It seems lately there is a huge push from every side to be healthy. The medical industry has been pushing it, the food industry wants its share in the profits, and of course, every fly-by-night self-taught health foodie has their own theories. We all dislike being sick or in pain, so of course we also want to be healthy. We read books on the subject, we take classes, we buy organic food, and we start exercising faithfully. We want to feel ‘healthy’. We don’t want to be overweight. We don’t want to get cancer. What we don’t realize, is that most of us already have cancer. Cancer of the heart.

Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 15, that it wasn’t what went into their mouths that defiled them, but what came out of it. Verse 11 says:

“Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man, but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth the man.”

And in verses 17-20, He said again:

“Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast into the draught? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: these are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.”

Jesus was saying this in response to the accusation of the Pharisees and scribes against His disciples, for eating bread without following the tradition of the elders. (of washing their hands) But it’s still true today – what goes into our mouth does not defile us. We may get food poisoning from eating unsanitary food, but it won’t poison our hearts.

I am not saying we shouldn’t eat healthy. We should take care of our bodies, so that we can use them to serve and honor God. He does care about our bodies, too, after all. But I see an alarming trend among Christian people – women in particular, where they judge others according to how ‘healthy’ they are. Instead of having understanding and compassion, we chide them, mock them, or secretly judge them. We should never judge someone because they eat fast food or frozen dinners! Perhaps instead of cooking 100% healthy, they are spending time with their children, teaching them of God. Or perhaps they are on their knees, interceding for the church. After all, we live in earthly bodies – subject to sickness and disease. If we can eat healthy and feel better, thereby serve God better – wonderful! But if we see a sister that doesn’t have the same ‘food value system’ that we have, let’s not judge and condemn her. We should be encouraging each other, blessing each other, interceding for each other, and helping each other! The things that defile us, Jesus says, are evil thoughts. Have you ever thought evil of someone? Murders. Have you ever been angry with someone? Jesus called that murder. Matthew 5:21,22

If you have these evil things in your heart, you are already sick with cancer,(spiritually) even though you are so careful to eat healthy. (physically)

These evil thoughts in the heart are what defile us. They come out, and defile not only us, but others around us! We must be so careful to keep our heart healthy – for out of it are the issues of life.

Not out of our digestive system. Proverbs 4:23. Its a shame when the world has more grace for those who eat differently, than the church does. Sisters, let’s not make a tradition of eating healthy as our standard of holiness! Let’s focus on encouraging one another, blessing one another, and interceding for each other. Let’s make sure our hearts are healthy.

Used with Permission.  Copyright River of Life Christian Fellowship.