How can Christians Preach a Health Message without Referencing the Mosaic Law?

 

Christians can preach a health message without directly referencing the Mosaic Law by focusing on principles that align with overall biblical teachings, general health guidelines, and the example of Jesus' ministry. Here are some approaches.

First, we cannot change the words that Jesus said. The King James Version for Mark 7:19, says,

Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? 

The original Greek infers that Jesus purified all foods. So, where to begin?

  Emphasize Stewardship of the Body

 Biblical Basis: Teach the concept that the body is a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) and that believers should honor God with their bodies.

 Application: Encourage practices like regular exercise, healthy eating, and avoiding harmful substances.

  Focus on Love and Care for Self and Others

 Biblical Basis: Highlight the command to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:39) and extend this to caring for one's own health as well as the health of others.

 Application: Promote community health initiatives, support systems for healthy living, and selfcare routines that enhance physical and mental wellbeing.

  Highlight the Example of Jesus

 Biblical Basis: Point to how Jesus cared for people's physical needs, healing the sick and feeding the hungry (e.g., the feeding of the 5,000 in John 6:114).

 Application: Encourage following Jesus’ example by taking practical steps to promote health and wellbeing, such as healthy eating, resting, and stress management.

  Teach General Biblical Wisdom

 Biblical Basis: Draw on general wisdom literature, such as Proverbs, which promotes healthy living through wise choices (e.g., Proverbs 3:78).

 Application: Discuss the benefits of healthy habits like moderation, selfcontrol, and diligence in maintaining health.

  Utilize Contemporary Health Knowledge

 Biblical Basis: Acknowledge that all truth, including scientific and medical knowledge about health, is part of God's revelation (James 1:17).

 Application: Incorporate modern health guidelines and research findings into the message, presenting them as ways to care for the body God has given.

 Encourage Balanced Living

 Biblical Basis: Advocate for a balanced life that includes work, rest, and recreation, as seen in the pattern of creation (Genesis 2:23).

 Application: Promote balanced routines that integrate work, rest, exercise, and leisure, emphasizing their importance for physical and mental health.

 Advocate for a Peaceful Mind

 Biblical Basis: Stress the importance of mental health by referencing scriptures that promote peace, such as Philippians 4:67 and Matthew 11:28-30.

 Application: Encourage practices that reduce stress and anxiety, like prayer, meditation, and mindfulness.

By grounding health messages in these broader biblical principles, Christians can effectively promote health without directly referencing the Mosaic Law. Numerous health studies have been done as to which foods are bad for the human body. As Christians, food that affects our bodies in any unhealthy, chronic way, should be avoided.

Adventists, Tattoos, and Things That are Unclean

You have heard it many time. People judging others on tattoos because they just know The Bible forbids them. They are quick to read Lev 19:28:
"Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the Lord."

So there. Plain as day. They got you! Unfortunately, these people only have themselves. They take a verse out of context and wield it like a Biblical weapon. Let's actually read the verse before along with this verse. Lev 19: 27,28:

^"27 Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard.
²⁸ Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the Lord."

Whoa! What about that beard thing? Funny, just heard a chap with a beard brag about calling someone out for having tattoos! And his beard was round!

Why do we never tell men to not trim the corners of their beards? Or their heads? Do we detest tattoos so much, that we allow beard cutting? How hypocritical!

In fact, the whole chapter and book of Leviticus is chock full of do's and don'ts. But we ignore 99.99% of them!

Reading Leviticus is quite an eye opener. Many things were unclean. Not just pork. Somehow, pork has been shamed in something special. But who made the choice to allow other unclean things?

A woman during her menstrual period was unclean and was to follow strict rules and be cleansed.


Also heard a man say that The Bible is not ambiguous and we need to not use it to justify tattoos. They are flat out wrong and we need to be firm.

Well now. The pharisees had Jesus on the same points when He was gathering grain. After all, if Adventists indeed think The Bible is NOT ambiguous, then we must not allow Jesus to gather grain on The Sabbath. A clear violation!

The very verses we use to justify our condemnation of others, were used on Jesus.

It begs the question. have we been freed by Jesus, or not?

The sanctuary service was reserved for good looking males without blemish. No cripples. Do we have that rule for our head pastors? Why not? The Bible is not ambiguous.

The Bible is not ambiguous. The Bible is interpreted by men. It is our interpretations that are ambiguous.

Beware what verse you use to judge people with. They may well answer you the way Jesus' answered the pharisees.