Does what you eat relate to your faith?

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Yes. I fast a couple of times a week at times, and during the year- before and during lent I restrict foods and fast, and in Advent.
 
Thanks,i read it somewhere islam is a mixture of judeo-christian pagan religion.they would not eat un halal food stuff.why should we?but anyway we Christians should pray and bless and eat as in 1 Timothy 4:4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, provided it is received with thanksgiving; 5 for it is sanctified by God’s word and by prayer.God Bless

Does any one here say Grace before meals ? or Bless their food stuff in the Name of the Father ,the Son and the Holy Spirit ?,or at least put a sigh of the Cross and then eat them .I thing we all should do it and teach the children to do so.
 
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In a word, yes!

“Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you; and as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything.” Genesis 9:3

I like to quote this passage with vegans 😂. I actually feel there’s a Christian component to being an omnivore. At least for me. I do not make animals my idols. I do not put man on the same level as animals either.

I believe God gave us this wonderful gift of the Earth, and all the animals and plants upon it. I think we have an obligation to treat those plants and animals with respect, and work the Earth with care, but ultimately these things are for us to sustain our lives, which is also a sacred gift. We are the masters of these other living beings, God placed us above them, but we should be good masters, and not kill merely for sport, or mismanage our livestock or fields through gluttony or sloth. That’s wasteful, and disrespects the gift. I have no qualms about eating any animal or plant, as long as it does not harm me (because of toxins, etc.).

Lent does come with some dietary restrictions, but it’s not really about the food, it’s about the personal sacrifice to go without, in remembrance of Christ fasting in the desert. Lent also corresponds (in the northern hemisphere, anyway) to the time of year when a lot of our livestock is bringing into the world its next generation, so I see the wisdom in letting animals do that in peace. Again, it’s about good management of our gifts, and letting nature renew itself in the same spirit of the Resurrection of Christ.

I am in preparation to start a small farm, and there is a definite religious component to my planning, and how I want to go about animal husbandry and managing the land and its resources in a sustainable way. I am very mindful of the miraculous nature of God’s gifts to us, as it relates to these activities, and I hope for it to be a very prayerful and meaningful life that brings me closer to God.
 
BornInMarch said:
i’ve actually heard that a lot of christian denominations, while not considering alcohol sinful, still discourage it’s use.
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I know the type. Even though Jesus was a party starter and turned water into wine. Generally these types (fundamentalist protestants) are scared of a lot of ‘worldly’ things, if they see their own shadow behind them their first assumption is that it’s the devil, come to tempt them.
 
I don’t eat anything of animal provenience on Wednesdays and Fridays and during fasting periods (I try to abstain from oil too but my is too thin for me to do that for long periods of time) and I don’t eat pork or anything coming from the pig (grease, salami etc). I tried to give up shellfish for the sake of the OT rules but I like it too much and it’s difficult to me.
 
Francis said:
Does any one here say Grace before meals ?
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Yes. In my family, we usually say a blessing before family meals, but not when we eat separately (though we should pray then too):
Bless us, O Lord,
and these, Thy gifts,
which we are about to receive
from Thy bounty,
Through Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
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I try to avoid gluttony, and eating pleasurable foods only in small amounts of moderation
 
I’m on a voluntary 90-day fast program right now, but it’s voluntary. God doesn’t require it, it is something extra I’m trying to do. It’s also not something I do normally as I’m not big on fasting as a penance (I’ve already nearly fainted in the shower once, and had another day when I could not get off the couch) but I’m making an exception for this.

On Fridays during Lent we are required to abstain from meat, and on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday you must abstain from meat AND fast (the Catholic rules version of a “fast” equates to pretty much how I eat on many ordinary days), so I follow the rules on those days.

On Fridays other than Lent, I try to avoid meat on Friday as a symbolic gesture. It’s not required, you’re just supposed to substitute some other penance or act of faith, if you choose to eat the meat.

In general I don’t associate my faith with a lot of dietary stuff. Maybe if I was sitting around being truly gluttonous or not thinking of those who are hungry, but I give to food banks and charities and that, and I don’t eat a lot normally. I was on the borderline for an eating disorder several decades ago when I was young, so I prefer to not associate my eating with anything emotional, which would include my faith. It just leads to problems.
 
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No meat on Fridays. We still have the Friday penance, it is not just during lent! It can be something other than no meat though.

Other than that, then fasts I go on are of a religious nature, naturally.
 
Mary888 said:
I tried to give up shellfish for the sake of the OT rules but I like it too much and it’s difficult to me.
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Are you saying you are shellfish when it comes to shellfish?
 
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Since Christ declared all foods clean, I eat based on my faith. Whatever the heck I want.

Except of course, when the Church has imposed a discipline, such as no meats on Lenten Fridays. But outside of that, everything’s fair game, until I decide I don’t like it.
 
I think in my own life I eat healthier than what I would if I weren’t Catholic since I’m mindful of my health and how the state of the body has an effect on the state of the soul and vice versa.
 
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Yes, I think one’s faith does (or should) affect every area of one’s life. At least as a goal. I realize we all fall short, I certainly do. This is not about legalism but about what you eat a vast majority of the time. Overall. Food can be both nourishing and good. I personally don’t see evidence of gluttony every time you enjoy a meal. Food should be valued and consumed as coming from God, more or less. He created the wheat fields, the apple trees, the grapes, the honey, the hops, etc. If your body is indeed a temple of the Holy Spirit, think about what you put in it. There is a way to eat in thankfulness, affirmation. Of Christ I mean. It is not just about health, though that is a key part.
 
BornInMarch said:
My mistake.

I’ve actually heard that a lot of christian denominations, while not considering alcohol sinful, still discourage it’s use. If I may ask why do you feel called to abstain? Do you do it out of fear that it would cause you to spiritually stumble, or is it to show solidarity with people whose lives are ruined by alcohol?
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I asked the Lord about it and He sent me a conviction; a conviction that I should avoid it. I believe that He spoke to me. It’s also because I see alcohol ruining lives of many people and I don’t want to be part of that.
 
I don’t like alcohol, but I sometimes drink wine when it is offered. Outside of that, I prefer lemonade, juice, water, and other non-alcoholic drinks. As for food, I am currently on a diet that I’m trying to keep 😉
 
Ok. So this may seem like a silly question…but may I eat eggs for Fridays and during Lent?
I have to eat a protein source. Because of Hypoglycemia.
 
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Better to be cautious and avoid alcohol than risk the addiction. Back then people had to drink it because water wasn’t as pure but nowadays it’s a pretty big temptation to many. Best to just stick to avoiding what you believe is causing you to stumble. GOD bless!
 
The percentage of people that get addicted to alcohol is tiny. But you are correct in your comments on water purity.
 
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