Seeking Jesus, finding a dietitian

A few weeks ago, my family and I were on our way to dinner when we passed a public high school marquee that read, "be happy." A week or two before that a good friend and I attended a women's conference at a local church that was meant to address insecurities regarding body image. The seminar did not open in prayer, and while relevant Bible verses were read aloud by amazing women of God, the seminar ended with a Christian dietitian telling us how to "be healthy."

An oversimplified, feel-good message on a public school marquee does not surprise me. However, receiving a similar message from the people of God was a little off-putting. The message fell flat and both my friend and I left the seminar feeling extremely frustrated.

Seeking Jesus, finding a dietitian

I was not necessarily disappointed in the nutritional advice provided by the professional dietitian, which in and of itself is not a bad thing. Parts of this women's conference were very good including testimonies from women who have struggled with body image and have found peace and healing through scripture and Christian counseling.

But I could not help to think, "How many of these ladies came to this conference seeking Jesus, but were instead led to a . . . dietitian? Who at this seminar were baby Christians trying to make sense of a fallen world and how it relates to their newfound faith -- but rather than being directed back to the cross -- were directed to a dietitian? Who came here as a disgruntled unbeliever seeking a peace that only Jesus Christ can provide, but instead found a dietitian?"

In this lies the dilemma with modern Christianity.

We are so wrapped up in our problems and insecurities that we fail to reach others with the Gospel. Now I am in no way implying that Christians should ignore their problems. However, the way in which we deal with our troubles should look much different than how the world approaches its issues.

We, like the world, seek self gratification, a temporary fix to a long-term earthly disease known as sin. We no longer trust God, but rather take matters into our own hands to obtain the desires of our hearts. Our desires have become idols, Satan's way of distracting us from God's truth as well as our primary mission on earth, which is to proclaim the Gospel to the whole world (Mark 16:15).

And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. ~1 John 2:17. 

Biblical beauty, joy & contentment

According to God's word, true beauty and joy come from within and is a contentment with where we are and what we have right now -- in this moment -- regardless of the circumstances. They are fruits of the spirit that stem naturally from the belief in our Lord Jesus Christ's death and resurrection and the hope we have in God's future grace through the return of His son to judge the living and the dead and to collect his Church.

This means that the tribulations of this world are but temporary and should spawn a joy so abundant that it overflows into our daily lives. By faith, this joy leads us to "do." We exercise and eat healthy because we want to maintain the temple in which the Holy Spirit dwells (1 Corinthians 6:19); We know we're beautiful because scripture proclaims that we are God's handiwork and are "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:14); And "we love because because He first loved us" (John 4:19).


At the end of the day . . . 

My friend and I should've walked away with a renewed hope in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Instead, we walked away with a dietitian's business card.

The world would have sought the advice of a dietitian. A Christian renews his or her mind through meditation on God's word and prayer: "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." ~Romans 12:2