Program 266
The Skinny on Diet

Passages in the New Testament used to justify violating Yahuwah’s dietary laws, when read in context are not speaking about diet at all!

Welcome to WLC Radio, a subsidiary of World’s Last Chance Ministries, an online ministry dedicated to learning how to live in constant readiness for the Savior's return.

For two thousand years, believers of every generation have longed to be the last generation. Contrary to popular belief, though, Christ did not give believers “signs of the times” to watch for. Instead, he repeatedly warned that his coming would take even the faithful by surprise. Yahushua urgently warned believers to be ready because, he said, “The Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” [Matthew 24:44] 

WLC Radio: Teaching minds and preparing hearts for Christ's sudden return.

* * *Part 1: (Miles & Dave)

Miles Robey: Adam and Eve fell because of disobedience … and we’ve been dealing with the fall-out ever since.

So, it’s more than a little ironic that so many Christians today look for ways to “explain away” their continued disobedience. The most common way this is done is by trying to claim that the law has been “done away with,” but when you realize that, if the law could have been changed or done away with, Christ wouldn’t have needed to die, that argument loses weight.

But if you haven’t joined us before, my name is Miles Robey and this is World’s Last Chance Radio where we cover a variety of topics related to Scripture, prophecy, practical piety, Biblical beliefs, and living in constant readiness for the Savior’s unexpected return, whenever that might be. One of the most common areas that modern believers flout the divine law is in the area of diet.

There are a couple of passages of Scripture that modern Christians point to as proof that the Old Testament’s dietary laws are no longer binding. Today, Dave Wright is going to lead us in a study of those passages so we can know for sure just what’s being said and whether or not believers are free to eat unclean meat.

Later, during our Daily Mailbag segment, Dave will be discussing the problem of shame and grief. They often go hand-in-hand, and it can be really difficult to know how to deal with those emotions when you find yourself trapped in a downward spiral. Then, Jane Lamb has a promise for anyone who has a friend or a loved one that isn’t a believer.

Dave?

Dave Wright: Thanks, Miles. The divine law is very easy to keep when it comes to murder. The vast majority of people have no desire to kill someone else, so there’s no problem keeping that law.

But it’s another matter if what the law is commanding is something we don’t want to do. Something we find inconvenient.

Miles: Isn’t that human nature? The Pharisees came up with a multitude of ways that let them keep the letter of the law while breaking the spirit of it.

Dave: Sure! It’s fallen human nature. But believers have a higher calling. And if you find it annoying to honor Yahuwah’s law now, if you look for excuses that let you break the law by telling yourself the law is no longer binding, how do you expect to live in the sinless atmosphere of Yahuwah’s kingdom?

Let’s start with a passage in 1 Timothy chapter 4. Would you turn there for us, please? This is a passage often used to justify eating unclean meats: 1 Timothy 4, verses 4 and 5.

Miles: “For every creature of [Yahuwah] is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of [Yahuwah] and prayer.”

Dave: You can see why this is a popular verse for those who want bacon with their eggs in the morning.

Miles: Or that bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich!

Dave: But as we’ve learned, it’s important to get everything in context. It’s when we take things out of context, we get off; and that’s what’s happened here.

Read verses 1 to 3 so we’ve got the context for verses 4 and 5.

Miles:

Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which [Yahuwah] created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

Dave: The key to decoding verses 4 and 5 is found in verse 3 where these deceivers command believers to, quote, “abstain from foods which [Yahuwah] created to be received with thanksgiving.”

The only foods which Yahuwah created to be consumed with thanksgiving are plants and clean meats. That’s it. These are spelled out in Genesis 9, Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14. We won’t take the time to turn there, but basically, in order to be clean, an animal must both chew the cud and have a divided hoof. Cows, goats, and sheep all chew the cud and have divided hooves.

Camels chew their cud, but they don’t have a divided hoof. Pigs have a divided hoof but don’t chew cud. Uh … fish. In order to be clean, they have to have both fins and scales. And there are also explanations for insects and birds.

All of the clean meats are what Yahuwah made to be received with thanksgiving.

Miles: Was Paul talking about vegetarians? As a teen, my sister’s best friend became vegetarian. She was quite militant in insisting that everyone should quit eating meat.

Dave: It’s the same old/same old “if a little is good, more is better” mentality. If we’re to eat carefully, then we should be vegetarians. But then someone else comes along and says, “Oh, no! Being a vegetarian isn’t good enough. Yah expects us to be vegans!”

I don’t think that’s what Paul was referring to at all. We can get clarification of just what he meant by reading what he wrote to the Corinthians. Would you please turn to 1 Corinthians chapter 8 and read verses 4 to 8?

Miles:

So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but one.” For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Yahushua Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

But not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. But food does not bring us near to [Yahuwah]; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

Dave: Paul’s words in both 1 Timothy and 1 Corinthians are directed at those who were trying to work their way to salvation by being just a little more strict, just a little more conservative, than everyone else. He’s not saying everyone should adopt a vegetarian lifestyle nor is he saying that unclean meats are now acceptable to eat.

Instead, his words are directed to those who claimed that clean meats were ritually unclean if they had been offered to idols. You can see how this could create difficulty for believers. They were surrounded by pagans. If they go to the meat-sellers or the fish mongers or wherever they bought their meat and discovered that, as a matter of habit, the seller ritually offered all the meat to idols, what were they supposed to do? This is the sort of thing that creates hardship, that isn’t actually commanded by Yahuwah, but what lets us feel that we’re superior Christians.

Miles: I noticed, too, that he’s not actually talking about which foods are clean and which are unclean. He’s talking specifically about foods offered to idols. Well, that could be apples! Or bread or eggs!

Dave: Right. So, to take this out of context and claim that it’s saying all unclean meats are now permissible is to totally misapply what Paul is saying which is that no amount of ritual, no ceremony offering the food to idols, is going to make unclean what Yahuwah has declared clean.

Miles: So, in other words, it’s okay to eat meat offered to idols.

Dave: Sure! Because idols aren’t real. They have no power.

We have to remember the first-century Jewish mindset. The Jews believed that anything that came in contact with something unclean made that clean thing . . . unclean. It was part of their Pharisaical add-ons to the divine law.

Miles: Yeah. They thought if they came in contact with a gentile, they’d become unclean!

Dave: Which is why Yahuwah set them straight when He directed Peter to go to the house of the gentile captain, Cornelius.

Do you remember how He showed Peter a sheet in which were all of these unclean animals and, in vision, Peter was told to rise, kill and eat? Peter was horrified! But when he protested that he’d never eat anything that was unclean, what was Peter told? Do you remember? Acts 10 verse 15.

Miles: Uhhh … “The voice spoke to him a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that [Yahuwah] has made clean.’”

Dave: This can’t be used to prove you can have bacon with your eggs because nowhere has Yahuwah ever declared unclean animals to suddenly be clean. Furthermore, this was a lesson to prepare Peter’s heart for the messengers from Cornelius that were, at that very moment, at the gate.

Miles: I see your point about not causing deliberate hardship just to feel better about ourselves. But what about making allowances for believers who are weaker in the faith?

Dave: Paul addresses that, too. Go ahead and read verses 9 and 10 of 1 Corinthians 8.

Miles: “But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols?”

Dave: You can see how recent converts might have a struggle with eating meat that had been offered to idols. They’d been indoctrinated to believe that when they ate it, they’re eating something offered to an idol and they might take it still further and assume that, if you’re eating food offered to idols, it’s because you might believe in the other gods that are represented by the idols. This is what he’s talking about when he says they might be “emboldened.”

It was a slippery slope Paul was cautioning against. Keep reading: verses 11 to 13.

Miles: “And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.”

Dave: He’s not saying you can’t ever eat meat sacrificed to idols. What he’s urging is compassion, consideration for those weaker in the faith. If they stumble over seeing you eat food sacrificed to idols, if—worse—they become “emboldened” by your example and think these other gods are real, then the solution is simple: just don’t eat it when around them!

That’s not being two-faced. That’s showing compassion for those weaker in the faith. He develops this train of thought more in chapter 10. Turn there and read verses 23 through 29.

Miles:

All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being.

Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience’ sake; for “the earth is Yahuwah’s, and all its fullness.”

If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience’ sake. But if anyone says to you, “This was offered to idols,” do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake; for “the earth is Yahuwah’s, and all its fullness.” 

“Conscience,” I say, not your own, but that of the other.

Dave: Paul’s simply offering practical advice here. When you’re shopping, don’t ask if it’s been offered to idols! If you’re a guest in someone’s home, eat what they offer.

However, if they should volunteer that the food being offered has been sacrificed to idols, politely decline so that they don’t read into it something that isn’t true.

Miles: I noticed that, in all of this, he’s not referring to unclean meat but, like you pointed out before, he’s still talking about meat offered to idols.

Dave: So, to extrapolate from that and say, “Oh, goodie. Now I can have that bacon cheeseburger from my favorite fast-food joint” is to completely ignore what Paul is actually saying here. He’s not talking about unclean foods at all! He’s speaking of foods offered to idols and how to handle that situation.

This same holds true back in 1 Timothy. Why don’t you read that again for us? 1 Timothy 4 verses 4 and 5. And remember the context. He’s saying that some people will come claiming that foods Yahuwah created to be received with thanksgiving should not be eaten.

Okay. Verses 4 and 5.

Miles: “For every creature of [Yahuwah] is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of [Yahuwah] and prayer.”

Dave: Again, the “every creature” is referring to clean animals because those are the ones Yahuwah has given for our consumption. He’s not talking about shrimp and lobsters and bacon.

Miles: Okay, but … isn’t he saying that it can be sanctified by prayer?

Dave: You mean, can you still have your bacon-cheeseburger as long as you remember to say a blessing over it?

Miles laughs: Well … yeah!

Dave: Will praying over a glass of chlorine make it safe to drink? Yahuwah is our Creator. He knows what is best for our bodies and He’s given us instructions in His law what is best for us.

Read Proverbs 28 verse 9.

Miles: Oh, wow! Listen to this. It says: “If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, even their prayers are detestable.”

Dave: We can’t expect Yahuwah’s blessing when we flout His clear instructions. And that includes what we put into our bodies.

* * *

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* * *Part 2: (Miles & Dave)

Miles: So, Dave. Did you grow up following the Old Testament dietary laws?

Dave: No, actually, I didn’t. I had a mother who’d grown up during very difficult times where you ate what was available and were thankful that you had something to eat at all. My father’s favorite food was seafood. He loved prawns and crab. So, no. “Clean” and “unclean” categories of food were relegated to the thunder-and-lightening God of the Old Testament. As for the New Testament, we were under grace now! We could eat whatever we liked!

Miles: Okay, but to be fair, there is some precedence for that. We’ve looked at what Paul had to say, but didn’t Christ declare all foods clean?

Dave: Where?

Miles: It’s in Mark 7 verse 19. I’ve got it here. It says: “For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Yahushua declared all foods clean.)”

Dave: What version is that?

Miles: New International Version.

Dave: Go ahead and read it in a few more versions.

Miles: Okaaay … let me just pull it up on my monitor here …

All right. The English Standard Version says: “’since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?’ (Thus he declared all foods clean.)”

The New Revised Standard version says: “’since it enters, not the heart but the stomach, and goes out into the sewer?’ (Thus he declared all foods clean.)”

The New American Standard Bible says: “’because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?’ (Thereby He declared all foods clean.)”

Dave: All right. That’s good enough.

Do you notice anything unusual or different about those texts?

Miles: Uhhh … no? Not really.

Dave: Okay. I’d like you to read that verse in three of the oldest translations we have. Would you please pull up the Wycliffe Bible, the King James Version, and the Geneva Bible. What does it say there?

Miles: Umm. The Wycliffe says: “for it hath not entered into his heart, but into the womb, and beneath it goeth out, purging all meats.”

The King James says: “Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats,” and the Geneva Bible translates it as: “Because it entered not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught which is the purging of all meats.”

Dave: Do you notice anything now?

Miles: Yeah! Where’s the part about Yahushua declaring all foods clean?

Dave: It’s not there because it’s not there in the original Greek.

Miles: Ohhh! So that’s why, in the translations that add it, it’s there in parentheses.

Dave: Correct. The translators added it in. And, you know, I’m not going to impugn their motives. We’ll give them the benefit of the doubt and say that they were trying to clarify this text.

But what they ended up doing was obscuring it. To get the real meaning, as always, we have to read this verse in context.

So let’s go back now and start reading at verse 1.

Miles:

Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to him, having come from Jerusalem. Now when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault. For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders. When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches.

Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?”

He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:

‘This people honors Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’

For laying aside the commandment of [Yahuwah], you hold the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.” [Mark 7:1-8]

Dave: So, right here, we’ve got the context. The point under discussion is not what foods are acceptable to eat but whether or not you are “defiled” if you happen to eat without first ritually washing your hands.

Miles: It’s interesting because, right here, we’ve got a clear view into all the additional Pharisaical add-ons to the divine law.

Dave: Yes. And Christ took the opportunity to clarify. He takes it right to the heart of the matter, showing that their traditions are meaningless and that, in fact, their traditions are breaking the divine law which they’re boasting of keeping.

Keep reading. Verse 9.

Miles:

He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of [Yahuwah], that you may keep your tradition. For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban”—’ (that is, a gift to [Yahuwah]), then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, making the word of [Yahuwah] of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.” [Mark 7:9-13]

Dave: At this point in time, human nature is the fallen nature. So, the Pharisees were out for what they could get. By putting on a holy façade, they made up rules that sounded good, but which actually broke the divine law. Again, this is all context for the text many people use to try to “prove” the dietary laws were done away with.

Do you see anything at all about diet in this passage?

Miles: No.

Dave: Okay. Keep reading. He’s got more to say. Verse 14.

Miles:

When he had called all the multitude to himself, he said to them, “Hear me, everyone, and understand: There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!” [Mark 9:14-16]

Dave: Just as with Paul’s statements that eating meat sacrificed to idols does not make one ceremonially unclean, Christ here is explaining that eating without going through the ritualistic washing of hands does not make you ceremonially unclean, either.

The disciples were still a bit confused, though. This idea of ceremonial cleansing, and ceremonial defilement was so deeply engrained, they weren’t getting it, either. Keep reading.

Miles:

When he had entered a house away from the crowd, his disciples asked him concerning the parable. So he said to them, “Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated. And he said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”

Dave: This interaction is also recorded in Matthew 15. Would you turn there please and read verses 17 to 20. Yahushua is explaining what he meant to the disciples.

Miles:

Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.

Dave: Again. Absolutely nothing here about dietary guidelines. This is dealing with the “traditions of the elders,” explaining the ulterior motives the Pharisees had for setting up their false standards. These are preserved in the Talmud and the Mishnah and contain some of the most wicked perversions you can imagine.

For example, there are passages that explicitly teach Jews to take advantage of gentiles wherever and whenever they can. Other passages say that, since the law is only for the Jews, it’s not a sin to murder a Gentile.

Miles: Are you serious?!

Dave: As a heart attack. The traditions of the elders are pure abomination.

Miles: No wonder Yahushua spent his public ministry fighting against these traditions!

Dave: It throws a whole new light on Matthew 23, doesn’t it? I’ve printed off a few verses from that chapter I’d like you to read.

This is shortly before his crucifixion. It was his last recorded visit to the temple before his betrayal and he gave one last, desperate attempt to reach the sin-hardened hearts of the scribes and Pharisees.

These are just highlights from the chapter, but I want you to read them, because these are the same people he was confronting in Mark 9. Go ahead.

Miles:

Then Yahushua said to the crowds and to his disciples: “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. [Matthew 23:1-4]

Dave: So when they’re speaking on the law, yes. Listen and obey what they say. But don’t emulate their example, because their example—their course of action—is dictated by all of these extraneous traditions.

Then he addresses the Pharisees directly. Keep going to see what he says.

Miles:

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are. [Mark 9:13, 15]

Dave: Now read verses 25 and 26. This is a continuation of the same concept he was trying to teach in Mark 9.

Miles: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.” [Mark 9:25-26]

Dave: We’re talking motivation, here. What’s in the heart? We obviously all still have fallen natures. But is it in the heart to love and honor Yahuwah as He has requested we show honor to Him?

Any more?

Miles: Uh, yeah. Verses 27 and 28. It says:

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

Dave: So, with such clear denouncements, and knowing that these were the same people complaining to Christ in Mark 9, are we really going to use that as an excuse to eat what the law has strictly forbidden? He wasn’t talking about diet! He was talking about ceremonial rituals and how failing to keep the traditions of the elders would not make you ceremonially unclean.

Miles: This actually reminds me of a passage you shared a while ago. I still remember it because it was so clear. Let me find it here really quickly …

… Okay. Here it is. It’s Deuteronomy chapter 4 verses 1 and 2. It says:

Now, Israel, hear the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land Yahuwah, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of Yahuwah your God that I give you.

We’re used to reading that in Revelation, but that’s a prophecy that has largely already been fulfilled: Don’t change the words of this prophecy. Makes sense, right?

But here, Moses is saying, “Don’t add to or subtract from the law of Yahuwah I’m about to teach you!” And that’s just what the Pharisees did.

Dave: And that’s what we do when we say the law was “done away with” at the cross. It’s what we do when we take passages out of context to justify breaking the divine law.

The law is perpetual and unchanging. Yes, there are no more blood sacrifices. Those were fulfilled at the cross because they were only types—symbols—pointing forward to the Messiah who was the great anti-type.

But the dietary laws? Those were put in place well-before there was even a nation of Israel. Those were put in place clear back at the flood. So to argue that they are no longer binding is to ignore the overwhelming weight of evidence just for the sake of your taste buds.

Miles laughs: Good point!

All right. Coming up: How do you know when you’ve truly forgiven someone? How do you deal with grief and shame? Next in our Daily Mailbag.

* * *

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WLC Radio: Teaching minds and preparing hearts for Christ's sudden return.

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It’s very easy, when we stumble and fall into sin, to feel ashamed and embarrassed. Especially if this is a sin we have repeatedly struggled over, Satan can make us feel too ashamed to go to the Father. We can start to feel like we have to somehow “prove” our remorse by staying away from Yahuwah until we’ve resisted temptation a certain number of times. Even Adam and Eve in Eden hid from Yahuwah when they felt guilty!

But the fact is, we can’t get better away from Yahuwah and He knows it. He doesn’t expect us to stay away when we’ve sinned. He wants us to return to Him. He has promised that if we will return to Him, He will “heal all our backslidings.”

Program 148 shares “The Key to Victory Over Sin.” Join Miles and Dave as they study out just what is “The Key to Victory Over Sin.” You can find it on WorldsLastChance.com. Once again, that’s Program 148: “The Key to Victory Over Sin.” This is one program you won’t want to miss!

* * *Daily Mailbag (Miles & Dave)

Miles: Today’s question is coming from the country that gave the world the very first 365-day calendar.

Dave: Uhhh … Rome? Italy? I know all ancient calendars used the moon for months, but the lunar year is only 354 days long rather than the 365 of the solar year.

Miles: You’re on the right track. But it wasn’t the Romans that gave us the first 365-day calendar. That was the ancient Egyptians! They had 12 months consisting of 30 days each. Because that came to only 360 days, they intercalated an extra five days to bring the total count to 365.

Dave: The knowledge the ancients had of celestial movements is always so fascinating. So, what’s our question today?

Miles: Well, it’s one that I think a lot of us can relate to. A woman named Nour writes, quote: “My childhood home was very unhappy. My mother died when I was 7 and my stepmother was very abusive while my father was distant and uninvolved. I don’t think I’m carrying a grudge. Years ago, I made a conscious choice to forgive them, but I feel ashamed because I’m still hurt by their words and actions—or lack, thereof. It seems like I should be over it by now, but it still affects me. I feel too ashamed to talk about it with anyone. Can you help?”

Dave: Wow. Shame and grief. It’s such a lethal combination, and yet you find it everywhere! People are grieving? More often than not, they’re also going be struggling, Lure with shame.

Say you have a health scare. People are very helpful at first, but after a while, they get on with their lives and may even express frustration over the fact that you’re not back to “normal.” So, what do you do? You hide your struggles because you’re ashamed you’re still having them.

Miles: Or maybe you lose a friend or loved one. A year after their death, you’re still missing them and people are telling you that you need to “move on,” so you feel ashamed for not having gotten over it by now.

Dave: Exactly. Shame and grief are a horrible combination. Unfortunately, it’s a combo that’s all too common.

What’s ironic, though, is that shame by definition is the humiliation or pain you feel for having done something wrong. So, for example, has a parent who lost a child really done something wrong if, a year after the child’s death, he or she still isn’t “over it”?

Miles: No. No, of course not.

Dave: And yet, over and over, we harshly judge ourselves and we feel shame.

Now, let’s look at Nour’s experience. She lost her mother at a tender age. Her stepmother was abusive. Her father was disconnected. I think we can safely read into that that he didn’t protect Nour from her stepmother.

All right. That’s a lot to grieve. Is any part of it something for which she should feel shame? Has she done something wrong?

Miles: No. But that’s not what she said. I think she’s saying she feels shame for still being affected by her upbringing. She’s ashamed she’s not over her upbringing by now.

Dave: Our upbringing does impact us! We all carry baggage from childhood of some sort or another. Has Nour done something wrong—has she herself sinned in some way—because she’s still impacted by a miserable upbringing? Remember, she has forgiven them. So, is she sinning in some way?

Miles: Not that I can see.

Dave: This is where we get confused. We have a right to grieve! Yahuwah wanted to protect us from the results of sin, but we’re still living in a sinful world. We’re going to have experiences and encounters that leave wounds and even scars. Deep ones. But that’s not a sin!

Being hurt, being impacted by the consequences of sin—our own or others—long after the fact, is not a sin. It’s nothing we’ve done wrong.

Turn to Revelation 21. Let’s read verses 1 to 4, because this passage shows us that being hurt, being wounded, feeling sorrow is not the same thing as sinning. Go ahead and read that once you’ve got it.

Miles turns pages: It says …

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from [Yahuwah], prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of [Yahuwah] is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. [Yahuwah] Himself will be with them and be their God. And [Yah] will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Dave: This is clearly set in eternity future. But there are still hurts that need comforted. There are still tears to be wiped away and Yahuwah Himself shall provide that comfort. So, again, grief is not a cause for shame, although it often gets mixed up in our minds that way.

The thing we must remember is that grief isn’t the problem. Grief is normal, even healthy.

Miles: Yeah, I remember reading something that’s stuck with me. In talking about the grief experienced over the loss of a good friend, the comment was made, “It’s not supposed to be easy.” I’ve always remembered that. There’s something wrong if something really bad happens and we don’t grieve!

Dave: Exactly. The problem is when we mix shame up with our grief. Grief is an important part of the healing process but shame can keep us trapped there. And a big part of the problem is that shame is invisible. Precisely because we feel shame, we try to bury it, then we struggle on alone with these overwhelming feelings. And often, the platitudes we give each other, such as “Look on the bright side,” or “She’s in a better place,” or . . . whatever, these are all shame-based statements. They make a person feel as though they don’t have the right to grieve, and it’s that which keeps a person from moving on into healing.

Miles: That’s a good point. My brother and sister-in-law lost a baby when she was about six months pregnant. One of the most hurtful, least helpful things they were told was when my sister-in-law’s father told them, I kid you not, “Look on the bright side: You get to make another one! Cheers!”

Dave, horrified: He actually said that?

Miles: True story. He actually said that.

Dave: That’s terrible. And do you see how it denied them their right to grieve? Most people have more social awareness than to say something that bad, but there are plenty of other unhelpful, unaffirming things we tend to say that denies the person the right to grieve. Again, grief isn’t the problem. Grief is normal. It’s shame that’s the problem.

Miles: So what are we supposed to do? We find ourselves in a situation where we’re grieving, where we’re feeling ashamed, what are we supposed to do about that?

Dave: Well, understanding the definition of shame is a good first step. If you can analyze your situation and realize that you’ve done nothing for which to be ashamed—and grief is not a cause for shame—then that can help you analyze your feelings with greater clarity. It’s easy to confuse grief with shame.

I think the biggest thing though is to give yourself permission to grieve. Whether that’s the loss of a job, the loss of a friendship, the loss, in Nour’s case, of a happy, safe childhood … whatever the cause, give yourself permission to grieve. You have a right to those emotions and suppressing them is not going to heal them.

Miles: I remember you once said that Yahuwah created us to have emotions, so it’s not a sin to feel them.

Dave: It’s really not. Yahushua himself, on the cross, cried out, “My God! My God! Why have you forsaken me?” Now, how many of us, when feeling such depths of despair, would feel guilty for feeling that way?

Miles: Probably most of us.

Dave: Probably so. And yet it clearly wasn’t a sin for Yahushua to feel and express that emotion.

Again, give yourself permission to grieve. When shame comes up, don’t suppress it. Be aware of it. Analyze it. Ask yourself if you’ve truly done something wrong and if not, give yourself permission to let the shame go. As you do this, it will get easier.

You can also make a point, when you feel this way, to tell yourself: “It’s not my fault.” Say it: “It’s not my fault.” It’s important to take responsibility for when we do err, but we also have the right to reject feelings of shame that we don’t deserve.

Miles: What about therapy?

Dave: That can help, too. In recent years, different modalities have been developed to help veterans with PTSD. These same modalities have helped people struggling with other problems.

I know Christians often feel as though they shouldn’t seek help for mental health, but if our bodies can get sick, don’t you think our brains can, too? From chemical imbalances that cause depression to slipping into harmful habits of thought following trauma or loss, there is a place for getting help and we shouldn’t be ashamed of it.

Have you heard of Elisabeth Kubler-Ross?

Miles: Uhhh … yeah! Swiss-American psychiatrist, right? She published a book called On Death and Dying.

Dave: Right. She defined the five stages of grief as being denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. She applied it to people who are dying, but I believe it also applies to grief. I have a quote here from her I’d like you to read. Would you please read where it’s marked?

Miles: “The reality is that you will grieve forever. You will not ‘get over’ the loss of a loved one; you’ll learn to live with it. You will heal and you will rebuild yourself around the loss you have suffered. You will be whole again but you will never be the same. Nor should you be the same nor would you want to.”

Dave: We’re still in a world of sin and sorrow. We still have many things, many wounds, many experiences for which to grieve and we’ll continue to do so until Yahuwah Himself will wipe away all tears. But the promise is that He will. Until then, if you find yourself grieving, know that’s it’s all right to grieve. Yahuwah is not judging you for that. Be kind to yourself; give yourself permission to grieve and you will find that will be a big step in your healing journey.

Miles: All right. We’ve time for one more quick question. Sebastião from Alvorada in Brazil says, “I work long hours and don’t have a lot of time for study. I can’t sit at a computer for reading long articles or watching videos on YouTube. Does World’s Last Chance have any other options for ways to stay connected and learn the truth?”

Dave: Yes, we do. Obviously, you can always download an article to your phone to read while commuting—if you’re not driving yourself to work—but for those who live in countries where social media is available, we also have an educational group on Facebook called World’s Last Chance. We also post things on Twitter.

Now, again, I know that these platforms aren’t available in all countries, but for those that have them available, you can get quick thoughts shared that way, something to think about and, again, most people have smart phones now. You can always download something to read when you’ve got a spare minute here or there.

Miles: A lot of people find that memorizing Scripture is a great way to improve the time while commuting to and from work.

Dave: That’s good, too.

Miles: That’s all the questions we’ve time for today. If you’ve got a question, a comment … a prayer request? Feel free to send us a message. Just go to our website at WorldsLastChance.com and click on Contact Us. We always look forward to receiving your messages.

Stay tuned now for Jane Lamb with today’s Daily Promise!

* * *Daily Promise:

Hello! This is Jane Lamb with your Daily Promise from Yah’s Word!

When Yahuwah sent Samuel to the house of Jesse to anoint Israel’s next king, Samuel was impressed with how tall and handsome the first-born son, Eliab, appeared. But Eliab was not Yahuwah’s choice. In explaining why, Yahuwah gave us a very encouraging promise. First Samuel 16 verse 7 says: “Yahuwah said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For Yahuwah does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but Yahuwah looks at the heart.’”

This isn’t a verse we typically think of as a promise, but it is. Let me tell you why.

Four weeks ago, a neighbor who was also a good friend died very unexpectedly. He wasn’t that old but, while talking with his wife, he suddenly dropped dead of a heart attack. He was dead literally before he hit the floor. Less than a week later, another friend who lives across the valley also suddenly passed away. He was older and under a lot of stress but hadn’t been suffering from anything that would suggest death was imminent. Ten days later, a very good friend and young mother was murdered when armed thieves broke into their home. Now, where I live, guns are illegal to own. But clearly criminals don’t mind breaking the law. They shot her when she tried to fight off one of the intruders who was stabbing her elderly father. Then, two days ago, I got a phone call at 3 o’clock in the morning. A friend was on the phone, sobbing, telling me that his wife had just died in her sleep. She was in her 70s and not in the best of health, but again: nothing that would indicate death was imminent. She was a lovely person and very dear friend. These deaths, following so closely one after another, have rocked our community.

The friend and neighbor that unexpectedly dropped dead of a heart attack four weeks ago, was the most generous man I’ve ever known. During the pandemic, curfews and lockdowns were very strictly enforced here. Many people were out of work and out of food. Those who had cars were allowed to drive only one day a week. My friend used his day to drive to deliver food packages to needy families, with food from his own extensive gardens. In fact, the main reason he always planted such large gardens was for the express purpose of sharing with others.

The older man who died less than a week later was a very kind, soft-spoken man with a valued skill set he generously used to help others. The mother who was murdered had a cheerful, upbeat attitude that drew people to her. Her children, friends of my kids, reflect their mother’s sweet, compassionate spirit and upbeat attitude. The elderly woman who died in her sleep two nights ago had a gift for encouraging others. She could sense when someone was hurting and her words of wisdom, her spirit of compassion, strengthened many hurting hearts.

Of these four friends, only the murdered mother was a Christian. My generous neighbor? An atheist. The older friend with the valuable skill set: a Buddhist. The elderly woman with the gift for encouraging others was pagan. And yet, in their own way, each one exuded kindness, generosity, and concern for others.

Often, when a loved one dies who wasn’t a Christian, believers are left in a quagmire of grief and uncertainty. If the loved one wasn’t a Christian, does that mean we’ll never see her again? Does that mean he’s lost? Such thoughts compound the grief. If you have lost a loved one who didn’t share your beliefs, you probably know exactly what I’m talking about.

But I have good news for you! Yahuwah … reads … the heart! Some people aren’t Christians because they’ve never had the chance to learn. Others have rejected Christianity because, in good conscience, they could not accept the errors they were taught about Yahuwah, errors such as a vindictive God who punishes sinners in an ever-burning hell.

We can’t read their hearts. But Yahuwah can! The promise is: “Yahuwah does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but Yahuwah looks at the heart.”

We have been given great and precious promises. Go and start claiming!

* * *Part 3: (Miles & Dave)

Miles: You know, I have to say: one thing today’s discussion has brought home to me is the importance of looking at everything in context. You can’t just take a verse that says what you want it to say out of context and transform it into a principle to apply to other situations. It doesn’t work like that.

Dave: No, it doesn’t. And when we do that, we can get way off course. We start believing things that aren’t true, then we start committing acts that are inconsistent with Yahuwah’s will.

I’m not saying any of us will ever be perfect so long as we have fallen natures. Perfection only comes when we’re gifted with higher natures at Yahushua’s return, but that’s no excuse for willful disobedience. And it is willful disobedience when we disobey instructions that are clearly spelled out.

Miles: Very true.

Thanks for tuning in to today’s program. If you enjoyed today’s broadcast and would like to share it, it’s Program number 266, called “The Skinny on Diet.” You can find it uploaded on our website: WorldsLastChance.com. We also have many other radio programs on a huge variety of topics. So, check it out. Just click on the WLC Radio icon on our homepage.

We hope you can join us again tomorrow, and until then, remember: Yahuwah loves you . . . and He is safe to trust!

* * *

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This program and past episodes of WLC Radio are available for downloading on our website. They're great for sharing with friends and for use in Bible studies! They're also an excellent resource for those worshipping Yahuwah alone at home. To listen to previously aired programs, visit our website at WorldsLastChance.com. Click on the WLC Radio icon displayed on our homepage. 

In his teachings and parables, the Savior gave no “signs of the times” to watch for. Instead, the thrust of his message was constant … vigilance. Join us again tomorrow for another truth-filled message as we explore various topics focused on the Savior's return and how to live in constant readiness to welcome him warmly when he comes.

WLC Radio: Teaching minds and preparing hearts for Christ's sudden return.