You know, struggling with eating healthy has brought some things to my attention. There’s so much contradictory “advice” out there, it’s utterly confusing and downright chaotic. Eat dairy. Stay away from dairy. Eat soy, it’s great for hormones. Stay away from soy, it’s inflammatory and damages the body. Paleo is the only way to go. Keto is the only way to go. Low carb, high fat is what you need. Low fat, high carb is what you need. I mean, the list can go on and on. It’s driven by the diet industry which has “grown to be a $71 billion industry [with] 45 million people in the United States go[ing] on weight loss programs”1 each year.
The same can also be said of Christianity.
We’re facing something today the first-century church didn’t have to experience—influence overload.
There are so many voices, so many influences out there: people we live and work with, friends, social media, the news, music, books, conferences…it’s total overload, and sometimes we need to step back, even to the point of disconnect (although it’s impossible to fully disconnect)—especially if we’re not rooted firmly in truth, knowing solidly what we believe and why, anchored fully in the Scriptures which offer the authentic truth. When we don’t know the authentic, we cannot tell the counterfeit, which then those many voices, those influences, begin to sway us back and forth, until our weak foundation begins to crumble. Think of a young, weak tree planted in the ground. The roots haven’t grown, haven’t driven very deep, and if the wind blows or people come along and keep moving that tree back and forth, over and over, maybe with a few forceful blows every now and then, it will eventually wiggle out of its hole and uproot altogether.
Dear siblings, we’re supposed to mature in the faith, no longer being tossed back and forth (Ephesians 4:14), no longer infants drinking milk, but maturing adults consuming meat (Hebrews 5:11-14). We need to have wisdom and discernment, testing the spirits (1 John 4:1), testing what we hear.
Pray for these things, for wisdom and discernment.
The Holy Spirit convicts us with truth, raising red flags when something doesn’t look and sound right, but only IF we are filled with the Spirit and living by the Spirit, not grieving or quenching Him (Ephesians 4:30/ 1 Thessalonians 5:19). If you do not have that, if you don’t know truth, if you have a hard time discerning, then you need two things: (A) You need to make sure you have the Spirit and are not a false convert (“Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!”—2 Corinthians 13:5), and—if you know without a doubt you’ve fully surrendered to Christ and His Spirit fills you and you are saved—(B) GET INTO HIS WORD. Read it and study it exegetically, in proper context, so to know the authentic, the truth. Pray before each reading that you be shown truth, that you understand what is being said, and that you retain the information. DO NOT ENTER THE TEXT WITH BIAS IN EISEGESIS. Don’t go into Scripture looking for something specifically for you, a “word,” or something to back your presuppositions. Go into it looking to draw out its original intent, taking into consideration who it was written to, what/who it was written about, what language is used (literal/figurative/past tense/present…), and whether or not it is simply a descriptive text (simply a story told to gain knowledge of our history) or a prescriptive text (a command/lesson to be applied today). Then, when you’ve read the Bible in its entirety, start over again. Never stop. It’s living and active (Hebrews 4:12) and, by the Spirit, will reveal something new every time its read.
Considering all this, is it wrong to listen to wise counsel? No. It is not wrongful to receive and seek encouragement, exhortation, corrective teaching, and discipleship from other Christians.
The first-century church was reminded to follow the leaders in the faith.
“Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.”
In the same passage of Hebrews, however, just after recipients are encouraged to follow their leaders and imitate their faith, there is this warning: “Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them” (13:9). This warning specifically heeds heretical teachings about food—food sacrificed, probably like those seen in 1 Corinthians 8, see Mark 7:18-19, yet warnings about being led away by any false and strange teachings are extremely relevant today.
Nevertheless, the first-century church didn’t really encounter a variety of voices because they didn’t have the world at their fingertips like we do today, and they had solid leaders who were chosen by Christ Himself as the foundation of the church—the Apostles and Prophets—with Him as the Cornerstone (Ephesians 2:19-20). When they did have false influences coming in, false teachers and false teachings infiltrating the church, they were told how to discern them, which also still applies today. We have to know who offers that wisdom. How do you know? Test what they say against Scripture.
Matthew 7:15-20 “’Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.’” Romans 16:17-18 “I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.” Philippians 3:17-19 “Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.” Matthew 24:24 and 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 “For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. … The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 1 John 2:4 “Whoever says ‘I know him’ but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him” 1 John 4:2-6 “By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. 1 Timothy 6:3-5 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.
We are also given verses about discernment and truths regarding discerning in general.
Philippians 1:9-10 “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ” Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” (Like seen with Solomon in 1 Kings, God will reveal truth and give wisdom when asked according to His will and purpose). 1 Corinthians 2:14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 But test everything; hold fast what is good. 1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints Matthew 10:16 Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons 2 Timothy 4:2-4 “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”
Be on guard.
Be careful.
These are frequent warnings in Scripture both for the first-century church and for us today. Even your church leaders can be wrong, so how much more erroneous could others be? Those people plastered all over social media, in entertainment, through books and conferences. Like the song goes, “Oh be careful little eyes what you see… Oh be careful little ears what you hear…Oh be careful little heart whom you trust…Oh be careful little mind what you think.”
Like eating healthy, we know what we should eat and what we shouldn’t. As I say, God-made over man-made. God provided us with natural, untainted (i.e., organic) foods such as vegetables, fruits, animals, nuts, seeds, and water. Yet man stepped in to alter them, creating artificial foods in a laboratory. So, guess which we should avoid. We know what we *should* eat (even though we don’t always eat those things) because we know what is good and true, what’s from God the Provider and Sustainer. Likewise, when we know what’s truth from God (found in His Word), we know what we should consume, fill our minds with.
“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.”
“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”
“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ”
ADDENDUM: With all this in mind, I want
to reiterate that I often share content from fellow brothers and sisters in the faith who are teachers, leaders, apologists, and other content-creators which I think offer information which will benefit growth and maturity in the faith. I also typically insert the disclaimer that while I choose to share their content, I do not always agree 100% with their beliefs, and some even hold erroneous doctrine (some are flat out deceivers, not genuine Christians). I encourage we use biblical discernment always. Test everything, even what I share, by Scripture.
*Some perspective to understand my point:
- Like medicine, if the benefits outweigh the harm and can heal, take the dose. However, if the medicine may cause more harm than good, avoid it at all costs.
- Meat and bones—consume the meat (truth) but avoid the bones (falsehoods), but sometimes the meat is so full of bones or is completely spoiled (appears true, but really is falsehood disguised) we should avoid it at all costs. It will poison.
- Don’t eat cotton-candy fluff expecting to get full. It may look sweet and tempting and may make the tongue happy, but it’s empty. There’s no nourishment, and it damages a healthy body.
- Don’t eat candied apples. Snow White learned the hard way. Avoid them and warn others to do the same! They are seemingly healthy and nourishing, wrapped in candy-coated sweetness which indulges the palate, but really there is poison that lies within. Just one bite and this poison leads to a death-like coma. Thankfully, Snow White was revived by a savior, as that’s always a possibility while the breath of life is still in the body.
to offer such resources which I’ve found helpful in my walk, spurring me on and helping me grow and mature in the faith. I pray the resources I share will help you in your walk, as that’s my main goal—to spur you along in the faith, to build you up, to correct and rebuke with truth in love, to exhort, and to encourage you in a walk of holiness through obedience to our Lord.
References:
Lau, Allison. January 11, 2021. CNBC. The Rise of Fad Diets. Retrieved from https://www.cnbc.com/video/2021/01/11/how-dieting-became-a-71-billion-industry-from-atkins-and-paleo-to-noom.html