Written by: Elizabeth
Oath of God Ministries
Introduction
The Wise Steward
What About the Children?
What’s Organic
Factory Farm Meat – Drug Riddled, Few Nutrients & Brutally Cruel
How to Shop, What’s Healthful & Tasty to Eat?
Summary
In this article, which is an excerpt from “Why Doesn’t God Heal?“, we attempt to expose the harmful ingredients in processed foods and beverages, the lack of nutrients and harmful drugs in factory farm meats and poultry, as well as the abject cruelty imposed on all animals confined to a factory farm existence.
Despite the fact that the large majority of Americans have access to medical services and preventative care in the United States, we still find that “In 2012, among civilian, non-institutionalized US adults, approximately half (49.8%, 117 million) had at least 1 of 10 selected chronic conditions. More specifically, 24.3% had 1 chronic condition, 13.8% had 2 conditions, and 11.7% had 3 or more conditions (Table). Among adults with at least 1 chronic condition, more than half (approximately 60 million) had MCC (Multimple Chronic Conditions)”. (1)
Unhealthy lifestyle choices are the main reason why a growing number of adults and children in America have developed chronic diseases. Our primary focus herein targets inferior dietary choices, although stress, insufficient sleep, use of chemicals, inadequate water intake, lack of exercise and working longer hours are also contributing factors to poor health in Americans.
Many of the food types mentioned herein are considered carcinogenic or have the potential to cause cancer. Therefore we attempt to provide higher quality selections within the different food types as well as common-sense alternatives to both factory farm meat products, chemically based processed foods and beverages. There are also ethical decisions which the Christian consumer must consider. Many food products found in today’s grocery shelves were harvested by people in bondage to modern day slavery and human trafficking. With regard to commercial meats, the factory farm industry in America is built on cruelty and corruption whereby its tall pinnacle rests of the foundation of Wall Street’s greed. In this article, we strive to provide more ethical and healthier choices.
Overall, food is to heal, nourish and sustain our health and bodies – not cause chronic diseases or exacerbate existing diseased conditions. Americans are killing themselves with food products that God prefers they not touch. It’s tempting to worship the “god of convenience” but ultimately the payback is disease and sickness. In this article, we hope to provide a basic and comprehensive overview on how to make healthful selections when choosing the various food groups. We urge Christian parents to be more thoughtful when choosing foods for their children given the corruption in today’s food supply lines. Back To Top
All believers have a responsibility not to trespass God-ordained physical laws regarding the stewardship of their bodies. When a person becomes a born-again believer, his body is no longer his own but instead becomes the temple of the indwelling Holy Spirit. “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” (1 Cor 6:19) It is direct rebellion against God when we trespass His physical laws of health as a steward of His property and it is our health that will ultimately reap the damage. Oftentimes one will find a great deal of denial at the foot of unchanged attitudes. Sadly, many believers suffer unnecessarily from disease.
Although God is able to supersede all physical laws, He may choose not to heal a believer who chronically trespasses His basic physical laws. For example, God may not heal lung cancer if the believer continues to smoke cigarettes. In this case the diseased body is showing the result of a continued addictive behavior. Our bodies were never designed by God to become smoke stacks and our Creator does not want any believer yoked by an addictive behavior which oftentimes results in a premature death. I do know a man, however, who at the moment of salvation was healed and delivered from alcoholism. At a later date in this man’s life, God had to begin dealing with the reasons for his alcoholism although he was no longer an alcoholic. On the same note, God may not heal someone who consistently consumes a broad range of cheap inferior foods. In summary, we sometimes reap what we have sowed.
Approximately 40% of men and women will be diagnosed with all cancer sites at some point during their lifetime, based on 2010-2012 data and in 2012 there were an estimated 14,140,254 people living with all cancer sites in the United States per the National Cancer Institute’s website. According to the NCBI’s website page titled, “Cancer is a Preventable Disease that Requires Major Lifestyle Changes” – Only 5–10% of all cancer cases can be attributed to genetic defects, whereas the remaining 90–95% have their roots in the environment (diet) and lifestyle. The lifestyle factors include cigarette smoking, diet (fried foods, red meat), alcohol, sun exposure, environmental pollutants, infections, stress, obesity, and physical inactivity. The evidence indicates that of all cancer-related deaths, almost 25–30% are due to tobacco, as many as 30–35% are linked to diet, about 15–20% are due to infections, and the remaining percentage is due to other factors like radiation, stress, physical activity, environmental pollutants etc. Therefore, cancer prevention requires smoking cessation, increased ingestion of fruits and vegetables, moderate use of alcohol, caloric restriction, exercise, avoidance of direct exposure to sunlight, minimal meat consumption, use of whole grains, use of vaccinations, and regular check-ups. NCBI pdf (National Center Biotech Information) webpage
The Word Health Organization recently stated that processed meats create a high risk for cancer. We’ve heard this same news before yet so many people, including Christians, habitually stay with the same poor dietary habits. Processed meat is simply dangerous to eat. Consumers are also concerned about the use of meat glue which glues together small chunks of meat that are too difficult to sell individually. “Meat glue is an enzyme called transglutaminase. Some meat glues are produced through the cultivation of bacteria, while others are made from the blood plasma of pigs and cows, specifically the coagulant that makes blood clot.”(2) Once the pieces have been glued together, the finished product can be sold as a prime cut.
Again, people reap what they sow whenever they refuse to change harmful lifestyle habits. Back To Top
On a separate and rather sad note, the medical field predicts that the next generation of children will have a shorter life span than their parents with obesity and inferior food consumption as the underlying cause. Many Christian broadcasting networks continue to dedicate TV spots to their ministry clients whose sole focus is to educate the Christian viewer to basic nutritional standards. This is because the number of inferior foods, meats and processed foods that Christians continue to consume are on the increase. Food manufacturers are fiercely competitive and in order to get the consumer to purchase more and more product – synthetic food additives are incorporated into the ingredients which cause food addictions by influencing the neurological functions in the brain. In turn this causes obesity. Some US consumer food manufacturers contract with biotech companies which use cell lines from aborted babies to act as taste receptors in the “development” of their food additives. Despite the methods used, many medical experts believe that some of these additives are carcinogenic and harmful to health. Maintaining a diet of whole foods without additives is always a better choice.
On the subject of children the article titled, “Body Burden, 
The Pollution in Newborns” detected 287 commercial chemicals, pesticides and pollutants in the umbilical cord from 10 newborn babies randomly selected by the Red Cross from US hospitals. Out of the 287 chemicals, 180 cause cancers in humans and animals, 217 are toxic to the brain and nervous system and 208 cause developmental problems. This is a result of each mother’s exposure to synthetic chemicals either through her food, environment or direct contact with the substances. Other studies show similar results. This might also be the result of the mothers having used cosmetics, facial creams, detergents, cleaning solutions and personal hygiene products which contained harmful chemical ingredients. Previous contact with pesticides or herbicides might also have caused the poisons to be retained for decades in the bodies of these mothers whereby the toxins were passed along to their unborn babies.
There are additional corruptions within America’s food chain supply lines. Many other worldwide nations have bans on U.S. sodas and processed foods. Some reports state as high as 80% of USA processed foods are banned by other countries. The US government allows over 3,000 synthetic food additives into our processed foods. Many synthetic food additives can cause new illnesses or aggravate existing conditions such as thyroid problems, attention deficit disorder, diabetes, cholesterol, cancer, and heart related matters. NIH studies show that additives alter gut microbes in mice which can ultimately cause inflammatory bowel disease, metabolic syndrome and weight gain in humans. However, once a person’s body has been detoxed from these harmful synthetic food additives one’s taste buds typically return to normal. Thereafter a person can detect and desires to reject anything that is chemically based and will often times prefer the original taste of whole foods without any seasoning. Food cravings – which cause obesity – also disappear. Back To Top
Our nation, including believers, has become increasingly indoctrinated by a nanny-state mentality which implicitly trusts the FDA, FSIS, EPA and DOA to guarantee that the journey our food takes in reaching our dinner plate is safe and that ethical standards are used in the process. This could not be further from the truth. In Co 10:23 we read, “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.” It may be lawful to eat processed foods and factory farm meats or poultry but it may not be your best decision especially if you are already struggling with various chronic illnesses. Learn to choose higher grade food products in each of these categories or abstain from them altogether.
Wall Street is feeding your family. Learn to take your dinner plate back from Wall Street and feed your family with the highest standards and ethics in mind. Remember God can furnish a table in the wilderness for you and He doesn’t cut corners but you must give Him permission to help you.
In today’s corrupt food chain supply-line environments – believers must walk in faith knowing that God will provide the right food sources as well as the provision to pay for it. To by-pass the corruption found in today’s food chain supply lines many believers have turned to veganism where an organic plant based diet is critical to their dietary lifestyle. Yet vegans are now facing some political hurdles of their own. The USDA’s (NOSB) National Organics Standards Board continues to lower the standards for ingredients allowed into products labeled “organic”. “In the United States large food companies, have “assumed a powerful role in setting the standards for organic foods.” (3) Many members of standard-setting boards come from large food corporations.(4) As more corporate members have joined, many nonorganic substances have been added to the National List of acceptable ingredients.(5) The United States Congress has also played a role in allowing exceptions to organic food standards. In December 2005, the 2006 agricultural appropriations bill was passed with a rider allowing 38 synthetic ingredients to be used in organic foods, including food colorings, starches, sausage and hot-dog casings, hops, fish oil, chipotle chili pepper, and gelatin; this allowed Anheuser-Busch in 2007 to have its Wild Hop Lager certified organic “even though [it] uses hops grown with chemical fertilizers and sprayed with pesticides.” The Cornucopia Institute’s “Organic Watergate” white paper outlines this problem in greater detail. What is labeled “organic” may not necessarily be organic anymore. Additionally, vegans and most everyone else have become critically aware of the GMO problem but no one really understands what the long-term consequences might be to our nation’s health.
Separately, we are seeing another dynamic take place as well. According to Cornucopia Institute, “Many iconic organic brands are owned by the titans of junk food, processed food and sugary beverages—the same corporations that spent millions to defeat GMO labeling initiatives in California and Washington.” This carries with it deep concerns as to just how long the purity of the “organic” label will remain in Wall Street’s gripping possession.
Nevertheless, a number of athletes from the NFL, NBA and Olympics even including Mike Tyson continue to enjoy a vegetarian or vegan diet but primarily for both health and performance reasons. Overall the number of people turning to this dietary lifestyle is increasing. Back To Top
Factory Farm Meat – Drug Riddled, Few Nutrients & Brutally Cruel
An estimated 34 nations ban American milk and up to 160 nations ban USDA meat, pork, turkey & chicken from entering their borders. The FDA allows drugs in USA livestock and poultry that are either prohibited by many other nations or where approved drugs exceed the tolerance levels established by other nations. In some nations people protest on the streets to keep USA animal or poultry products banned from entering their country’s borders. In June 2008 an estimated 80,000 South Koreans hit the streets protesting in favor of banning American meat products from their nation.
There are ethical reasons as well for avoiding certain meats and animal by-products. Christians have a responsibility of making sure ethical and humane animal husbandry practices have been used regarding all food products sitting on their dinner plates. Our loving Creator never accepts a direct or indirect blind eye of cruelty from his people. If the corrupted areas of our food industry have cut corners regarding humane practices towards animals – what makes anyone think that critical health protections for humans have not been cut away as well.
The greatest assault against the animal
kingdom (in the entire history of the United States) has been taking place in today’s factory farms. Fraudulent animal research might take a distant second but nothing can compare to today’s abhorrent practices in USA’s factory farms. Whether we focus on the pig, dairy, veal, chicken, or egg laying hen factory farms – it’s all grossly inhumane. We urge the reader not to carry a blind eye to such cruelty and corruption and to consider purchasing meat, poultry and egg products from local farmers or reputable grocery stores which carry much higher grades of meat or boycott these products altogether.
For example, the dairy factory farms are always linked to the veal factory farms. Both animal husbandry practices are considered very inhumane. By drinking factory farm milk – many consumers believe they are inevitably contributing to the corruption in today’s veal farms. Aside from health reasons, many consumers are becoming vegan for this reason. The baby calves are denied their mother’s milk. They are denied water. They are denied solid food. They live in darkness in small crates with chains around their necks. They are deliberately fed an iron-deficient liquid feed which is antibiotic laced for artificial growth purposes which causes both diarrhea and anemia. The factory farm owners want the muscles to remain weak and the calves anemic.
Most factory farm calves are too weak to walk to slaughter. Therefore the human is consuming meat that came from a very sick factory farm animal who lived a life of abject misery. We suggest that you boycott this meat altogether.
Dairy cows were never meant to eat oats or soy yet the factory farms provide this diet on a daily basis. God meant dairy cows to eat 100% grass which is where the omega-3, omega-6 and B-12 nutrients are found for human benefit. It’s been noted that some cash-strapped farmers feed their dairy cows gummy bears, candy bars and crackers thereby adding to the impoverished health of these cows. Therefore, the calf during gestation never received his portion of sound nutrition either.
As far as milk – we suggest that you purchase 100% grass-fed from an AWA local farmer who allows the baby calf to remain with his mother.
Because of the unethical and inhumane conditions of today’s corporate factory farms – many animals are sick prior to slaughter. These downed animals will receive drugs to get them through the threshold to slaughter. The drug residue remains in the meat. When the drugs don’t work these dying animals are beaten, electrically prodded, chain dragged or bulldozed into the slaughter house. Even in healthy animals growth hormones are injected into them to increase flesh mass prior to slaughter.
Additionally, today’s corrupt corporate factory farms are replete with genetically modified birds and livestock causing these animals or poultry to exist in further misery. Researchers are creating animals in federal farm laboratories where human DNA is mixed with animal DNA although it has resulted in delivering sick and dying animals. Our Heavenly Creator designed their bodies with a specific function and purpose in mind yet because of genetic engineering many innocent animals struggle with biological pathologies prior to reaching your dinner plate.
America’s dairy cows are frequently injected with bovine hormones to generate an over production of milk. Many other nations prohibit these drugs because of animal cruelty as well as human health concerns. In turn, the “spent” cows are beaten because they cannot walk to slaughter. They cannot walk because the bovine hormones cripple them. The hormones cause mastitis which is an infection of the utters. The pus from the infection typically runs into the milk. It is a vicious cycle caused by sinful mankind. Are you feeding your child this type of milk and meat?
God never meant a cow to be genetically modified to have twins or triplets or to be pumped with bovine hormones. God designed pigs to roam and root, not remain in 2′ x 7′ gestation crates their entire lives. Extreme confinement causes the sows to have psychotic breakdowns. Factory farm animals and poultry are fed Monsanto’s GMO soy, corn or oats and are injected with dangerous drugs all of which your children eat. God never designed the hen to be genetically modified so she would produce more eggs or to stand in a small 8″x10″ space her entire life. The broiler chicken is genetically altered to the point where she has heart attacks and cannot stand on her own two feet. Greed is driving the food industry but a Christian need not allow himself to be taken into captivity by it.
The Christian needs to make compassionate, healthful and wise decisions. Back To Top
How to Shop, What’s Healthful & Tasty to Eat?
The most nutritious meat products are “100% grass-fed” which might be slightly different from “100% pasture-fed” depending on the animal product. When purchasing beef, lamb, milk, or goat you want to see 100% grass fed because these animals were designed to eat primarily grass in an outdoor setting. Feeding these animals hay during inclement weather is still considered 100% grass fed. Nevertheless, it’s always wise to call the rancher or processor to confirm that the animal did not spent its last three months in a corporate feed lot eating unnatural foods to fatten it up and where the nutritional value of its meat was lost. Again, the 100% grass fed meats are from birth to slaughter only. Always contact the rancher or processor for more information using the telephone number on the affixed label. To hear what other parents are saying about 100% grass fed, please click here.
When purchasing pork or chicken – you want to see “100% pasture-fed”. This is because pigs and chickens can’t survive on grass alone. These creatures tend to roam and forage for their food. It’s also important to purchase these products as “organic-fed” should the animals receive supplemented grain considered natural to their diet.
When purchasing any meat, egg or dairy product from a local family farmer – always ask if they are (AWA) “Animal Welfare Approved“ approved. This label will provide the consumer with the highest quality and most humane product. AWA labels are only available to the local family farmer. Some local farmers may not be AWA but still follow strict rules in maintaining quality care for their 100% grass-fed or 100% pasture-fed animals. It’s still wise to ask the local family farmer a lot of questions pertaining to his animal husbandry practices.
For the larger non-family company farms you 
should always look for the combined “Certified Humane” and USDA’s (NOP) National Organic Program labels for meat, poultry or eggs. For the high volume poultry producers, Smart Chicken (Tecumseh Poultry) is the only chicken meat that carries both labels. Their product is available on many grocery shelves. Their animal husbandry and slaughter methods are very humane. You will receive a more healthful and nutritious product. To learn more, click here.
Smart Chickens are air-chilled not saturated in shared chlorine water for hours which is the method used in the factory farms. Chlorine water in the meat not only changes the taste but may not be healthy for your children to eat either. The chicken feed from factory farms also contains arsenic. Organic Smart Chickens feed on organic soybeans and corn although this might not be considered the most diverse or natural diet for hens. Nevertheless there are no drugs or drug residue in these birds. These birds also have outdoor access whereby they are able to randomly eat frogs, worms, and insects which are a natural source of protein for them.
The Global Animal Partnership offers a 5-Step program which is not factory farming and remains void of drugs. The rating of milk and eggs is not included in the 5-Step program. Therefore consumers should refer to Cornucopia Institute’s ratings for these products which is listed below. The 5-Step program is structured for meat derived from goats, chickens, bison, turkey, pigs and cattle. With the 5-Step program consumers know exactly what animal husbandry processes they are purchasing. Only due to the intense farming practices found in Step 1-3 we don’t endorse these steps although they are not considered factory farm based and the meat is void of drugs. For these reasons, Oath of God Ministries endorses only Steps 4-5+. Whole Foods Market provides the GAP’s 5-Step Animal Welfare Program. Within the 4-5+ steps you will find the 100% grass-fed or 100% pasture-fed animal meats.
For milk product, always select your local dairy farmer. If your local farmer is not AWA find out why. Oftentimes a dairy farmer that has 100% grass-fed dairy cows may still be sending his baby calves to the veal factory farms. This would prevent the farmer from receiving the gold standard AWA label. Cornucopia Institute also provides ratings for organic dairy, organic yogurt, and organic eggs. Other scorecards are available as well. We endorse only products that have a 4-5 rating. Always read the label. Sometimes you might need to call the dairy operation to find out more about their practices.
Many organic meat, dairy and egg producers also provide conventional lines. Oath of God will never endorse any of the conventional lines. These conventional lines are factory farms. Be very careful. Read your labels. Eating higher quality 100% grass-fed meat but less often should prove sufficient. God has a more perfect system. Get involved with it. You’ll feel healthier.
Yes – there are questionable health risks and ethics involved in the journey our food takes before it reaches our dinner plate and enters our mouths but sadly very few people really care. This is because our nation, including believers, worship the god of convenience fed by a supply chain of greed and avarice.
At the very root of the food industry are the corrupt corporate factory farms, mega commercial agricultural businesses, behemoth pharmaceutical companies, biotech elitists, chemical companies, genetic engineers and the large iconic consumer food manufacturers many of which have direct ties to Wall Street. Within their hierarchies, many will leave their stations for either government or lobbyist positions. These corporate entities provide campaign contributions to both political parties to curry favor which is why the situation for change must begin with the consumer. Individual education is the best advocate. There is no excuse and there are alternatives. Back To Top
An estimated 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease. (6) Aside from non-melanoma skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in the United States. (7) In 2012, 29.1 million Americans, or 9.3% of the population, had diabetes. Of the 29.1 million, 21.0 million were diagnosed, and 8.1 million were undiagnosed. The incidence of diabetes in 2012 was 1.7 million new diagnoses/year; in 2010 it was 1.9 million.(8) There is a reason for these disease epidemics. For many, one only need to look at what is on the dinner plate.
Clearly our bodies were never designed to be toxic dumping grounds for inferior foods. “My people perish from lack of knowledge”. Quality food is to nourish and to heal the body not to be the cause of disease.
The Christian Broadcasting Network
Dangerous Flavor Enhancers
Dr. Russell Blaylock, neurosurgeon, Christian author and researcher is highlighted in the above CBN video produced by the 700 Club. We have provided a separate and more detailed video where Dr. Blaylock lectures on the specifics of excitotoxins found in today’s processed foods.
There are billions and billions of dollars at stake in the food industry and everyone wants to attract your taste buds and some at any cost. Back To Top
Footnotes:
1) Multiple Chronic Conditions Among US Adults: A 2012 Update, Brian W. Ward, PhD; Jeannine S. Schiller, MPH; Richard A. Goodman, MD, MPH, CDC Home,
Centers For Disease Control and Prevention.
2) CAFO and Meat Glue Products: The Meat You Should Never, Ever Eat…, Dr. Mercola, May 04, 2011, Mercola.com website
3) Wikipedia, Strom, Stephanie (July 7, 2012). “Has ‘Organic’ Been Oversized?”. The New York Times. RetrievedAugust 14, 2012.
4) Wikipedia, Strom, Stephanie (July 7, 2012). “Has ‘Organic’ Been Oversized?”. The New York Times. RetrievedAugust 14, 2012.
5) Wikipedia, Lipson, Elaine (April 2008). “Congress acts to amend organic foods law”. Natural Foods Merchandiser XXVI(12): 1, 9. The always-current list is at: US Electronic Code of Federal Regulations: Title 7 → Subtitle B → Chapter I → Subchapter M → Part 205 → Subpart G – The National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances and Wilson, Scott J. (10 June 2007). “”Organic” food rule could have up to 38 loopholes”. Seattle Times. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
6) American Thyroid Association, General Information/Press Room, Home Website
7) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Prostrate Cancer, CDC Website.
8) American Diabetes Association, Data from the National Diabetes Statistics Report, 2014 (released June 10, 2014) ADA Home Website