"Weight" Just a Minute

A couple of weeks ago I heard on the radio that the world now has more obese people than starving people. Then a couple of days ago I read that religion makes us fat! Do you agree?

Now my point here is not to criticize people who struggle with weight issues, or even take some cheap shots at Baptist or Jerry Falwell. But I do wonder how the the church is contributing to the problem and/or the solution. What should the role of the church be? After all, most preventable diseases are associated with being overweight. Is our silence deadly?

I don't really have the answer unless it is somewhere in the following questions:

1. Is the article true? Do we as Christians substitute food in place of other addictions?
2. The Church is quick to point out the "sin" of drinking, smoking, pornography, etc..., but we usually do not speak out about eating too much or too little. What would it take for the church to address this issue? Does it matter?
3. By it's silence, the church typically gives a green light to the addictions of sports, TV, shopping, busyness, and appearance modification. Is this just grace?
4. Is it a holiness code issue?
5. For many Christians smoking a cigar would be considered a sin, but eating this is OK?
6. Is weight the real issue? (I don't think so!) Some people eat healthy and battle weight, while some people eat anything and everything and always remain thin. Is it more of being wise and a good steward of our bodies and eating in a way that is healthy?
7. Should the teaching from the church deal with us being at our best physically (spiritually, physically, emotionally, all the "allys") and doing so is part of living out this?

What most resonates with me in my initial thoughts about all of this is that I really should strive to be at my physical best for God. I am not saying that I or anyone needs to be a workout maven, or eat only organic food that is 100% good for you. In fact I would argue that ice cream is one of God's greatest creations. Enjoy!

Through eating, working out, reading, in everything we should honor God. I am not suggesting some legalistic code to follow. No! NO! No!Just an approach to life that makes our primary consumption the creator, not the creation.

My personal application? It means that I should be more intentional about getting more sleep. I know that I do not get enough and I have a bunch of really good excuses why. (Probably a pride issue when you get right down to it). However, not getting enough sleep keeps me from being at my best and it is no less out of bounds than the person who overeats.

I am still thinking all of this through. Interested to know your thoughts.

Comments

[Chris]

I certainly don't have the answers, but Paul has plenty to say about food, freedom in Christ, and our bodies as temples for the Holy Spirit. I think the answer is mingled amongst those and other passages. Good discussion fodder!

[Donna]

Okay, you hit one of my "buttons" or hobbies....My basic MO is that if God made it and provided it, then that's what He provided for us, and the second part is that the more that man meddles with it, the worse it's gonna be for us ....processed, reprocessed, preprocessed, homogenized, prepackaged, machine separated, carmel color added, FDC Red #82, enhanced food products. Coke, Hamburger Helper, Pop Tarts, Potato Chips sold at the Health Food store, "Organic" Peanut Butter with an extra helping of sugar and salt, Salmon with orange dye added?...and...Spam? Ok, I could go on...I could do a lot of blogs on this one, but this is your blog....

[Dan]

Hey man,
I really appreciate your thoughts in this post. I've thought about these things for a long time, too. I've come to the same conclusions that the issue is not the fruit, but rather the foundation upon which our choices are laid. The Bible says that "Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" (1 Sam. 16:7). This alone is enough reason for us not to judge based on outward appearances or oppressive rules. Our teaching as the Church must be that of which brings freedom from addictions of all kinds and leads to a deep, wholly-consuming dependence upon God. "Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Matt. 4:4 & Deut. 8:3). And in talking about the things that we as humans need (food, shelter, clothing, love, rest for our bodies and peace for our minds), Jesus said, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matt. 6:33). It is when we seek "all these things" first that we become trapped in addictions like drinking, pornography, over-eating, etc. We look for what our souls are longing for - rest, love, peace, fulfillment - in "all these things" but Jesus tells us plainly that we will only find what we need in Him.
Maybe this seems like a "Sunday-school" answer, and I don't claim to know how this all plays out in the practical, messy world we live in, but I DO know that it begins here. That is why Jesus really is the only Way and Truth and Life.
:)

[Diane Holley]

Religion doesn't make us fat - we do that all on our own. But it does bring up the issue that the church doesn't focus on the fact that overeating is just as addictive and destructive as drugs and alcohol. I am an addict. No, I have no tracks in my arms and I don't slur my words. But my addiction to food damages my body with equal intensity. The problem I see in the church is that we rarely address the issue of addiction period. If it is discussed food is rarely the issue, even though it's the one that can't be kept a secret amongst all the addictions you can list because you can look at a person, like me, and see it clearly.