Article September 18, 1978 Issue

Man: the image of Spirit, not matter

RICHARD C. BERGENHEIM

We live in an age that is fascinated by diet and nutrition. Numerous books on these subjects are published each year. Millions of people are counting calories, checking scales, exercising, yearning to reach or maintain some ideal weight or form.

All this stands in stark contrast with the teachings of Christ Jesus, which were the basis of Paul's admonition to "put off the old man with his deeds" and to "put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."^{ Col. 3:9, 10;}

In his Sermon on the Mount Jesus said: "Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?"^{ Matt. 6:25;} Our Master urged mankind to turn thought from the body to God and spiritual reality.