Guest post by Jaimie of JaimieRamsey.com
My grocery cart: a source of pride
We real-foodies (no matter where we are on the “real-food spectrum”) can get pretty passionate about what we put in our grocery carts.
At least, I definitely can. I love the satisfaction of arriving in the checkout lane and surveying my cart… lots of produce. Fresh meat, no processed lunch meat. No chips. No boxed cereal. Almost no processed items, unless you count the canned tomatoes.
Then I look at the person in front of me in line. Hot dogs. Bologna. Skim milk. Margarine. Soda and juice. Frozen pizzas. Pop-tarts. Candy.
And then come the judgmental thoughts. “Her poor children, they must be so unhealthy. She’s obviously not at a healthy weight; why is she buying all this junk food? Does she know how expensive it is and how much money she could save if she made things from scratch?”
Image from Pixabay.com
Why I can’t judge
My husband is quick to gently remind me, if I ever quietly voice these thoughts to him, that I don’t know the circumstances of the person in front of me.
Maybe she doesn’t know how to cook from scratch because no one ever taught her.
Maybe she doesn’t have time because she has to work outside the home to help support her family.
Maybe she just doesn’t know enough about nutrition to know there’s a better way to eat.
Other days, the contents of my own grocery cart are a source of humility. Maybe I have a busy week ahead so I bought boxed cereal for quick breakfasts. I bought boxed mac-and-cheese because it’s a cheap, easy lunch. I have some of the same things that “the person in front of me” had.
Who am I to be judgmental? There are people with more “real food” in their refrigerators and freezers than I have. I don’t buy raw milk or pastured eggs. I don’t grind my own grain or grow all my own produce (living in an apartment, I don’t have a yard in which to have a garden). I buy the ten-pound chub of ground beef (not grass-fed) when it’s on sale. I can’t afford to buy most of my produce organic.
Image from Pixabay.com
Food is not a moral issue
I have been shown the ultimate grace in Jesus Christ and his sacrifice for you and for me. He loves us all, and forgives us all, equally–he doesn’t look at what we eat or don’t eat! Our salvation is not dependent on the contents of our refrigerator.
Our eternal destiny is not affected by what we put in our grocery cart. We are saved because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross in our place, and his resurrection from the grave. What we eat has nothing to do with that. So there’s no need to make food into a moral issue: no need for me to either be judgmental or feel judged.
As I have been shown grace, so can I show grace. As I have been loved, so I can show love.
If you’ve ever been in my position, or in that of “the person in front of me,” please don’t ever feel bad for what you eat (or don’t). Do what you can for your family–the best you can, but do it with the resources you have. Listen to the Lord who loves you, not criticism from those who think you should change the way you eat.
Have you ever had a humbling experience at the grocery store?
Jaimie Ramsey is an author, blogger, and graduate student. Her greatest passions are Jesus, marriage (especially her own!), real-food cooking and healthy living, and these passions shape her writing. She is co-author of Real Food for the Real Homemaker and blogs at JaimieRamsey.com. Connect with her on Facebook and Pinterest!
Three times the mischief
Wow isn’t it funny where our areas of judgement lie. Mine is usually what people say about their children in public and also how much people spend on food. Thank God for his forgiveness! X
Wendy VanOsdell
I become judgemental when I hear people talk about having to work, and that they wish they could stay home with their children. I have trouble with people putting such immense resources into their physical health. Neither is any of my business! I have enough trouble in my own “world” to keep me occupied forever! I do enjoy your posts, they are so encouraging and grace full.
Amy Talbott
I must admit I too am guilty of this. Both sides. I judge others who aren’t doing what I do and then condemn myself for not doing enough. I am thankful for forgiveness. It has surprised me over the years how prideful I can be.
Thank you for this gentle reminder to share grace.
Rebecca
Good article. It is so hard not to judge…. I have a harder time not judging my own friends and family because of their choices — mostly because I think they should know better. Strangers — I mainly feel sorry for them.
And then sometimes I get angry and frustrated because I know that their future medical bills will be coming out of my taxes, and I will end up having to pay for the chronic illnesses and sickness that their food choices will end up perpetuating. (In general).
But I want to teach them, and have them learn. One by one, if we explained why something is bad…. for example, fat-free milk is horrible for you. Of course most people who drink it do so because of the recommendation of their doctor or because they don’t want the added calories… so if I could encourage one friend at a time to eat full fat dairy — and enjoy it — that is good. If I can encourage another friend to start making things from scratch vs. buying processed foods, then that is great! One by one. We each can make a difference. Pretty soon those people WE helped, will help others learn.
I think that is the only way that it can be done.
Violet Persuasion
This is where I am on this issue as well. There isn’t anything wrong with sharing about caring for the Temple God commands us to care for, spurring others and ourselves on to healthful eating and living.
There’s no need or room to judge someone who isn’t caring for their Temple, either.
It’s not dependent on salvation. Caring for our bodies and keeping them helpful is a sign that we believe in and trust God, who tells us that if we love Him, we obey His commands – of which caring for the Temple is one such command. 🙂
Sharing, informing, and researching are all ways we can be love (and receive it!) for others. Thank you for being willing to love others to spur them on to caring for their Temples! 🙂
Ashley
Not everyone can make the choices you can and encouraging them to “do better” is still judgmental as you can get. Many people are struggling to survive and don’t have the time to make it from scratch. Women who claim to be Christians who care more about the food someone puts in their mouths then the relationship someone has with the father. *shakes head*
Claire
Not only that, but there is so much conflicting information about nutrition, that it is somewhat arrogant to assume that one’s personal conclusions are the ultimate truth and that others need to be helped to arrive at these same conclusions. (I’m not referring to you specifically Rebecca, just talking in general terms.) Some people swear that a zero-sugar diet is the way to go, and there is ample research to support that. Some people swear by low-carb. Others swear by vegetarian or vegan. The list goes on. If someone is drinking skim milk on the recommendation of her doctor (who also has research to support this approach), I don’t think that person should be judged as ignorant about good nutrition. I’m sure we can all agree that Fritos and Twinkies are not nutritious “foods”, but it gets grayer with other types of foods.
Laurie Rogers
Wow….convicting! I am amazed at how many of my sins are based on pride! Arrgggh! And they creep in so subtly. Thanks for shining the light!
Hydee
I agree with you for the most part. I have been on both sides of this coin and I can say we can become stumbling blocks unintentionally and without even realizing it. Also the devil will use this to ensnare people by getting us caught up in pride and judging and arguments as you’ve said. However, we still must follow what God has commanded of us and there are things the Lord has deemed unclean and an abomination to us. We are to be judged according to the light we’ve been given and if we reject that truth then we can be sure to be judged on that premise. Therefore, if you eat pork after knowing God tells us not to then you will be judged on what you eat. I did not come to this knowledge until I was 19 yrs old. I stopped eating it 99% of the time but then would have some. It wasn’t until I gave myself completely to God that He convicted me of my errors at the age of 27. I don’t desire bacon or pepperoni or shrimp like I once did. God knows its not good for me and I trust Him! Sorry this is so long. Just hope it makes sense! Please prayerfully read all of Leviticus 11 to understand what I’m saying. I’ve posted the first part for you. God bless you all!
Leviticus 11:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them,
2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These [are] the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that [are] on the earth.
3 Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, [and] cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat.
4 Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: [as] the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he [is] unclean unto you.
5 And the coney, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he [is] unclean unto you.
6 And the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he [is] unclean unto you.
7 And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he [is] unclean to you.
8 Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they [are] unclean to you.
9 These shall ye eat of all that [are] in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat.
10 And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which [is] in the waters, they [shall be] an abomination unto you:
11 They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination.
12 Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that [shall be] an abomination unto you.
Amy
Hi Hydee,
I have to respectfully disagree with you. We are not under the law now and those eating requirements were for the Levitical law. The New Testament tells us it is not what goes into a person that defiles them but what is in the heart (Matthew 15:10). Then read about Peter’s vision in Acts 10:9-16. What concerns me is your statement about “until I gave myself completely to God did I understand my errors”. Maybe you have a personal conviction about eating the unclean foods, but it sounds to me you are putting that on people as a law everyone needs to follow. You are adding to the gospel and that is dangerous. We need to live by the convictions that God puts on our hearts, but you can’t take your convictions and make them a law for all to follow. That is being a pharisee.
I’m truly sorry if this sounds harsh. I don’t mean for it to be.
We are under grace, not law. I will continue to eat my nitrate free bacon, enjoy shrimp and crab legs (when my hubby takes me out on a special date) and know when I stand before the judgement throne I am in grace, not under law.
Hydee
This is from Amazing Facts with Pastor Doug Batchelor. I think he explains Acts 10 pretty well.
Caller: Okay, my first question here is about clean and unclean meats. I’ve enjoyed your Bible study on that and I choose to eat what the Bible stated is clean meats, for the health purposes mainly. I’ve heard many different people’s opinions about it and I know there’s a lot of people that feel that biblically there is proof that we should be continuing, but I’m still confused because oftentimes when you’re addressing the Sabbath issue and people feel that when Christ, when the Bible says that the Old Covenant was done away with that you refer and say that was the Mosaic Law, Moses’ Laws, of everything, you know, keeping clean.
But in those Laws were the clean and the unclean meats, and so there is no question the body is the temple of God and that we should take care of it, I understand that, but my question is ‘Is there anything biblical to stand behind that’? Does the Bible really tell us in this day that we should or should not eat clean or unclean meats?
Pastor Doug: Well, first of all you have to—there are certain laws in the Bible that predate Moses and we know that these are eternal principles. Our listeners know that we think that the Sabbath is still part of the Ten Commandments, and one reason for that is the Sabbath predates Moses, it predates the Ten Commandments, it goes to Genesis Chapter 2—He blessed the seventh day and rested. Okay?
The same thing with the distinction between clean and unclean foods. Noah was not a Jew. Everybody listening to my voice right now is related to Noah. God told Noah to make a distinction between the clean and unclean animals when they were brought onto the ark. So this was not a Mosaic Law. It predates Moses by hundreds of years and so that’s why I say it’s safe to put that in a different category.
Because Moses, in his law, talks about these things does not mean it’s part of the Mosaic Law. Moses talks about everything. He talks about the civil law. He talks about moral law. He talks about health law. He talks about ceremonial law. I mean Moses covered everything, but the clean and unclean distinction was not original with Moses. He simply commented on it. Okay?
Caller: Was that addressed in—I don’t recall—when the Lord spoke with Noah—did He tell them when they came out of the ark that they couldn’t eat unclean?
Pastor Doug: Well, the very fact that they’re called unclean…
Caller: Oh, okay, sure.
Pastor Doug: It wasn’t that they were unclean for riding you understand, they were unclean for sacrificing and for eating, and, of course, our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Then in the New Testament, you asked for some evidence—if you go to Acts chapter 10, you know, Peter’s vision about the sheet? Three times the sheet comes down from heaven filled with unclean animals and this takes place about 35 AD, I’m guessingJesus ascended to heaven in 31 ADPeter three times says “I have never eaten anything common or unclean.”
So after following Jesus three and a half years Peter was outraged and shocked that God would ask him to eat something unclean and then he was saying “What could this mean? Surely the Lord doesn’t want me to eat unclean animals.” Then God shows Peter not to call any man common or unclean. That’s in Acts 10:28. The vision had nothing to do with food. But that vision actually proves—this is the New Testament proving that the distinction between clean and unclean was still there for the apostles.
Caller: Right.
Pastor Doug: Okay?
Caller: You’ve answered it very well. Thank you.
If you look at all of Matthew 15:1-20 you will see that Jesus is using a parable to show that eating with “unwashed hands” does not make you unclean but rather your poisened heart which comes from within that defiles you. He says nothing about making unclean foods clean. That is an assumption many have made by taking one line of scripture out of context.
Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,
2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to [his] father or [his] mother, [It is] a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;
6 And honour not his father or his mother, [he shall be free]. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.
7 [Ye] hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with [their] lips; but their heart is far from me.
9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching [for] doctrines the commandments of men.
10 And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:
11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
12 Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?
13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.
14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
15 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable.
16 And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?
17 Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?
18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
20 These are [the things] which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.
Deutoronomy 4:2 says, Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish [ought] from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.
No one should take my word as truth but instead prayerfully read the Bible and know that God does not change from the beginning to the end. If He declared certain things “abominations” (like unclean meats and necromancy) then I will stay away from it. Even if I was wrong and eating bacon, shrimp, etc were okay, I would rather err on the side of caution and stick to what Jesus ate… I’m not judging, as I’ve eaten such foods in the past. I’m simply shedding light on the subject and chucking the seeds while praying that God does the watering and tending. God bless you all!
Amy
Hi Hydee,
I don’t know if you will get this or not since a few days have past, but I still wanted to reply. I truly don’t believe us going back and forth is going to change either of our minds, but for the sake of anyone else who reads this I feel like I need to respond. I hope you hear a sweetness in my voice and not anything harsh because I do believe you love the Lord & we need to agree to disagree.
I think it comes down to we don’t share the same theology. I looked up the pastor you quoted and he is Seventh Day Adventist, I am not and don’t know much about their theology but know I don’t agree with more than one thing they believe.
He did not cover (unless I completely missed it in your response) Act 10:13 that Peter was commanded to “Rise, Eat & Kill”. Did the Lord not mean that? Was he trying to confuse Peter? No, he was telling Peter that things were changing. Was this because God changes His mind? No, it was in the plan from the very beginning. God was using this vision to show Him that He was bringing salvation to the Gentiles ( who were also considered unclean) & Peter was to accept them as he was to accept that God was telling him to rise, kill and eat what Peter knew to be unclean. Praise Him for this because this is why I can sit and type this today!
The New Testament is clear that Jesus fulfilled the law, we cannot add to it and God is only pleased with us because we are accepted into the Beloved by the shed blood on the Cross from our Great Savior and Redeemer. Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
Please read Galatians 2 because it talks about false teachers that try to bring back the burden of the law.
My husband doesn’t eat anything “unclean” because he read the Maker’s Diet and it grossed him out. :o) BUT, not because he thinks it’s sin to do so. He has a personal opinion about it. So I believe you must live by your convictions, but I don’t think it’s right to say that you are walking closer to God because you have that conviction. You will cross the line of pride once you start thinking that way. You will become like the Pharisee that pounded his chest and thanked God that he was not like so many other people. It was the one that hung His head in humility and wept over his sin that received forgiveness. Luke 18:9-14. I am not saying this is you, but I am saying when we start trusting in our works and feeling good about how we are not like other people, we become close to the Pharisee and less of the humble tax collector. Jesus cares more about what is in our hearts then what we put in our mouth.
Because He lives,
Amy
Hydee
Hi Amy. We will have to agree to disagree and you’re right-going back and forth will accomplish nothing. Thank you for responding kindly. A lot of people are cruel when disagreeing with someone. Obviously we don’t know each other, but I want you to know I do not think I’m above anyone else and I am far from perfect. I do strive to walk with God, to sit at the feet of Jesus, and to do according to the promptings of the Spirit. I don’t know everything about the Bible but I believe I can’t go wrong in doing what Jesus did. He is the best example God gave us to follow. God bless you Amy! 🙂
Tracey Renfro
I am sorry but what is wrong with you people? How is what is in anyone else’s grocery cart any of your business and to get angry because you don’t approve of what other’s eat and you want to teach them your way. Get a life, take care of yourself and your family and leave the rest of us alone.
Violet Persuasion
I think that was the whole point of the post, actually. That they recognize that they have no need to be angry, approve, etcetera, because it’s not their place to judge others.
You, on the other hand just ironically said the most judgmental thing I’ve read thus far in scrolling down: “Get a life.” Clearly having not read the post.
These women do have lives, as you do. With their own struggles, just like you do. Perhaps instead of wasting your time slamming people online who are actually recognizing their own sin struggles (and admitting them so they CAN move away from them), you should perhaps take that time to reflect on your own and maybe then you will be able to be as brave and bold as they have been admitting their struggles and working to stop them. 🙂 Peace and prayers for you.
Renee
Amen! Thank you for this word. I have tried keeping the health food “laws” and have found it impossible and very discouaging. After praying about it I have quit following certian health food websites. And I refuse to feel guilt for buying gmo foods, canola oil, etc. and not soaking my grains. It is what we can afford, what I can manage and we will thank the Lord for what he provides. I haven’t thrown out all that I have learned, but I definitely have a balance and a confidence about what i serve my family now. 🙂
Bethany
I had a very humbling experience at the grocery store this week. I wrote about it here. http://www.granolahome.com/1/post/2014/03/when-youre-being-judged.html
Pam
Thank you for recognizing that we all have different circumstances. Why must we, who call ourselves “Christian”, be so judgemental? I do not judge, but have been “judged” and have received snide comments about the contents of my shopping cart.
To the lady with the cart full of organics and non-GMO foods who criticized me just last week: Yes, maam, I realize that Cheerios aren’t “food” in your eyes, but if you read the label you will see that they have no artificial ingredients, no added sugar, and no preservatives, just like most items I buy. They are on sale for $2.50 per box, plus I have coupons for 50 cents off. It is double coupon day, so each box will be $1.50. I am buying 4 boxes to stock up while on sale. That will last us about 3-4 months. Cheerios are a heck of a lot better for us than sugar-laden donuts or muffins or frozen waffles for breakfast. And much cheaper than the list of ingredients you gave me to make homemade non-GMO organic granola instead. Those ingredients would have cost me at least $25. For “1 batch”. I’ll spend that $25 on 2 weeks worth of fresh produce instead. Not to mention, I work 2 jobs and am the sole breadwinner for my family of 5. I also am in grad school, and am active in school activities with my children. I do not have time or the money to make a batch of $25 homemade granola every other day. Getting a home cooked dinner on the table and avoiding the drive thru are challenging for me on most nights. Yes, sometimes the drive thru is cheaper than cooking. We are happy and healthy on our “horrible” diet. As always, I am doing the best I can with what I have. Thank you for your “concern” but mind your own business.
Whew. I feel better 🙂 Thanks for letting me vent and thanks for your words of inspiration!
Claire
Skim milk is a junk food?
Mothering From Scratch
{Kathy} We are constantly looking for the finite (food choices/nutrition) to replace the eternal (our relationship with God. This is just another example. In more Puritanical times it was about sex. Now it’s about food. God wants us to enjoy life period with freedom given from him regarding all things earthly. Yes, we are to be good stewards. But no, judging others is not our job!
Ginny
Thank you for this. I started off life like most Americans with very similar diets and habits and then my mom and step-dad found “the one true church” which taught them the “Biblical dietary laws” that would sanctify them because it’s “what God commands”. They weren’t taught that in those words but it’s what was strongly implied. We spent the next two decades trying our best to be cleaner and holier and more Sabbather than thou.lol. It didn’t matter either way because I couldn’t keep up appearances anymore and began getting further away from God because I couldn’t keep up with all the rules I was taught as a child to keep. It didn’t work. When I was 25 I found the real Jesus. The One who died for my sins and gave me true rest from all my works that were just getting me dirtier and puffing me up with pride.
I switched churches despite the idea that I was accepting the mark of the beast by worshiping on the wrong day. I began another journey that led me to ladies’ ministry that felt right. One thing the main teacher in this ministry does is “cart watch”. Her daughters do the same and they teach women what to eat too. I felt very bad for having neglected “my calling as a mother” in the area of diet and not watching what I was feeding my children. I began eating raw foods, dehydrating etc. Later came culturing my own foods and making homemade bread from scratch. I’ve been through so much since then- losing a child, losing my home, losing the “right” to choose what I ate. I became extremely depressed and gave up. Completely. On everything. Even after all those years of eating raw, juicing, brewing, kneading, baking I had a lot of extra weight I was carrying around. I know people always judged what they saw on my plate and in my cart. I had gotten to the point where if I complained at all about the processed chemicals my husband was buying it would lead to a fight that felt like he was on the verge of divorcing me. After everything else I’d been through I could not deal with being a single mom of 5. If you had judged what was in my cart, you would have been judging my falsely.
Thank you for realizing that you had no idea what was going on in my home or in my head.
Teaching me wouldn’t have helped anything. I already probably knew everything you did and more. What I need is a smile, some understanding and some prayer for strength. I hope you pray for all the women you’re tempted to judge by their shopping carts. They could probably use it just as much or more than I do.
Ginny
My apologies for any parts of my comments that aren’t too clear. Having five children who are constantly needing things and asking questions will do that and I find that after losing my baby boy I’m not nearly as clear as I used to be.
Anyway, just to clarify- I think I was trying to say I used to grind my own wheat to bake my bread from scratch.
The reason my husband and I would argue was because of the expense of eating the right way. Some weeks we run out of money for food so he spends the last few dollars on ramen noodles and hot dogs. He saw my sighing and complaining as an assault on his ability to provide for the family. That’s why it led to arguments. I don’t see the point of throwing away a 20 year marriage over ramen noodles and hot dogs. I think it stinks that it would come to that but it has so I just deal.
Again, thanks for bringing this up. It seems everywhere I turn I get lectured on what I eat. It’s nice to have a break because I’m beating myself up too. You’d have to get in line to join in.
Claire
I think you have a good point, Ginny. Hot dogs and Ramen noodles might not be ideal, but they are better than Twinkies, and they’re better than going to bed on an empty stomach, and they are certainly not worth hurting your husband’s pride over his ability to provide for the family. We all do the best we can. (Also, I’m so sorry about the loss of your baby boy.)
Jamie
Wow Ginny, You’ve made some great points! It’s all about Priorities. We’ve got to have our priorities in the right place. My family and myself struggle to get the “right” foods so we can heal, but how can a person heal if they’re so stressed out trying to get the “right” foods. Stress will do more damage than the “dirty” traditionally grown produce in my cart or the unforgivable BPA cans of soup. Last month I tried to get all the “right” foods only to end up having to stay at my parents house for 1 1/2 weeks because we ran out of food. I was thankful for the non-organic, grain fed chicken my mother prepared and the “dirty” mashed potatoes. They were delicious and I thank God for them. This post made me think of these scriptures.
1 Corinthians 10:27 In case one of the unbelievers invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is served to you without examining into its source because of conscientious scruples.
28 But if someone tells you, This has been offered in sacrifice to an idol, do not eat it, out of consideration for the person who informed you, and for conscience’s sake—
29 I mean for the sake of his conscience, not yours, [do not eat it]. For why should another man’s scruples apply to me and my liberty of action be determined by his conscience?
30 If I partake [of my food] with thankfulness, why am I accused and spoken evil of because of that for which I give thanks?
31 So then, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you may do, do all for the honor and glory of God.
32 Do not let yourselves be [hindrances by giving] an offense to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God [[e]do not lead others into sin by your mode of life];
33 Just as I myself strive to please [to accommodate myself to the opinions, desires, and interests of others, adapting myself to] all men in everything I do, not aiming at or considering my own profit and advantage, but that of the many in order that they may be saved.
Valerie
Not so much at the store as to later on. I once judged that mom holding up the line for WIC coupons or food stamps. Thought she was abusing the government. Never really thought she could have a story. Then one day… 38 week’s pregnant with our second child there was a bad car accident. Our baby passed. My grandfather passed. My husband and I both were left off work for six months. No savings saved and what we did have went for diapers for our other child and paid the ongoing bills to keep our electric on etc. We had no other option but to apply for assistance. I stood in the check out line getting the same looks I once gave. I deserved it! I no longer felt anger towards people like me. We all have our story and we all need a little help ssometime. My husband returned to work at six months bc we needed him too…not because he was ready or bc the doctor said he could. He ended up having to quit his job because of the physical demand to his body that his body wasn’t able to handle. Requiring him to find other work and less hours. We had to rely on assistance again then. He rode a power cart thru the grocery store and was judged and we felt underserving of the assistance but ever so restful our time of need. People make u feel that way…but they don’t know your story and probably never will. I know it definitely humbled me and opened my eyes to those in front or behind me in the store. We worked hard to get out of those situat8ns but they still do affect us and even some of the judgemental comments back then hurt to this day!!
Sherri M.s
Thank you for your post today. Sometimes, actually to be honest, pretty much all of the time I am the mom of it in front of the people who have the healthy food. I am a 35-year-old woman with two kids ages 5 and 3 and I have been on the journey to learn things about healthier eating, coupons and making wise decisions regarding food and finances for the last five years. These are things that I was not taught growing up. The only things I can recall eating growing up or hamburger helper meals, can vegetables and spaghetti. We even had a pretty big freezer that we kept a lot of frozen meals in. When I left my home to move in with my husband, we ate out a lot because we were both working all the time and the last thing I wanted to do was go home and cook. I now have some health issues that mean that I don’t always have the energy be to able cook so I go for convenient and familiar options. Through blogs like this one I am learning better ways to feed my family. Thank you for sharing your wisdom and insight.
Grammyprepper
I’ve also been on both sides of this post, and in similar circumstances as many of the posters…I used to ‘hate’ getting stuck behind those mothers with WIC, until I was in their shoes…and have much more patience with them now, realizing I don’t know their circumstances…same with foodstamps…been there, done that, and find myself in similar circumstances once again…and while my choices may not always be the healthiest, I do strive to make the best choices I can given the circumstances…my husband and grown children are amazed that I am able to create tasty and mostly healthful meals on our limited budget…The comments to this post have been very interesting, and have raised some questions for me as a ‘newbie’ Christian…
Sarah McDonald
I am one of the mom’s who buys some things I shouldn’t because I don’t know how to cook better! Whenever I meet someone who is good at cooking and baking I jump all over it and ask them to please teach me. Maybe they think I’m kidding but nothing usually comes of it! I try watching the food network to get ideas but it is like Chinese to me. I feel like I don’t have enough of a foundation to learn. Do you have any tips or resources for learning how to cook? I mean, I can make Shepherd’s Pie and Meatballs and Mashed Potatoes, but I have NO idea how to cook from scratch or even how to decide what is truly healthy.
fritz
Great article. Judgmentalism is something that we all struggle with in different situations in life. This is something that God is still working in me on daily. Great word Jaimie. Thank God for His great mercy.