During this time of year it’s difficult to not hear bell ringers outside of stores asking you to donate your spare change.  Bins are conveniently placed in supermarkets to donate cans of food for those who are hungry.  Trucks will even show up at your door and pick up clothing to help warm people in this cold wintery season.

It would take very little effort on our part to help the disadvantaged during this season.  Shouldn’t we then take advantage of this easy way to alleviate at least some suffering in this world?  After all, “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble…” (James 1:27).  It would SEEM right to give during this time of the year, but we must not fail to take into consideration the latter part of verse 27, “…and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”

As good as donations might be in helping those who suffer, most given during this holiday season will be used to propagate pagan traditions.  We are warned about taking part in this kind of activity: “Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:  ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me’” (Matthew 15:7-8).  No matter how good giving might feel, if we are adding to the traditions of men, we will also be driving people away from God—something we must strive NOT to do!

The poor are still hungry and in need of help outside of this season, and giving our assistance shouldn’t merely be emptying our cupboards and pockets of unwanted items during the month leading to Christmas. 

Christ said we should have a giving attitude to those who demand something of us.  We should walk an extra mile or offer our shirt in addition to our coat.  Service to our brother means sacrifice of ourselves—not the superficial offerings that this season inspires.

In recent weeks there has been a salmonella scare with tomatoes in many parts of the USA. In previous months, spinach was causing health concerns because of E. coli contamination. And to date, many countries refuse to import American beef across their borders. In a recent Korean protest of imported American beef it was reported, “the online masses have taken to the streets, cursing America and demanding that their government should act to avert catastrophe.” Although the protests were caused by greatly exaggerated myths of U.S. beef, America, once a blessing and breadbasket to the world, is quickly becoming a scourge to it.

In defense of the U.S. government’s Food and Drug Administration, when health issues have arisen, measures are quickly put into place in order to remedy the problems in food supply. But with all of America’s efforts and the measures that have been instituted, America’s reputation is still being lost, and people are still getting sick.

We must in these times be extremely careful what we allow into our bodies, both physical and spiritual. God instituted food laws, not to deny us pleasure, but to keep us healthy. Likewise, He has filled the Bible with laws to keep the right spiritual food entering our bodies. But knowing what isn’t good for us to partake of for spiritual health is not something we are going to learn from immersing ourselves in this world.

In Hebrews 5:14 we read: “But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of USE have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

Knowledge of real spiritual health and what is safe to take in will only be evident to us through continued study of the Scriptures. We must become “label readers.” It’s not enough to rely on a quick glance of what we are ingesting, and assume it’s safe to take in. Only after constant and thorough inspection can we hope to filter what is entering in and building up our spiritual character.

A new field of genetics called “Epigenetics” has been gaining attention due to recent findings. These studies, according to some scientists, show a link between environment, health and habits of humans and its impact on future generations. A Washington State researcher found that toxins given to rats affected their offspring four generations later. A Swedish study looking at historical records showed that the lifespan of grandchildren was influenced by their grandparents’ access to food and climate conditions.

Mark Mehler, Professor of Neurology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, speaking on this new field of study said, “It’s another level … of explaining the biological complexity of life.” Another researcher by the name of Pembrey said, “[Epigenetics] is changing the way we think about inheritance forever.”

God said, “…For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me” (Deuteronomy 5:9).

It’s thrilling to see science prove God’s Laws, validating what we already know from the Bible. But do we allow mankind’s “wisdom” to be laid as the cornerstone of our spiritual foundations? Does man’s knowledge sometimes shake what we had faith in before?

Paul stated, “…your faith should NOT be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God” (1 Corinthians 2:5). He later says to “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and NOT according to Christ” (Colossians 2:8).

As gripping as scientific proof of God’s fundamentals might be, we are exhorted not to rely on them as our foundation of understanding. Israel, having seen the wonders of God, eventually relied on their own interpretation of Who God was and worshipped Him as a golden calf. It is essential in this Godless era, that we continually stay rooted with Him. Only then can we really explain the real purpose of life.