Food and conscience

Chapter 14 (dubbed by Eugene Peterson in The Message: Cultivating Good Relationships).

How critical mortals are of each other – and of themselves.  I got a message once, “When you have forgiven yourself, there is no one else to forgive.”  Am still pondering that truth.

Anyway, about food, vegetarianism, etc., I love what Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (by Mary Baker Eddy) has to say, ‘ “In seeking a cure for dyspepsia consult matter not at all, and eat what is set before you, “asking no question for conscience sake” ‘ (S&H 222:29-31, with Bible reference I Cor. 10:25).

What is conscience telling us about food?  “If I eat all of this chocolate I will get fat”, is a prime example, but I am sure we all can come up with many others.  Instead of asking those questions, we can eat to satisfy hunger, rather than greed or addiction or craving appetite.

“Eat what is set before  you.” Yes.  Though I would say, “Do not drink every thing which might be set before you.”  You may be being presented with an alcoholic drink.  And Mary Baker Eddy has this to say about strong drink, “Whatever intoxicates a man, stultifies and causes him to degenerate physically and morally.  Strong drink is unquestionably an evil, and evil cannot be used temperately: its slightest use is abuse; hence the only temperance is total abstinence.  Drunkenness is sensuality let loose, in whatever form it is made manifest”  (Miscellaneous Writings 1883-1896 p.288:32-289:6).

 

So, even if we are criticised for not taking that glass of champagne to drink a toast, we make our stand for righteousness.  And, perhaps we might know about our friends, that man in truth is “hungering and thirsting after righteousness,” and so will be blessed and filled.  (See Matthew 5: 6^th Beatitude.)

Once again, Chapter 14 reminds me of I Cor. 13, Paul’s wonderful sermon on charity/love.  A theme of love is always there, isn’t it?  

Joyce Voysey