In the physical world we live in there are things that are natural (and all of nature shows us God’s order – it is ordered by God) and there are things which are man-made we call artificial, and not natural, like artificial sweetener.
Similarly, in the Christian life there are things which are ‘natural’ – of the nature of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and ordered and maintained by Him, and there are things which are artificial, which come from man’s fleshly nature, or his unyielded uncrucified intellect, and we sense they are artificial before God and ‘foreign bodies’ in the Kingdom, and these are ordered and maintained by man.
With a person’s body of teaching, or our own life’s work of teaching, compare it to the NT Scripture record of how the Apostles taught, and their body of teaching. There is a certain quality and characteristic to their life ministry, and whilst they weren’t parroting each other, the purpose (Kingdom) of God is what defines them, and we call their writings inspired.
Do you know what i’m saying? We don’t try to copy the Apostles nor try to write or speak as ‘inspired’ Canon, yet the same Holy Spirit which worked in them and defined their whole life and teaching should be working in us with the evidence that our body of teaching has MUCH in common with the Apostles.
As John and Peter had much in common with Paul, so also our life’s body of teaching and example should have much in common with the Apostles.
Ian Vincent 
July 26, 2009 at 12:32 pm
I get what you are saying.This is a weak anecdote, but I recently had an experience with one of my sisters. She lashed out at me for not eating totally organic foods. She basically said that I would go to hell for not eating “God’s Way”, and I was defiling His temple. Did the Holy Spirit direct her to tell me this?( She thinks so)
The Holy Spirit, as well as the Father and Son are the same as they were yesterday, and will be the same today and tomorrow. The Holy Spirit inspired Romans chapter 14 will not just go away (as my sister seems to think) just because she doesn’t like it.
It’s really easy to lead a Holy Spirit-driven life. Not to say that there won’t be a lot of problems, but His yoke is easy, and His burden is light. Some people just don’t get it.
July 29, 2009 at 3:54 am
Acts 10
July 30, 2009 at 2:30 am
Indeed, Cheryl, for one to think there is some spiritual ‘blessing’ from certain types of food is actually an artificial aspartame spirituality and a delusion.
I have a “God” reason for eating healthy food, that is that i don’t want this natural body to prematurely die bcos of my own stupidity, bcos i want to serve the LORD in this body as long as i can and be here to help my loved ones.
I acknowledge God’s wisdom in the way that He created foods for us, and i see man’s wisdom in corrupting natural food and loading it with chemicals, so that he can make a lot of money.
In the Church, that is our fellowship together, we should desire God’s order, His nutrition, His sustenance.
He nourishes THROUGH THAT WHICH EVERY JOINT SUPPLIES.
The traditional institutional evangelical church doesn’t submit to or recognize the Apostolic pattern and example, that’s why it is in the condition that it is in.
Like a man who abused his body eating junk food all the time and then is perplexed as to why he is dying early. He can’t see the connection.
July 31, 2009 at 2:14 am
Thank you for responding brother. I don’t mean to say that I don’t eat as healthy as I can, but I have to admit that not all of the foods I eat are raised by organic farmers. I raise as much as I can myself, but there are certain foods that I can’t raise. I buy them at the supermarket. I feel no guilt about that.
I eat what the Lord provides for me.
I hope you can see the connection between that and this post. I do indeed see other implications, spiritually, beside food and drink in what you were conveying. I made the food and drink implication because of the words of my sister. And I thought the situation applicable to the post.
I hope and pray Sheela is doing well. And her roommate? I have been praying for her as well. I love you folks!!
Cheryl
July 31, 2009 at 2:22 am
Thanks sister, yes, i understood that’s what you meant, just the limitations of this form of communication.
I identify with what you’re saying, we also ‘try’ to eat good food as best we can, and trust the LORD regarding whatever shortfall there is. Here, food is seasonal, there are seasons when fruit is not available, or fish not available, and when there is only a few types of vegetable available, and we know our diet lacks protein and a lot of things, but we trust the LORD and have not suffered ill health or any deficiencies.
Yes, there’s spiritual blessing and there’s God given natural blessing. A healthy diet is a God given natural blessing. But it can easily become an idol.
Thanks for praying, Sheela is doing well. We’re back home now after a 3 day drive.
Yes, my post was solely concerning the church, and nothing to do with diet, just using the analogy to hopefully show how damaging artificial order, teachings, traditions, authority and people are in the church. Modern christianity has virtually no regard for God’s order, His wisdom for His church.
August 8, 2009 at 12:50 am
As an aside I just wanted to let you all know that aspartame (artificial sweetener) gives me a severe headache. I’ve only used it a few times for “sweetening”, yet each time I got such a bad headache…
Ian, my sister Cindy has been declared cancer free for the time being. Several months back, when I asked folks to pray for her, she had a scan which showed more cancer, but another doctor recently scanned her and said that there was nothing there. Her original cancer is gone. Thank you so much for praying.
Praise God for answering our prayers for Cindy. Please keep praying for her soul.
August 8, 2009 at 1:27 am
That’s great news Cheryl.Thanks for letting us know. May she acknowledge Jesus’ mercy and love for her thru this to the softening of her heart and the saving of her soul. We will pray for her again when we meet on Sunday. Maybe some brethren who read this may also pray for her.
Btw, Sarojini is continuing to recover and is doing well.
On sweeteners, here in India there is a green leafed herb called Sweet Tulsi, part of the Basil family i believe, and it’s a natural ‘artificial’ sweetener. Sheela’s dad had diabetes and when he had a cup of tea, instead of sugar he would go out into the garden and pluck about a dozen Tulsi leaves and drop it in in the kettle when boiling the water, tastes nearly identical to sugar.