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Black Church News in Virginia

Part Two: Daniel’s Experience: Physical Habits And Spiritual Health

In the Book of Daniel, Daniel refused to follow the unhealthy diet of food and drink that was ordered by his captors.

What if Daniel and his companions had made a compromise with those heathen officers, and had yielded to the pressure of the occasion by eating and drinking as was the Babylonians? That single instance of departure from principle would have weakened their sense of right and their abhorrence of wrong. Indulgence of appetite would have involved the sacrifice of right and their abhorrence of wrong. Indulgence of appetite would have involved the sacrifice of physical vigor, clearness of intellect, and spiritual power. One wrong step would probably have been severed, they would have been swept away by temptation.

The life of Daniel is an inspired illustration of what constitutes a sanctified character. BIBLE Sanctification has to do with the whole man. It is impossible for any to enjoy the blessings of Sanctification while they are selfish and with bad eating habits and over indulgence. These groan under a burden of infirmities because of wrong habits of eating and drinking which do violence to the laws of life and health. Many are enfeebling their digestive organs by indulging perverted appetites. The power of the human constitution to resist the abuse put upon it is wonderful; but persistence in wrong habits in excessive eating and drinking will enfeeble every function of the body. Let these feeble ones consider what they might have been had they lived temperately and promoted health instead of abusing it.

In the gratification of perverted appetite and passion, even professed Christians cripple nature in her work and lessen, physical, mental, and moral power. Some who are doing this, claim to be sanctified to “YAWUWAH” the Capital GOD; but such claim is without foundation.

We should consider the works of the apostle Paul, in which he appeals to his brethren, by the mercies of “YAWUWAH” the Capital GOD, to present their bodies “a living sacrifice, Holy, acceptable unto GOD.” Sanctification is not merely a theory, an emotion, or a form of words, but a living, active principle entering into the everyday life.

It requires that our habits of eating, drinking, and dressing be such as to secure the preservation of physical, mental, and moral health, that we may present to our Heavenly FATHER our bodies – not an offering corrupted by wrong habits but “a living sacrifice, Holy, acceptable unto “YAWUWAH” the Capital GOD.” Romans 12:1.

Let none who profess godliness regard with indifference the health of the body, and flatter themselves that intemperance is no SIN and will not affect their spirituality. A close sympathy exists between the physical and the moral nature. The standard of virtue is elevated or degraded by the physical habits.

Excessive eating of the best food will produce a morbid condition of the moral nature. The standard of virtue is elevated or degraded by the physical habits. Excessive eating of the best of food will produce a morbid condition of the moral feelings. And if the food is not the most healthful, the effects will be still more injurious.

A habit which does not promote healthful action in the human system degrades the higher and nobler faculties. Wrong habits of eating and drinking lead to errors in thoughts and action. Indulgence of appetite strengthens the animal propensities, giving them the ascendancy over the mental and spiritual powers.

There are many among professed Christians today who would decide that Daniel was too particular and would pronounce him narrow and bigoted. They consider the matter of eating and drinking of too little consequence to require such a decided stand – one involving the probable sacrifice of every earthly advantage. But those who reason thus will find in the day of judgment that they turned from “YAWUWAH” the Capital GOD’s expressed requirements and set up their own opinion as a standard of right and wrong.

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They will find that what seemed to them unimportant was not so regarded of right and wrong. They will find that what seemed to them unimportant was not so regarded of “YAWUWAH” the Capital GOD. HIS requirements should be sacredly obeyed. Those who accept and obey one of HIS precepts because it is convenient to do so, while they reject another because its observance would require a sacrifice, lower the standard of right, and by their example lead others to lightly regard the Holy Law of “YAWUWAH” the Capital GOD. “Thus said “YAWUWAH” the Capital GOD” is to be our rule in all things.

“Whether therefore ye eat or drink or whatsoever ye do, do all to the Glory of “YAWUWAH” the Capital GOD.” 1 Corinthians 10:31

By Dr. Vivian Anderson
Special to the Guide

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