Nearly three years ago, an article in The Christian took up the subject of the world food supply and pointed out the drastic reduction in food stocks that has taken place in the world during the past ten or fifteen years. As conditions such as droughts, floods, increasing oil prices, and a larger world population continue to affect agriculture, the problem of a food shortage persists. It is true that a good wheat harvest in North America this year has somewhat stabilized the conditions existing back in 2007-2008, but the situation remains precarious with world carryover stocks projected to decrease significantly.
Industrialized Farming
However, there is another problem connected with food that perhaps needs to be addressed in the light of Scripture. The potential for a world food shortage, or “global food crisis,” as some are calling it, has given rise to a new food movement in some western countries, particularly the U.S. It has taken on the momentum of a religious revival, as it seeks to change the way people think about food and the use of the earth. It focuses on the sources of our food supply and the destructive effects of “industrialized farming” on humans, animals and the environment. It wants to reverse this trend by radically altering our eating habits.
It is true that large-scale farming methods, which now account for a large percentage of food production in western countries, are fraught with potential dangers. Contamination of any particular food has the potential to affect thousands of people in a short time, while the methods used to produce these products raise questions about sanitation, inhumane treatment of animals, and the overall effect on the environment. Huge amounts of liquid manure, for example, are difficult to dispose of, while the widespread use of pesticides, commercial fertilizers and herbicides is clearly a major factor in water pollution.
Humanistic Culture
In addition to all this, our casual and disconnected attitude toward food and its production is fueled by our humanistic culture of today, which holds that the end result of everything is the happiness of man. When food is bought primarily in supermarkets, the process by which it arrived there is often considered irrelevant. We abstract ourselves from it all, preferring simply to consume the packaged product, which by this time may have been so altered that we scarcely recognize its source.
The new food movement focuses on these attitudes and problems and raises questions about how we can stop global warming, feed the hungry in third-world countries, prevent cruelty to animals, and in addition be healthier and live longer. There are many books now promoting a vegetarian diet, and indeed, a recent study revealed that nearly 20 percent of U.S. college students are vegetarians. In many cases, such a diet is connected, at least in the eyes of its adherent, with righteousness, purity and “spiritual consciousness.”
The Glory of God
What should be the Christian’s view of all this? On the one hand, man was put into this world as a steward of God’s gifts. He is to use them wisely, recognizing the Giver, and also recognizing His ultimate dependence on God. Believers should not abuse God’s gifts, whether food, money, our health, our natural resources or any other mercies God has placed at man’s disposal. Paul tells us, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31). It is true that God “giveth us richly all things to enjoy” (1 Tim. 6:17), but food is a means to an end, not an end in itself. When man loses sight of God, he tends to exploit God’s gifts, disposing of them as if he himself had made them.
On the other hand, however, we must point out that the new food movement often does not honor God, despite its emphasis on the careful use of our resources. The central tenets of the movement almost offer a religious alternative and can easily become a cause for which we labor. Its urgent wish to save the world can easily slide over into a feeling that by eating right, we can save ourselves. This ultimately links the movement with eastern religions, for both Hinduism and Buddhism connect pure food with spiritual purity. All this can become a snare for the true Christian.
Obsession With Healthy Eating
More than this, when believers become overly occupied with food, it may displace Christ in their hearts. A nutritionist in the U.S. has coined the term orthorexia, which he defines as “an unhealthy obsession with healthy eating.” He himself evidently took the journey into so-called healthy eating, but found that it eventually took over his life. He found that life’s meaning had been transferred to food, instead of being on something more transcendent and important. More than this, he found that it led to self-absorption and legalism.
While the believer should be a good steward of what God has given, we must remember that “the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Rom. 14:1717For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. (Romans 14:17)). We cannot reclaim the Garden of Eden, but rather must continue to live in a world blighted by sin, where death is still present. While we should not willingly add to a groaning creation, neither can we reverse it at present.
The Heart First
Satan is using the food movement, and many other things, to divert man from what is really important — a new heart. It was for this reason that the Lord Jesus reminded the Jews that it was not what a man ate that defiled him, but rather what came from his heart (Matt. 15:17-2017Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? 18But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 19For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: 20These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man. (Matthew 15:17‑20)). This is man’s real need, and the one who has truly come to Christ, accepted Him as his Saviour, and wishes to follow Him will not be found either abusing God’s gifts or having an undue obsession with food. We have been given freedom in Christ and should use it, not for self-indulgence, nor for an over-occupation with food, but for the Lord. If we are occupied with His interests down here, we will eat our food “with gladness and singleness of heart” (Acts 2:4646And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, (Acts 2:46)), but our focus and occupation will be with the “true bread from heaven” (John 6:3232Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. (John 6:32)).
W. J. Prost