There’s something you should know about me.
I’m not an organic person. I mean, I am organic, in the true sense of the word (read: I am derived from living things). But, I’m not an organic mom (read: one who buys “organic” food, uses cloth diapers, green cleaning supplies, and won’t let anything labeled trans-fat touch her lips).
I may have just lost a chunk of my readers, but I’ll plunge ahead, assuming you are all still hanging with me and give the reasons:
1) Health isn’t my top priority. *gasp*. I know it sounds weird to write down. Maybe it’s wrong to feel this way? I’d rather spend the extra time it takes preparing uber-healthy organic food, doing something that is uber-healthy for my soul.
2) The evidence about food is always changing anyway. Low-fat used to be the sure-fire way to avoid heart disease, now it’s low-carb. What if, in a couple years, they discover that all the chemicals organic farmers aren’t putting on the food, really were needed to keep diseased food off the shelves?
3) For me, food isn’t moral, it’s fuel. I eat food so that I can walk around during the day. I don’t eat food so that I can achieve perfect health. (Similarly, I don’t think the earth is “moral.“)
4) It’s expensive. I think it should be named “big organic,” the same way people say, “big oil.”
5) I don’t believe that eating organic is really going to keep me healthier. I don’t think I have that kind of control over my health. If God decides I’m getting cancer, he may use aspartame to do it, or he may use faulty genes, or he may just zap me. But, either way, when he decides it, it’s happening.
I have a friend who didn’t breast-feed her kids… on purpose. *double gasp*.
It’s not because she’s unable. It’s just a personal choice. Her three older children are believers who passionately love God and others (her youngest is only 5, so I’m not sure about him:). One time she told me, with a smile, “No, I didn’t breast-feed them, but they seem to have turned out ok.” Now, that’s somebody with her priorities straight!
So, now you know. I’m organically reluctant. Can we still be friends?
Note: I feel a strong inclination to say that, yes, we do eat a (usually) balanced diet with veggies, etc. My kids don’t drink soda-pop and eat potato chips for supper.
And for Mr. TommyD’s (my husband) sake, I should also note that he does not share my aversion to all-things organic.
So, what if sometime down the road you hear one of your kids say, “I don’t believe that not-smoking is really going to keep me healthier. I don’t think I have that kind of control over my health. If God decides I’m getting cancer, he may use tobacco to do it, or he may use faulty genes, or he may just zap me. But, either way, when he decides it, it’s happening.”
Great point! I’ll try my best to respond..
First, I don’t think the evidence for negative outcomes of eating non-organic food is conclusive, (if it exists). It certainly doesn’t compare to the evidence regarding chain smoking and lung cancer.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1282/is_17_52/ai_64752102
http://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/b/marie-claire/5223/is-organic-food-healthier-or-a-hoax/
I don’t think smoking is necessarily a sin. *triple gasp*. When I think of sin, I think of the filthiness of my heart and the things it does to rob glory from God and selfishly hurt others. Smoking doesn’t come to mind, for me. It could be a sin (depends on the person’s heart). I can’t know that.
So if my kids decided to smoke, which I hope they don’t, I would pray for them and tell them I think it’s a bad idea. But the bigger concern would be is their heart pushing away from God. Is the smoking evidence of that? When I pray for them now, I don’t pray, “Lord, keep them from being smokers.” I pray, “Lord keep them in the shadow of your wing.”
And this is from someone who has never smoked a cigarette and is a teetotaler. What can I say?
A few points to keep in mind, if you think organic is better. Organic farmers do use pesticides. Some very similarly to conventional farmers.
http://www.alternet.org/environment/94146/is_your_organic_food_really_organic/
Also, organic food is (sometimes) genetically modified. Ever had an organic seedless grape? Or an organic bright red tomato? Those are genetic modifications.
I want to be careful not to sound like I think eating organic is wrong. I don’t. The main point I want to make is that I don’t think not eating organic is wrong. I don’t think eating one way or the other is a moral issue.
1 Cor. 8:8 “Food will not commend us to God.”
well i’m shocked…i would of definatly pegged you organic if i had been asked,lol But i’m glad to hear 🙂 I think its a load of hooeyhaw….I often mystery shop whole foods………and am shocked by the prices….to maintin our standard of menus it would cost us like 300 dollars a week there…crazy…not to mention having to go buy bread etc everyday…but i will say they have the best looking produce in town…albeit 3 more dollars a pound etc……its like everything in life…in moderation……….and don’t forget whats important….
Yes, of course there is much more data on how bad tobacco is (compared to non-organic food) but what does that matter if God wants you to get cancer?
My point is that the reason “God will do what he wants to do” is not a good basis for why you do anything. God wants us to be wise.
Now that is not to say that Organic is the way to go. I just thought it was a slightly dangerous way of thinking.
Our family, for the record, doesn’t go organic, we go more with whole foods, or natural foods. So in stead of buying organic bread, we (assuming we are living according to our goals) make our own bread with whole grains. Not too expensive and it tastes great.
And I would agree to and extend your statement: No physical act is in itself sinful. It’s all in the heart and mind.
Yes Abigail WE can still be friends! Amen!! I agree – like everything, we can go to extremes. To be organic or not to be organic is the least of my concerns – this too can become a sin. I should probably stop before I climb too high on my soapbox. All to say: Organic is not wrong nor is it right. It is a personal choice and for those that choose one way or the other – blessings on them. Just don’t try to persuade me that “Organic” coffee is any better than “non-Organic” coffee…because…it just isn’t! 🙂
I totally agree, God wants us to be wise. And it would be dangerous to think, “God’s going to do what He wants therefore I will walk into a busy street or drink gasoline. This is silly and extreme. He doesn’t want us to do anything that will bring unwarranted harm to the body.
But this view of God’s sovereignty (God will do what He wants) is incredibly freeing when it comes to the smaller (morally neutral) issues of life. It means I don’t have to be a Pharisee.
I don’t have to assign right and wrong to the way I put my robes on, or the ordering of food prep, or cleaning with bleach. Knowing that God is sovereign over my body and He will do what He pleases gives me freedom to eat a chicken that was caged and given hormones and not feel guilty or worry. That’s the practical implication for me.
In the church, I’m not overly concerned that people say, “God will do what he will,” so I’m going to wreck my body. But I am concerned that non-moral issues are raised to a form of righteousness. Pharisee-ism says that, eating organic, or whole foods, or avoiding sugar is better and “righter” and more pleasing to God than not. I don’t think God views it that way. I think He cares that “whether we eat or drink or whatever we do, we do all to the glory of God.”
This shouldn’t be a text used to promote rules about eating, but to get our minds off the eating and onto God.
I think we’re on the same page? Does this help?
I love your comparison! ‘Big organic’ to ‘big oil’. Very good.
The New Testament makes a point of the heart, not food, being the issue as you mention. It also make a strong point about money. The wise use of money message flows through the Old and New Testaments. Pastor John tells us to travel light in this world.
Therefore, spending for an expensive type of food with no proven benefit would seem to me to be a poor use of the resources given us by God. And the Bible makes a big deal of that. We are stewards of the gifts He has given us. We will be held to account.