The Two Temples
(A Christian Workbook)
Section 1: Chapter 6 – Fitly Joined Together: The Principles of
Dis-Ease
his
chapter is going to examine a very specific application of the principles set
forth in the previous two. Chapter 4 dealt with the balance between faith and
works, between belief and actions. The topic of Chapter 5 was the atmosphere we
create around ourselves due to our worldview. Understanding these two things
allows us to exploit the principle of cause-and-effect to our advantage. Christians
are in a unique position to benefit from the laws of the universe, including
the spiritual and moral laws, because theirs is the privilege of knowing the
Creator who set those very laws in place. The Messiah taught His disciples an
important truth while speaking with the Father in Prayer. He said, “And this is
life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Yahshua the
Messiah, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3)
It is
knowledge of the Father and Son that brings us into harmony with Agape,
that pure, selfless love that is the foundation of the very universe. “Beloved,
let us love [have Agape for] one another: for Agape is of Yah; and every one
that loveth is born of Yah, and knoweth Yah. He that loveth not knoweth not
Yah; for Yah is Agape.” (1 John 4:7, 8; 2:10) We have seen from the last
chapter that “perfect Agape casteth out fear,” (1 John 4:18) thus the cure for
a state of fear is to accept the security and love of Christ.
There
is a broader application to this also, for fear is but one of the
manifestations of the state of dis-ease. Physical diseases, whether caused by
pathogens, incited by environmental conditions, or developed due to a lack of
some nutrient, are manifestations in the material world of a violated principle
in the vast majority of cases. This may be taken too far; the idea is not to
lay blame on the patient so much as to see if we can find out how the disease
may have been avoided, and how it may be prevented from recurring in the
future.
Transgression,
a violation of Agape, leads to suffering. Direct transgression does not always
lead to direct suffering, of course, and when the disciples asked whether an
afflicted individual was suffering due to his own sins or those of his parents,
the Savior replied, “Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that
the works of God should be made manifest in him.” (John 9:3) We also know that
the wicked and intemperate may appear to flourish for a time. (Psalm 94:3) We
may not always readily see the reasons for our immediate suffering, (Job 6:2 – 4)
but we may be certain that the reasons diseases exist in the first place is
because pain, sickness and death entered into our human experience through sin.
We are
assured in the Scriptures, “As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying,
so the curse causeless shall not come.” (Proverbs 26:2) We are also promised,
“If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of Yahweh thy Almighty, and wilt
do that which is right in His sight, and wilt give ear to His commandments, and
keep all His statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I
have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am Yahweh that healeth thee.” (Exodus
15:26)
This is
a very important teaching, and reveals clearly the purposes of the Creator toward
His helpless creatures. “‘I know the thoughts that I think toward you,’ saith
Yahweh, ‘thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected
[hoped-for] end.’” (Jeremiah 29:11) The reason Exodus 15:26 mentions the
commandments and statutes is not because God will be “pleased” with our
obedience and reward us with health and prosperity in a legalistic fashion, but
because – as we read in a prior chapter – the commandments and statutes
themselves were given because we benefit automatically by applying them.
(Deuteronomy 5:29) It should be noted that the phrase “diligently hearken” does
not mean merely to “listen closely.” In the language of Moses’ audience, the
word “hearken” meant to regard, to consent, to obey. He tells us, “I am Yahweh
that healeth thee,” revealing His desire that we should be well, the organs and
systems of our bodies “fitly joined together,” through His principles, as He
tells us later on in no uncertain terms by the pen of His messenger: “Beloved,
I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy
soul prospereth.” (3 John 1:2)
His
thoughts toward us have not changed in the thousands of years between the
authorship of Deuteronomy and 3 John. They will never change; His desire for us
is that we should be healthy and whole (whole stones for His altar –
Deuteronomy 27:6) in both body and spirit. In order to accomplish this, He uses
not miracles primarily, not faith-healers or bronze snakes, but simple rules
around which our bodies were designed to allow us to make the best use of these
marvelous vessels in which we live.
In
diet, we know that Yah gave His people laws of food. This was not merely to
test their loyalty, but because certain foods are not the most healthy for our
systems. The Cross of Christ did not change our bodies, nor did it alter the
chemical and biological properties of the flesh of certain animals. What was
good and healthy for an Israelite 4000 years ago is, in general, healthy for a
human being today. Paul makes a statement, often raised to give evidence for
the position that the food laws were dissolved by the Redeemer’s ministry, that
goes as follows: “I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Yahshua, that there is
nothing unclean of itself:” (Romans 14:14a)
What is
not often noted is that in Paul’s discourse about food, it is never the nature
of the meal itself under examination, but the matter of ceremonial uncleanness.
This is precisely the issue being discussed between Christ and the Pharisees
when He said, “There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can
defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile
the man. Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into
the man, it cannot defile him?” (Mark 7:15, 18)
In
Mark, the question was about whether or not a Jew could be defiled if he did
not “wash” in a ceremonial way. (Mark 7:5) In Romans (and the identical
argument made to the Corinthians), the food was considered defiled by some
because it had been offered to idols, (1 Corinthians 8:4) not because it had
been cut out of a pig or a lion. Long after Christ’s death, Peter continued to
refuse to eat meats that were unclean, (Acts 10:14) and of course the vision
shown to him was a lesson that he should not treat non-Israelites the same way
as unclean foods, not that Yah has in fact made all food healthy for
consumption. (Acts 10:28, 34, 35) No such understanding was ever received by
the disciples from the Messiah’s words or example. In fact, in prophetic vision
Isaiah tells us that even in the very last days those who did not trust Yah
enough to follow His principles (including those of a good diet) will be found
wanting. (Isaiah 66:17) They did not do all, including eating and drinking, for
the glory of Yahweh and the health of their bodies. (1 Corinthians 10:31, 6:19,
20)
It is
not the set of actions that is the problem, in this or any other case, but that
the relationship which would have led to righteous actions was not present.
Christ does not say to those who are ultimately lost, “Depart from me because
you worked iniquity,” but rather, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye
that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:23) There is a tremendous difference. Those who
will hear these words directed at them have worked iniquity for the same reason
they are ultimately lost… because Christ never knew them, never had an intimate
relationship with them, or else He would have led them out of the iniquity, and
into conformity with the laws of the universe and the laws of love. The
principles for a healthy body through diet, exercise, and other like elements
are a part of this harmonious whole. The idea that Yah is not concerned with
our physical health and prosperity is belied by the verse from 3 John, and the
statement, “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray
God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming
of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23) Take note, the “body” is a
part of that which is to be sanctified and preserved.
The
focus of this first section of The Two Temples is to look at our
individual body temples. We read in the prophetic books, “But they also have
erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and
the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine,
they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble
in judgment.” (Isaiah 28:7) Here is another example in which changes to the
body affect mental and spiritual processes. Wine and strong drink may have a
more immediate and dramatic effect on behavior than foods, yet any substance
which causes us to be unnaturally stimulated or sedated stands outside the
character and example of the Messiah.
On the
cross, as the Lamb of Yah was offering Himself as the ultimate Sacrifice for
sin, He was offered a drink of mildly intoxicating vinegar mixed with absinthe
or gall (Matthew 27:34), also called wine and myrrh in the parallel verse (Mark
15:23), yet He refused it. We learn the significance of His refusal from early
religious writings that point this out as a common practice. A condemned
prisoner was often given “wine containing a grain of frankincense” or some
similar concoction “in order to benumb his senses.” [Talmud Sanhedrin 43a]
The principle under which the Messiah was operating, however, was different
than that of wishing a release from pain. Each of the children of Yah is told
to offer Him his body as “a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which
is [his] reasonable service.” (Romans 12:1) Anything affecting reason would
diminish the beauty of that service, and this firstborn Son did not shrink from
leaving us the perfect example.
Some
have been surprised to learn that there were two occasions during His
crucifixion on which Christ was offered a similar drink. On the first He
refused it, which is the event referenced above. (Matthew 27:34, Mark 15:23) On
the second, however, He “received it,” (Matthew 27:48; Mark 15:36; John 19:29,
30) There is some potential for confusion here, yet reading the accounts given
shows us that at the point He accepted the drink His mission of service was
already accomplished. John writes, “After this, Yahshua knowing that all things
were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, saith, ‘I thirst.’
Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with
vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to His mouth. When Yahshua
therefore had received the vinegar, He said, ‘It is finished; and He bowed His
head, and gave up the ghost.’” (John 19:28-30)
His
saying, “I thirst,” and receiving the drink was, as John wrote, “that the
Scripture might be fulfilled,” which reads, “They gave me also gall for my
meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink,” (Psalm 69:21) The only
permissive commandment given in the Proverbs regarding intoxicating drinks is
this one: “Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto
those that be of heavy hearts. Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and
remember his misery no more.” (Proverbs 31:6,7) This is, as indicated, for
those who are “ready to perish,” and this is certainly not descriptive of
anyone in the active, living service of the Most High.
For a
more complete treatment of this matter in the Bible, the reader may see Appendix
D.
The
things we take into our bodies, though they may not make us spiritually
defiled, (Matthew 15:11) can certainly render us unfit for proper, reasonable
service. Paul writes, “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection:
lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a
castaway.” (1 Corinthians 9:27) On this earth our bodies are where we live, and
they are given to us as surely as any other talent, gift or resource, to
husband and care for as Yahweh’s own property. “For ye are bought with a price:
therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1
Corinthians 6:20) Let us not be as unprofitable servants, and show ourselves to
be poor stewards of this physical form our Master has given us, but rather let
Him say in reference to this meager shape of flesh, “Well done, good and
faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee
ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” (Matthew 25:23)
The
intelligent use of food and drink may be a large part of our contribution to
keeping the body healthy, but it is certainly not all of it. Exercise, while it
“profiteth little” compared to spiritual fitness, (1 Timothy 4:8) nevertheless
has an increasingly relevant role in the modern world. During the time of
Paul’s letters, travel was done on foot or by caravan, work was done in the
fields and not in the office buildings, and an administrator would often go out
personally to survey that over which he had charge. “Exercise” as understood
then was generally for soldiers and athletes, and not for laymen, who had no
need of it for health reasons, yet today more than ever we must apply the
principle given, to “glorify God in your body,” (1 Corinthians 6:20) in this way.
If we are told that Yah would have us in good physical health, (3 John 1:2) and
we know that a lack of exercise is detrimental to this ideal, we cannot (in
faith) neglect to ensure that our physical bodies are in good working order for
the service of the Almighty.
The
same principle applies to our water intake. The body of human beings is
composed of 70% water. If we are what we eat, as the common saying goes, how
much more are we what we drink? Medical science demonstrates that every system
of our bodies, from the circulatory to the lymphatic, depends on the abundant
presence of clean, unpolluted water in order to properly function. Water is a
near universal solvent for transporting nutrients, and the body’s cleansing
agent when removing waste. Though we may go for many days without food, we die
quickly when water is withheld.
Even
more quickly do we die when air is restricted. “Studies have shown,” according
to one advertisement for an indoor air-cleaning system, that the pollutants
indoors may be five times that which exists outside. While the commercial
intends to convince people to buy their product, which makes their indoor air
more suitable for their bodies’ use, the more logical (and less expensive)
solution is to go outside once in a while! When possible, the clean, fresh air
of the countryside should fill our lungs, and speed oxygen to our brain and our
every interconnected cell. There are few moods that cannot be lifted by a
breath of fresh air and a walk in the sunshine. Speaking of which: sunlight, we
can determine from those who have had some, promotes good health. Despite the
concerns of many due to the risk of overexposure, the pale, weak forms of those
who do not see much of it should be warning enough.
In our
previous studies, we saw in more than one place that the laws of Yah were given
for the benefit of human beings, and not for His own pleasure – except that He
is pleased as His children prosper. The Ten Commandments are no exception to
this, and we find that the laws given to us in those, determining the way in
which we express our love for the Creator, and our love for our fellow men,
truly blesses those who obey as much as those to whom the obedience is
extended. In other words, those from whom we do not steal are benefited by our obedience
to the 8th commandment, and we also are benefited by our understanding of this
characteristic of the One we serve.
The
Sabbath commandment, which instructs a day of rest in seven, is certainly a
priceless gift when it comes to our physical as well as spiritual well being.
Though we may rest on any day of the week, and some contend that any day we
choose to be our “Sabbath” is as good as the seventh, we are told that “Yahweh
made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh
day: wherefore Yahweh blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.” (Exodus 20:11)
It is the seventh day that was both blessed (made joyful) and hallowed (made
holy and set aside for special purpose). Although it cannot be wholly
understood by those who have not truly experienced the Sabbath blessing, the
seventh day IS blessed, and hallowed, (Isaiah 58:13, 14) and is the appointed
time to cease from our labors and enter into the joy of Yah. To substitute what
we believe, or what tradition teaches, or what our church leaders say, for
“Thus saith Yahweh,” is a recipe for disaster. Rest is as much an element of
health, and an antidote to disease, as any other, and rest is sanctioned in the
very commandments of the Almighty.
But
finally, our atmosphere is key to our well-being. An atmosphere of failure,
fear, rejection, selfishness, or any of the others we have examined is
destructive to our spiritual health; and it is damaging to our physical
soundness as well. The Scriptures tell us that, “A merry heart doeth good like
a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22) Again we
have this instruction from the Word, “Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear
Yahweh, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to
thy bones.” (Proverbs 3:7, 8) Furthermore, “Pleasant words are as an honeycomb,
sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.” (Proverbs 16:24)
If we
trust in Yah, and humble ourselves before Him, if we depart from evil and
maintain a cheerful spirit, even in the midst of adversity, health and
soundness of both body and mind are ours for the having. The laws that Yah has
set in place are not rules to test our loyalty, but guides to lead us into that
abundant life we were promised through both creation and redemption. Some have
objected to the idea that the principles of physical health should come under
the heading of “righteousness,” but a faith that does not lead to practical
behavior, and practical results, is not worth the infinite price the Savior
paid to grant it.
Yah
says to us that if we follow His ways, shining the light of freedom from sin
and relief from oppression before all men, “Then shall thy light break forth as
the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy
righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of Yahweh shall be thy reward.”
(Isaiah 58:8) Let His people, the very Temples of His Spirit, say, “Elohim be
merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause His face to shine upon us, that thy
way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.” (Psalm 67:1,
2)
Quotations:
Our Heavenly Father is interested in our physical well-being:
“Our bodies belong to God. He paid the price of redemption for the body as well
as the soul. . . . God is the great caretaker of the human machinery. In the
care of our bodies we must cooperate with Him. Love for God is essential for
life and health. In order to have perfect health our hearts must be filled with
hope, and love, and joy.” [God’s Amazing Grace, page 147]
“God
has pledged himself to keep this living machinery in healthful action if the
human agent will obey his laws and co-operate with God.” [Healthful Living,
page 31]
“The
words spoken to Israel are true today of those who recover health of body or
health of soul. ‘I am the Lord that healeth thee.’” [My Life Today, page
135]
Though
we may not be knowingly or directly responsible, disease always has a cause:
“Many act as if health and disease were things entirely independent of their
conduct and entirely outside their control. They do not reason from cause to
effect, and submit to feebleness and disease as a necessity. Violent attacks of
sickness they believe to be special dispensations of Providence, or the result
of some overruling, mastering power; and they resort to drugs as a cure for the
evil. But the drugs taken to cure the disease weaken the system.” [Medical
Ministry, page 296]
“In
many cases the sickness of children can be traced to errors in management.
Irregularities in eating, insufficient clothing in the chilly evening, lack of
vigorous exercise to keep the blood in healthy circulation, or lack of
abundance of air for its purification, may be the cause of the trouble. Let the
parents study to find the causes of the sickness and then remedy the wrong
conditions as soon as possible.” [The Adventist Home, page 263]
“Disease
is an effort of nature to free the system from conditions that result from a
violation of the laws of health. In case of sickness, the cause should be
ascertained, unhealthful conditions should be changed, wrong habits corrected.
Then nature is to be assisted in her effort to expel impurities and to
reestablish right conditions in the system.” [Ministry of Healing, page
127]
“The
greater number, however, suffer because of their own wrong course of action.
They disregard the principles of health by their habits of eating, drinking,
dressing, and working. Their transgression of nature’s laws produces the sure
result; and when sickness comes upon them, many do not credit their suffering
to the true cause, but murmur against God because of their afflictions. But God
is not responsible for the suffering that follows disregard of natural law.” [Ministry
of Healing, page 234]
Our
state of mind has much to do with our physical health:
“Indolence is a great evil. Men, women and youth, by dwelling upon themselves,
think they are in a much worse condition than they really are. They nurse their
ailments, and think of them, and talk of them, until their usefulness seems to
be at an end. Many have passed into the grave when they might have lived, and
ought to have lived. Their imagination was diseased. Had they resisted the
disposition to yield to infirmities and be overcome by them; had they summoned
to their aid the powers of the will, they might have lived to bless the world with
their influence.” [The Health Reformer, July 1, 1868]
“Grief,
anxiety, discontent, remorse, guilt, distrust, all tend to break down the
life-forces and to invite decay and death. . . . Courage, hope, faith, sympathy,
love, promote health and prolong life.” [Mind, Character, and Personality
Volume 2, page 458]
“Faith
is a mightier conqueror than death. If the sick can be led to fix their eyes in
faith upon the Mighty Healer, we shall see wonderful results. It will bring
life to the body and to the soul.” [Ministry of Healing, page 62]
The
restoration of unity with the natural law is of greater benefit than medical
drugs:
“By the use of poisonous drugs, many bring upon themselves lifelong illness,
and many lives are lost that might be saved by the use of natural methods of
healing. The poisons contained in many so-called remedies create habits and
appetites that mean ruin to both soul and body. Many of the popular nostrums
called patent medicines, and even some of the drugs dispensed by physicians,
act a part in laying the foundation of the liquor habit, the opium habit, the
morphine habit, that are so terrible a curse to society.” [Counsels on
Health, page 89]
“When
the abuse of health is carried so far that sickness results, the sufferer can
often do for himself what no one else can do for him. The first thing to be
done is to ascertain the true character of the sickness and then go to work
intelligently to remove the cause. If the harmonious working of the system has
become unbalanced by overwork, overeating, or other irregularities, do not
endeavor to adjust the difficulties by adding a burden of poisonous medicines.”
[The Ministry of Healing, page 235]
“Pure
air, sunlight, abstemiousness [temperance], rest, exercise, proper diet, the
use of water, trust in divine power--these are the true remedies. Every person
should have a knowledge of nature’s remedial agencies and how to apply them. It
is essential both to understand the principles involved in the treatment of the
sick and to have a practical training that will enable one rightly to use this
knowledge. The use of natural remedies requires an amount of care and effort
that many are not willing to give. Nature’s process of healing and upbuilding
is gradual, and to the impatient it seems slow. The surrender of hurtful
indulgences requires sacrifice. But in the end it will be found that nature,
untrammeled, does her work wisely and well. Those who persevere in obedience to
her laws will reap the reward in health of body and health of mind.” [Counsels
on Health, page 90]
Questions:
1) Do I believe that Yahweh is interested in my body’s prosperity as well as my
spirit’s?
2) Do I
see His desire for my health in the commandments He has given?
3) Do I
often become ill?
4) If I
do become ill, do I seek to discover why?
5) Have
I understood that my frame of mind can directly affect my health?
6) Have
I cherished a spirit of criticism, unkindness, depression, competition or
anger?
7) Do I
feel that others around me cherish such spirits?
8) Have
I, like Daniel, “purposed in [my] heart” (Dan 1:8) to honor Yah with my eating
and drinking?
9) Do I
set a good example for others while doing so?
10) Do
I rest not only my body, but also my mind, on the days of rest with which our
Father has blessed us?
11) Am
I aware of any ways by which I can improve my health?
12) Do
I trust in the Savior that He will preserve me from illness as long as I do not
invite disaster myself?
Exercise:
After contemplating and, if possible, discussing with others the above
questions, find a verse or passage of the Bible that gives a promise or an
answer for each.
