Many Christians today rarely fast, not from a lack of faith or knowledge, but due to the constant availability of food in modern society. We often eat for social reasons, to build relationships, or simply as a distraction. Fasting, however, is a voluntary abstinence from food or other regularly enjoyed gifts from God for a spiritual purpose. This article explores the concept of a Christian diet plan, encompassing both physical nourishment and spiritual discipline.
The Biblical Basis of Fasting
Jesus expects his followers to fast, stating "when you fast" (Matthew 6:16), not "if." Fasting is a temporary measure in this life, aimed at enriching our joy in Jesus and preparing our hearts for the life to come. It is a means of stretching our hearts beyond the troubles of the present and battling against inner sin and weakness. Fasting will cease when Jesus returns, replaced by a feast.
Practical Advice for Fasting
Fasting can be challenging, requiring a deliberate approach. Here are some practical tips to incorporate fasting into your life:
- Start slowly: Don't jump into a week-long fast immediately. Begin with one meal a week, gradually increasing to two meals, then a day-long fast.
- Have a plan: Fasting should not be mere self-deprivation but a spiritual discipline to seek God's fullness. Replace the time you would have spent eating with prayer, Bible study, or serving others.
- Maintain love and consideration: Fasting should not make you unloving or inconsiderate. Inform those you regularly share meals with about your fast in advance.
- Consider fasting together: Fast with family, a small group, or your church for shared needs, difficulties, or to keep the second coming of Christ in view.
- Explore alternative fasts: If health conditions prevent fasting from food, consider fasting from television, social media, or other regular enjoyments.
- Focus on Jesus: When hunger pangs strike, turn your attention to Jesus or a cause of his in the world, rather than dwelling on your hunger.
Beyond Restriction: A New Covenant Approach to Eating
Many people with a dieting past may find the idea of restricting food choices familiar. However, diets, even those framed as "clean eating" or "Biblical eating plans," can become a form of law that fails to change the heart. The Bible is divided into the Old Testament (The Law) and the New Testament (Grace). Christ fulfilled the law through his perfect life, death, and resurrection, freeing believers from the obligation to meet the standards of the Old Testament laws.
Under the New Covenant, believers are motivated by a desire to live for Christ, not by obligation. This freedom of choice extends to our food journey. We have constant access to all types of food and can choose to eat it whenever we want. Embracing this freedom allows us to connect with what we truly want, moving away from diets as dictators.
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Choosing Love Over Law: Motivating Healthy Choices
Total freedom in food choices can be daunting, leading some to seek the "protection" of a diet. However, the missing link is love: love for God, our well-being, our bodies (God's temple), our families, our friends, and our calling. Making food choices out of love empowers us to say "no" to unhealthy options and "yes" to a godly life.
If you're tired of one-size-fits-all food plans that make you feel like a failure, pay attention to your self-talk around food. Replace words like "can't," "should," and "have to" with new truths grounded in grace. Remember that changing years of dieting drama takes time; offer yourself grace as you try, mess up, and try again.
Biblical Foods for Health and Healing
The Bible contains references to the healing properties of herbs and foods, viewing diet and food preparation as spiritual acts. Here are some foods considered "clean" in the Bible:
- Fruits: All fruits from trees bearing seeds.
- Plants: All plants bearing seeds.
- Clean Meat: Animals with cloven hooves that chew the cud, such as ox, sheep, goat, deer, and antelope. Seafood with fins and scales is permitted. Birds, excluding eagles, vultures, kites, ravens, ostriches, seagulls, and owls.
The following is a list of foods mentioned in the Bible and their health properties:
- Olives and Olive Oil: Used for healing, cooking, lighting, soaps, cosmetics, and currency. Consumption contributes to heart, brain, skin, and joint health, and may aid in cancer and diabetes prevention.
- Pomegranates: Contain anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-obesity, and anti-tumor properties.
- Grapes: Moderate alcohol intake, particularly red wine, may lower the risk of cardiac mortality due to atherosclerosis. Resveratrol, found in fermented grape juice, has anti-oxidant and flavonoid properties.
- Flax: Flaxseeds provide a natural, vegan source of omega-3 essential fatty acids, lignans, and fiber.
- Sprouted Grains: Ezekiel's bread recipe creates a "complete protein" with all essential amino acids. Sprouting enhances nutrient levels and bioavailability.
- Goat's Milk: May prevent diseases such as anemia and bone demineralization.
- Lamb: The most revered animal in history, with lower marble fat content than older meats. Purchase local, organic, grass-fed varieties when possible.
- Coriander: The seed of cilantro, an antioxidant and cleansing agent. Traditional Chinese Medicine uses coriander as an anti-diabetic plant.
- Vegetables: Nutrient-dense and safe to eat. Cruciferous vegetables can help prevent cancer due to their glucosinolate content.
- Honey: Contains disease-fighting antioxidant flavonoids and supports the growth of probiotics in the gastrointestinal tract. May improve allergy symptoms.
Practical Guidelines for a Biblical Diet
Weight loss is possible by following the Bible's teachings on food and eating. The four classifications of food (trees that yield seed, plants that yield seed, field plants, clean meat) form the foundation of a Biblical diet.
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Key components include:
- Water, Sunshine, and Exercise: Essential for good health. Drink plenty of water, exercise regularly, and spend time outdoors.
- Safe, Clean Meat: Choose meat from clean animals.
- Seasonal Eating: Eat foods that are in season.
- Raw Foods: Encourage eating uncooked raw food.
- Unprocessed Whole Foods: Consume foods in their natural state.
Intentional Eating: The 7 Ps
To retrain your brain from the dieting mentality, adopt the habit of intentional eating using the following 7 Ps:
- Pause: Before eating, pause and ask if you're truly hungry or feeding emotions.
- Pray: Thank God for the meal and ask for discipline to care for your body.
- Prepare: Prep meals ahead of time and learn healthy ways to make your favorites.
- Portion: Measure meals to learn proper portion sizes and use smaller plates.
- Practice: Eat mindfully, slowly, and without distractions.
- Plan: Make healthy meals and snacks and set godly intentions for parties and restaurants.
- Persist: Don't give up after a bad day; acknowledge your power over food.
Spotting the Traps: Overcoming Emotional Eating
Learn to recognize the traps of emotional eating. When you mess up, ask God for forgiveness and skip the guilt. Remember that God didn't create rigid food rules; the world did.
The Daniel Fast: An Example of Biblical Eating
The Daniel Fast is a dietary modification plan emphasizing simplicity and plant-based nutrition, inspired by the biblical figure Daniel. It consists of non-energy-restricted choices of foods from plant sources, minimally processed and prepared in a healthy and simple way. The diet eliminates animal products, caffeine, and alcohol, and includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds.
Foods Allowed on the Daniel Fast:
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- All fruits (fresh, frozen, dried, juiced, and canned)
- All vegetables (fresh, frozen, dried, juiced, and canned)
- Whole grains (brown rice, oats, barley, quinoa, etc.)
- Legumes (beans, lentils, peas)
- Nuts and seeds
- Oils (coconut, olive, sesame, used minimally)
- Water (distilled, filtered, sparkling, spring, mineral)
Foods to Avoid on the Daniel Fast:
- Animal products
- Caffeine
- Alcohol
- Yeast and leavened bread
- White flour and white rice
- Processed foods
The Seventh-day Adventist Diet: A Focus on Plant-Based Eating
The Seventh-day Adventist diet is a plant-based diet rich in whole foods that discourages animal products, alcohol, and caffeinated beverages. Members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church believe their bodies are holy temples and should be fed the healthiest foods, basing their dietary pattern on the biblical Book of Leviticus.
This diet has several variations, with approximately 40% of Adventists following a plant-based diet. Some are vegan, while others include eggs, low-fat dairy, and fish. Some Adventists also avoid refined foods, sweeteners, and caffeine.
Seventh-day Adventists who eat meat distinguish between "clean" and "unclean" types, as defined by the biblical Book of Leviticus. Pork, rabbit, and shellfish are considered "unclean" and banned.
Potential Downsides
People who follow plant-based diets that entirely exclude animal products are at a higher risk of nutrient deficiency for vitamins D and B12, omega-3 fats, iron, iodine, zinc, and calcium. The Adventist church recognizes the importance of eating a wide variety of nutrient-rich foods and including an adequate source of vitamin B12.
God's Recipe for Excellent Health
Instead of getting lost in the noise of contradictory health advice, consider God's 3-step recipe:
- Eat: Follow Scripture's simple biblical principles and traditions for celebration, fellowship, nourishment, and healing.
- Pray: Speak the Words of Scripture, bringing healing to every cell in your body.
- Fast: Learn to fast overnight for better sleep and moods, blood sugar balance, and cellular strength.
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