Prophet Paul Melbourne of Bethel Baptist Church.

Published On:Wednesday, November 04, 2009

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

PEOPLE spend tonnes of money on exercise machines, diet plans, and consultations by nutrition specialists in an effort to maintain good health. They invest a great deal of time and effort into finding that perfectly balanced diet.

But according to Prophet Paul Melbourne of Bethel Baptist Church, Christians do not have to look any further than the Bible, because everything they need to know about what types of food promote good health can be found in the 'Good Book'.

Prophet Melbourne told Tribune Religion that he has abided by the Bible for many years and it is the reason why he is healthy and in such good shape at the age of 61.

He said in his opinion if Christians want to be free from diseases like cancer, the only thing they need to do is study and consult the Word of God.

"The Bible teaches how people can live disease free lives if they follow what it says. All diseases are preventable once they eat what Genesis 1:29 advises," he said.

The scripture reads, "Then God said, 'I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food you'."

The overall meaning of the scripture as Prophet Melbourne interprets it is that Christians' primary source of nutrition should come from fresh fruit and vegetables - emphasis on the fresh.

God expanded the menu for Christians, permitting them to eat meat, but with some restrictions as it is stated in Genesis 9:3-4, he said.

It explains that the meat must not have lifeblood in it.

"Leviticus 7:23 says 'Never eat the blood of any bird or animal no matter where you live," he said.

Also, only sea creatures that have scales and fins are to be consumed. Delicacies like shrimp, crab, conch, crawfish and oyster are to be shunned because they are considered scavengers, serving the purpose of collecting toxins and waste at the bottom of the sea, Prophet Melbourne said.

When it comes to preparing your food, he said, there is nothing wrong with cooking with oil, but olive oil is the best choice according to Deuteronomy 8:7-8.

In today's Bahamian society it seems very rare to find persons who live to a ripe old age, he said. But Prophet Melbourne said that this can be changed if people obey the Word of God on the issue of nutrition.

"All deaths that occur before the age of 120 years are considered premature, people must correct their eating habits like cutting out the fast food," he said.

By following the strict diet as outlined by God, Christians will be less susceptible to heart failure, cancer, ulcers, and other chronic illnesses that reduce their life spans, Prophet Melbourne said.

He also warned that Christians will suffer if they are not knowledgeable of what the Bible has to say.

"God said that for the lack of knowledge my people shall perish. I want them to study the Word of God so that they can know these things, they don't have to waste time consulting dieticians because everything is right there in the Bible, all they have to do is turn a few pages," he said.