We are what we eat and must honour God with our bodies

Christians must rethink what they eat and how they live because Scripture is clear that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, says retired minister John Berriman

A retired Elim minister is sounding the alarm over what he calls a “quiet crisis” in Britain’s churches, warning that believers may be neglecting a vital part of discipleship: caring for their physical bodies.

John Berriman, based in St Ives, Cornwall, says the issue is not about vanity or dieting trends, but about biblical obedience. Berriman, who has spent five years leading a health-focused ministry, is urging Christians to rethink how they eat, live and steward their bodies.

“Scripture is clear,” he says, pointing to the apostle Paul’s challenge: “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honour God with your bodies” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

“To honour God with our bodies is stewardship. It is obedience. It is worship.”

His warning comes amid rising concern about the UK’s health. Obesity, type two diabetes and heart disease have surged in recent decades, with millions affected. Once considered rare, such conditions are now commonplace, including among committed churchgoers.

“Many faithful believers love the Lord wholeheartedly,” says Berriman, “yet suffer physically from lifestyles shaped more by modern food culture than by biblical wisdom.”

He is quick to stress that food itself is a gift from God. The Bible celebrates provision, declaring: “He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate, bringing forth food from the earth” (Psalm 104:14).

But, Berriman argues, there is a stark difference between natural foods and today’s ultra-processed products. Drawing on Genesis, he highlights God’s original provision: “I give you every seed-bearing plant… and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food” (Genesis 1:29). Later, eating animals was also permitted.

“These are recognisable, whole foods,” he explains, “bread, fish, olives, fruit and honey. What we do not see in Scripture are laboratories, chemical processes and additives.

“Ultra-processed foods, engineered for taste, shelf life and profit, now dominate modern diets. Packed with refined sugars, flours and industrial fats, they are designed to drive overconsumption.

“These are not the foods we see in the Bible,” Berriman said. “There are no additives, emulsifiers or chemical processes in God’s design, just real, recognisable nourishment.”

Alongside this, he says, the Bible’s warnings about gluttony have been largely ignored in today’s culture of oversized portions and constant snacking.

“Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat,” warns Proverbs 23:20. And in stark language, Paul adds: “Their god is their stomach” (Philippians 3:19).

“These are sobering words,” Berriman says. “Gluttony is not a respectable sin. It is idolatry of appetite.”

Instead, he calls believers back to the fruit of the Spirit, including self-control: “love, joy, peace… and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). He adds: “Self-control applies not only to our speech and temper, but also to our forks.”

The consequences, he warns, are not just physical but spiritual. Chronic illness can limit Christians’ ability to serve, travel, and remain active in ministry.

His solution is simple, not extreme: return to whole foods, cook from basic ingredients, avoid excessive sugar and ultra-processed products, and eat in moderation.

“It is about simplicity and wisdom,” he says. “When we eat foods close to how God created them, the body responds well.”

Through his “Be Healthy Church” initiative, launched around 2021, Berriman reports striking testimonies, including weight loss, improved energy and even reversal of diabetes markers under medical supervision.

But he is clear the message must be pastoral, not condemning.

“The answer is not shame, but Spirit-empowered transformation,” he says. “The same Holy Spirit who heals can help us reshape our habits.”

This article first appeared in Direction Magazine. For further details, please click here.