For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. 10You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. 11It is written: " 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.' "[a] 12So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
13Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way. 14As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food[b] is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. 15If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died. 16Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil. 17For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.
19Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.
22So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.
Footnotes:
a] Romans 14:11 Isaiah 45:23
b] Romans 14:14 Or that nothing
The nice thing about it is that I can now relate better to those who eat differently than most people. I do not look down on someone because of their decision to remove something from their diet. I respect them and look upon them as having alot of strength because by golly, it's not easy to do. When people roll their eyes or talk badly about them because of not eating pork or other things, I can relate better to how they feel now.
There is never any cause for putting someone down and making them feel less than you because of a decision they have made between themselves and God.
Isn't freedom beautiful?
