Photo creditPlease note: I want to express my heart from the outset of this post to assure my readers that these are musings that the Lord has been working in my heart lately, and I felt compelled to share them with you. I in no way desire to condemn anyone, but my motivation in sharing is to challenge us all to guard our hearts in this matter.
I recently encountered two stories that have challenged me in the motivation and out workings of my pursuit of natural living. The first account began with a friend desiring to throw a baby shower for an expectant mother in her church. This friend was expecting her first little one. The hostess simply wanted to bless and encourage this new mother in her pursuit. When she asked for gift ideas, the new mother stated that she only wanted organic baby clothing, wooden natural toys, organic cloth diapers, and the like. Half of the guests could not afford these products. One lady missed the memo and came with a few plastic toys.
How do you think this made her hostess and guests feel?
The second account took place when I heard a couple share that they had not been tithing for several months and wanted to begin again. They had not been able to afford it. I knew that this family ate all organic and natural foods. This appeared like it could not be sacrificed.
What is more important?
I have had conversations with friends or family members on various occasions when I tried to persuade them of the health consequences or benefits of a certain product. What has resulted? Relationships have been hurt. I have left others feeling condemned or inadequate. Or at a shared meal gathering, when another mom instructs her son not to eat that food item because “it’s not food”, relationships are damaged because we exalt food over fellowship.
Do I consider myself superior to others because we have adopted a more natural lifestyle?
In the past I have skimped on hospitality because I did not want to spend the money to buy good quality food for my guests or when bringing a meal to another. I made the excuse that I couldn’t afford it. In all honesty, I wanted to keep the best of our budget for my family. This is not true generosity. True generosity takes place when I joyfully give the best that I can following the Scriptural command to do unto others as you would have them do to you (Matt. 7:12).
Where is my heart?
The apostle John’s last words in 1 John are, “Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts (1 John 5:21).” These last words are significant…He wants them to be remembered.
How often do I turn a good thing into a god thing?
As Tim Keller states in Counterfeit Gods, “Most people know you can make a god out of money. Most people know you can make a god out of sex. However, anything in life can serve as an idol, a God-alternative, a counterfeit god…What is an idol? It is anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, anything you seek to give you what only God can give.”
Natural living can become an idol when we willingly give our emotional and financial resources to achieve it.
Natural living can become an idol when we think that it can give us significance, security, safety and fulfillment.
Natural living can become an idol when we hoard the benefits and not freely offer it to others.
What is my motivation for eating healthy and living naturally? Because I have desired to be a good steward of creation and for the health and wholeness of our family.
Can preserving the safety of my family become an idol in my life? Yes!
When I give my money first towards the purchase of good healthy food prior to giving it back to the Lord in my worship of tithe, natural living has gone too far. When I am more concerned about the safety of my family to the extent that I sacrifice relationships, the service of my brothers and sisters, than natural living has become an idol.
Eating healthy will not guarantee my family a more peaceful longer life. It will not add a single day to my life than God has already determined. Only God knows the number of my days. (Psalms 139:16) He calls me to be faithful to care for my physical body, and this includes being wise in what I put into my body, knowing that it will affect my ability to serve the Lord; but when I raise that to a god-level, it is no longer a good thing. My security must only be found in Christ. He controls my family’s health and wellness.
Eating healthy and living naturally does not make me any more honorable in God’s eyes than any other. We are all in equal standing before Him.
Our first fruit of income should always go to tithe and not food. (Lev. 23:10; Numbers 28:26). Where your money is, there your heart will be also. (Matt. 6:19-21) If I put more money towards my health and wholeness before God and giving unto others, than that is where my treasure lies. It will burn up at the end.
Unity in the body is more important than the safety of our family. (Rom. 14:1-3; Psalms 133)
God calls me to be generous, not to hoard the good stuff for myself. Am I only concerned about my health and not the well-being of my friends, family, and fellow brothers and sisters in Christ? God loves a cheerful giver. I am challenged to serve the best to my guests as I possibly can. The more you give the less hold it has on your heart. (2 Cor. 8:9)
I have seen and confess to these evidences of idolatry in my heart. Am I implying that organic food, clothing, or wooden toys are bad? In no way. It is a matter of the heart. What is my motivation? Is that a God-glorifying motivation? My challenge to you all…let’s not raise being a good steward to a god position. Let’s not make others feel guilty, discouraged, or overwhelmed because they cannot afford the natural lifestyle or only in part. It’s about relationships. Let’s keep God first, love one another, and pursue giving generously to one another as we are able. Jesus commanded in Luke 10:27 states, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.” I hope you understand my heart in communicating this message. There is no condemnation here. This is just a challenge to go further up and further in in our pursuit of Christ Jesus with me.
“Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them.” - Romans 14:1-3
I’m so glad I read this. I am just now starting to get serious about eating healthy for me and my family and sharing my findings with friends and family. When I get into something I REALLY get into something so I’m glad to hear from someone who has found a balance
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Anything can become an idol (no matter how good it seems) if it takes precedence over the Lord in your daily life.
Thank you so much for this post! This is something that has also been a weight on my heart as well.
Well stated! It is unfortunate that we live in a society in which we are forced to make these choices between “bad and good health” – between God’s created design and mankind’s corrupted by-products.
We have found in our family that it is a delicate matter, among Christians in particular, as to how one eats or adheres to a healthy lifestyle. It seems daily we have conversations with fellow Christians explaining our rationale for healthy living (stewardship) and our continual prayer is that we always maintain an heart of love, seasoned with grace and understanding of each persons individual circumstances and experiences. We definitely don’t ever want our healthy passions to be offensive to the church body, however, I do believe there is a tremendous ministry opportunity here.
Rich Smith
http://www.onebodyforchrist.com
Right on! Praise God for your heart in reminding us to not make healthy living an idol. Have you read IDOLS OF THE HEART by Elyse Fitzpatrick. It’s an excellent read, which I highly recommend. Thank you so much for this great article. I plan to post to my FB page! God bless you!
You have validated some thoughts that I have had, but I have never seen anyone articulate it as you have. Thank you! I have health issues which have lead me to a more natural wholefood livestyle, but I have concluded that the Lord is the one who holds life and death. We can even be gulity of embracing this way of living out of fear. There is a dear saint which passed away a few weeks ago who truly loved the Lord and sought wholeheartedly to serve Him and love Him with all her heary mind soul and strength. When she became ill many we surprised because she was so health conscience and so forth. I think that perpahs God was ready to have her with Him. There are not guarantees for a long life here on this earth, we are only passing through. Bless you.
WOW!!! Timely!!
Thanks!!
I found your link while reading at heavenly homemakers site and was so intriqued by it that I began to read some old posts. So many similarities in my own home life. I have to say that I have been challenged from this article. The Lord has been dealing with my heart in some of the same ways and yet here is an article written to give me so much more clarity. I am sure that I have alienated people because of the way that I live. God help me. I want to serve and reach out and help, but sometimes it may be seen in a different way. I have 7 children and we often eat at church and I will make them skip the sweets and only drink water, etc… So, I am battling thru what I really should and shouldn’t do with them in regard to eating out publicly with others. It is probably true that many are afraid to have us over to eat. Well, one of those being the fact that we are nine bellies to fill, but the other is simply not knowing what to feed us. I am sure that I have made many feel inadaquate. I am a stay at home, homeschooling, grinding your own wheat, organic eating, natural living mom. So many of our church goers are not. I don’t feel like any of this is bad in and of itself. I strongly desire to fulfill these roles in the quest for giving my family the best that I can in God’s strength, but how do I relate better with those who do not fall into these roles? So, thank you for great insight and for your quest to ultimately obey and glorify the Father.
Wow! Excellent post! Good points to think about. Thank-you for sharing this!
Thank you for this post – what a challenge and warning that we are always to guard our hearts.
=)
Gosh, I would say that healthy and natural living can (and does, too often) become an idol.
My other thought is that I’m sure people in third world countries would love to be having this conversation. I realize that while I strive to feed my family healthy and sustaining foods I try to keep in mind our boundless blessings – and to keep it in perspective. I am able to feed my family three meals a day plus snacks. How many African mother’s can say that?
And, honestly, if I would have received an invite to the baby shower in question I would have responded with a “no, thanks”.
I can’t afford organic food. I hate having to buy non-organic pasteurized milk and non-organic caged eggs. My husband offered to let me buy these things organic for myself and for our son. I prayed to Jesus’s mother to provide these things for us (what mother doesn’t want the best for her children? The mother of our Lord always provides me with what I need). A lady at Church suddenly offered me raw goat milk and eggs for free from her little farm. She told me once the weather heated up the animals would stop producing. It has been unbearably hot here and yet her goats and chickens are producing more then ever. She says our prayers are blessing her farm but I think God is rewarding her generosity. She gives eggs and milk to as many families as she can and she refuses any form of payment.
I enjoyed this article. God is the best nourishment for our body and souls. Our relationship with Him is more important than anything else. We may spend our whole life healthy and well nourished but what does it matter if we have neglected our relationship with Our Lord.
My neighbor buys all conventional produce and another neighbor buys all organic. (We buy a some of both because I do have fear for the effect of it on my body when I bless my food). There has been a falling out between the two of them when the organic mother approached the conventional mother explaining that she didn’t want her daughter eating ‘that’ food. I tell my daughter that relationships are more important than the food we eat.
But I have to say that although I understand your point, the fact that you used the example of others in your church sort of takes away the importance of you explaining that these are things that God is working on in *your* heart. It sounds judging to me.
If you agree that God speaks to each of us on a personal level than you may not know what the couple who wanted to begin tithing again was praying about or had been praying about. And I have not always been called to give 10%. Personally, I think if people stick to the 10% they more often than not are doing it out of habit or for the idea that they will ‘receive more’ like some of the previous commentors implied.
Also, agriculture didn’t exist in the Bible like it does today. We have a completely different world that we live in and there is not instruction manual. Only individual prayer. And the Lord has different things for each of us because He is creative and imaginative.
I do agree that all things have the potential to become an idol, even our husbands. I would just be careful to not use others’ relationships with the Lord or their faults in your writings to speak about being godly because it lessens the value of what you are sharing.
Such a very convicting topic. It has certainly made me think. I can be very critical of others who do not think the way I do. Also, I have probably been worrying about how to pay for it and have my husband like it too much instead of resting in the Lord. We have a special needs son who has some food allergies and sensitivities. I feel that if I could cook the perfect way then a lot of his problems would go away. So I worry away instead of remembering to seek God’s kingdom first and then resting in the promist that “all these other things shall be added”. Thanks again for sharing your heart.
I find this so facinating and refreshing! While I don’t believe there is anything wrong with going “all natural”(it definitely has it’s benefits!), I know too many people who take it to such an extreme! I know someone whose husband works long hours and they don’t have any money because she spends it all on organic health foods(many of which are not the greatest anyway). That is not a good way for her to spend her husbands hard earned money! Also, her husband and children really dislike the food they eat in their house. She even tries to dictate what her husband eats outside of the home!
My oldest sister(married, with kids)is also very into this as well. She does not take it to such an extreme, in fact, she is very sensible about it, however, she tends to be very judgmental of those who are not into it as she is. She is very critical of those who don’t agree with her, which is just as wrong.
As yet, I am not into it myself, but then, I am still a highschool student (homeschooled) living with my family, so, I eat and cook what my mom buys! Who knows what my opinion will be on the subject by the time I have my own home and family!
So much, we tend to take a good thing to an extreme until it is no longer good, instead it can be blocking out our need for God in our lives.
Anyway, thanks for some interesting thoughts! I just found your blog today and have not had time to see much else, but I do enjoy your good and balanced views. =]
I love this post, and I posted about something very similar a couple of weeks ago. How we can fill our “holes” with false idols such as alcohol,drugs,sex or even putting ourselves on a higher plain for our life choices. It is all about how we choose to pave over these holes in healthier non-judgemental ways that matter. That may be by cultivating new relationships, taking care of current ones, and remaining in the present…for it is the ultimate gift. The here and NOW.
Love Love Love this blog…so great!
Blessings,
Mandy
A friend on Facebook linked this post-I found it thought provoking and refreshing. Another Facebook friend had once posted after lunching at a friends that she and her son had been offered a sandwich on white bread and cheetos-and she couldn’t believe people actually ate that way. Ouch. Eating organic and playing with only wooden toys is not holiness, and the lack of grace toward each other over lifestyle neither glorifies God or helps our sisters as wives and moms.
Amen! My goodness… one lunch… how horrifying.
What IF God didn’t give us grace? What IF God didn’t fee like dying on the cross for us? God gave us grace, so we should extend it likewise, w/o judgment.
This is a truly thought provoking blog. I believe we need to consider all things that we do of great importance and service onto God. Food is a vital part of our lives. I do not put down people who don’t eat healthily, but in the parable three servants were given talents and the lazy one did not do anything with his one talent. When the master came back he was angry with him and that servant would not be trusted with anything else. A lot of people must be encouraged to be more zealous for the Lord. If we do it in love they wont be offended.
I have a very frugal husband who does not appreciate organic food yet I managed to save up to feed the chidlren best quality products when possible. I believe I affect others around me and it could be done! Balance is the key whatever we do. My family is much healthier and I have the energy to look after all the chidlren that the Lord has given us with more energy and desire. We also show hospitality often and it is possible to budget for better more natural products.
People in general, especially Christians should be encouraged to do their best for the Lord. Yes, He did number our days – we can be sick and ineffective or give Him much more. I possibly could not give much when I was animic (constantly tired). The Lord works with the people individually, so time given they will realise what they are doing wrong. We all need a bit more GRACE!
A friend just told me about your blog today and I found this article very timely.
Thank you.
Another great chapter to look at is Acts 17.
Thanks so much, this is something God has been drawing my heart to as well over the last while.
I totally agree with what you posted. I have seen this carried out very subtly and also to the utmost extremes(natural living,eating healthy etc.). Idolatry is far more sneakier in America than just statues and foriegn “gods”. Keep up the good work. Just thought I would share something that I learned about people who are causght up in idolatry…. They are really good at making excuses. And an excuse is a well planned lie. So i guess they are caught up in lying too. Well, my advice to those is…. Repent. That is what I did when I was caught up in all kinds of idolatry and my life has been better for it. God bless.
I had a natural living friend chastise me recently for allowing my inlaws (who care for my children while I work) to feed my children McDonalds once a week. That didn’t feel good.
I have to admit I stopped reading your blog over a year ago because it did make me feel very inadequate and less of a woman. I have to work outside the home therefore do not have the time SAHMs do to devote to such a lifestyle. However, I know there are areas I could improve in.
What lead me back here today was a comment posted on post you did almost 2 years ago regarding taking less showers. Somehow I had subscribed to the comments via email and was notified of a new one today.
I’m glad I ran into this post. It is most true that anything can become an idol and far too many Christians don’t realize it.
Trina, thank you for sharing! I apologize that you felt inadequate reading my blog. That was never my intention. My heart has always been to encourage and edify and serve woman of all seasons of life. I appreciate that you found these lessons that God has been working in my heart beneficial to you. I cannot do it all either…and that is what God has really been working lately through a season of insomnia. May God richly bless you!
Lindsay, I would have loved the encouragement provided in this wonderful post when I was a “younger” earth mama 30 years ago. Then again, home computers weren’t typically found in households either
Your writing is beautifully inspired and uplifting. Your message is timely and excellent.
Excellent points, I’ve certainly been guilty of making the you can’t have it because “it’s not food” comment. It’s always a struggle silently watching your children eat things you know are detrimental to their health at gatherings, thanks for the reminder about why this is so important.
And on the point about providing your guests, etc. with the same quality food you would want. I think it helps to think of them as extended family whom we want the best for. I try to come up with food that will make them happy and that I feel is also healthy. Sometimes a challenge, and if I can’t do it, I go with what will make them happy. For instance if you’re making dinner for someone you want then to be able to enjoy it, if that can happen in a healthy way great, but if not, be sure to put their desires into the decision.
Thank you Lindsey! Your post was very convicting and encouraging for me. I appreciate you honesty and boldness to speak up for the sake of the gospel!
It has been a struggle for me to want to “hoard” all the good food for my husband and I, but not spend our budget on others. I love hospitality and it has certainly declined on my desirable list since introducing organics to our family. This is definitely something I need to work on!
Excellent post! I am a person with type I diabetes who is food and healthy living crazy….and getting more so every single day. I spend a lot of time, energy, and money on natural living and not very much time reading my Bible, praying, or serving others.
Thanks for your convictions. You’ve given me a lot to think about.
Thank you for this post. You have managed to put into words quite a serious issue that has been largely left unsaid. Hopefully others will find their security in the Lord instead of in belonging to a “group”.
Your post completely sums up my feelings from the last few days… thank you! This was such a good reminder for me!
Linday, Thank you for this post! This very subject has always been important to me. Although I choose a more natural lifestyle than others and blog about it, I never force what I do onto others. I’ve known people to do this within the body and it only causes division and hurt, and your right feelings of inadequacy and a need to carry a burden we were never meant to carry. When I go out and fellowship, I eat WHATEVER is placed in front of me and give my children the free reign to do so as well. Organic or not, local or not, we eat and we fellowship as I truly believe that only Christ knows the number of my days and nothing I do for myself will change that. What a great reflection and I am definitely going to share this!
Thank you so much for posting such a challenging note to us all. I appreciate it on many levels. I have been given much to consider and pray about. Thank you! I am actually quite speechless, but feel relieved that you have said what I feel so much of the time.
i have been following your blog for a little while now, but this is the first time i have felt so moved to comment – THANK YOU for this post!
i truly appreciate your honesty in writing this post. you have a gift for writing in a way that encourages self-examination in the reader.
from your examples and explanations, it is clear to me that i need to check myself some idols that i have been harboring for a long time.
thank you for being such a resource.
Thank you for this excellent post. Today is the first time visiting your blog, but I will definitely be back. I whole-heartedly agree with what you posted and the follow up comments from your followers. There is a balance to everything. I love how Kitchen Stewardship approaches this delimma, as well. I want God’s best for my family. We are in desparate need of an overhaul in our attempt at healthy living. However, the time and resources are limited, so balance is a neccessity. Thanks for your generous encouragement.
Hi, this is my first time visiting your blog. I found this post linked from Catholic Mommy Brain, which I found from Kitchen Stewardship. Anyway, you very clearly and eloquently described a question that has been on my mind for the last couple of weeks. I’m glad I’m not the only one thinking about this, and that you’re sharing these thoughts with others. I know it can be hard to share something so personal and not sound like you’re pointing the finger. I think you did it perfectly! Also, I love finding women who weave natural living into their Christian lifestyle so well. I will be back!!
Yes it can become an idol, (and is very detrimental to the promotion of a healthy lifestyle), me being on the not so healthy end knowing people who I always thought were a bit condescending in their “green” cosmos, I am happy to say I have grown up and realized that everyone is at risk for creating idols of many kinds, including myself. And since then have started making decisions for a better way of life, including forgiveness and patience
Thanks for a great post. I received a Christmas card this year with the following line: May we all stand before the Father in glory some day…worn out and looking a mess from all the work we have done on this earth. And hear Him say “Well Done!” What a great way to look at life! Your post has the same sweet spirit… May you hear him say “Well Done!”
Thank you for this post, Lindsay. I am realizing my fault of not always offering the best to my guests and my “preaching” to others about the natural and organic lifestyle. I think sometimes we can come off as self-righteous, which we should not be. Raises some great questions to think about. Thanks again!
I have stumbled upon your blog through a friend of mine who follows you. I have really enjoyed your posts and suggestions to healthy living. As a missionary of sorts with a family of 6 (four kiddos ages 2 to 10), I long to be able to eat more naturally and more healthy. There was a period of time recently when we had a steady paycheck and I was able to do more of what I’m longing to do. But within the last few weeks, we are back to waiting on God for the next day! For a couple days, I was really wrestling with God about not being able to eat healthy (as we are down to eating what we can simply afford). But He gently reassured me that he knows my heart and that He can take care of us, even if we are eating rice and beans for the rest of our lives! All that to say, your post was incredibly encouraging as most blogs I read on healthy living leave me feeling very inadequate, and missing the mark if I can’t be eating healthy, budgeting it all precisely and getting it right! I appreciate your honesty and how you allow the Lord to work through your struggles transparently. It ministers to many! Thank you. Blessings in your family and your journey.
emie
Wow, that is great. I am re-evaluating many things right now. I really appreciate this writing. I wish I could adaquatly express my gratitude for your time to this website. Thankyou so much.
Painful for me to read because it is so convicting…especially the avoiding hospitality aspect. Ouch. Money is very tight and I most certainly keep the “best” for my family alone. Thank you for sharing this.
Thank you for this post, Lindsey. I really appreciated it, and it has really given me pause to think over the last week or so.
As Christians in this world this is certainly the topic of our day, along with a few others I won’t mention.
Lindsay, thanks for pointing us to Romans 14…very clearly addresses the subject matter. As I have journeyed through this issue the last several years, it has been a struggle to speak and act in a gracious way towards those who (I think) need to hear and accept and live in this way. I have decided that “being convinced in your own mind” is the best advise. I began the natural/whole food lifestyle with one product….peanut butter. There was a steady and slow progression over years of “being convinced in my own mind” with studying and learning, changing, and then giving that grace to others. I also watched my mother die from a preventable cancer of the breast and became convinced that it was environmentally caused.
I do not believe that giving large amounts of time to this is necessarily a bad thing….it’s what I do as a stay at home mom, part of my job description you might say. My husband doesn’t feel guilty for focusing on his job 8-10 hours a day….it’s what he’s supposed to do.
For those who have commented about the high cost of eating organically. It doesn’t have to be that way. We don’t spend much more than we did before….and I have adolescent boys!
There are many ways to significantly reduce costs in this area. Food co-ops and buying clubs (United Natural Foods and Assure Standard) are increasing in number, damaged/surplus freight stores are starting to offer organics. There are many online sources as well (Amazon), not to mention Wal-Mart *gasp* and Target. As a stay-at-home mom I have determined that I bring economic value to my family in the area of food, not to mention reduced doctor visits…but that requires a sacrifice of time. Time to shop at different stores searching high and low and time to make whole meals from scratch. Now, we haven’t had our last meal at McDonald’s and we haven’t eaten our last doughnut or drank our last coke, but I do know we can’t live that way day in and day out. Balance and consistency go hand in hand.