Sin of Gluttony

I agree Masihi, and I am going to try and not be judgmental here, because I have my flaws, I mean show me a pastry with creamy filling or icing and I want to take it all for myself... But other than the typical church carry-ins, where if it is not Torah observant, you do have pork and shellfish, and many over eaters. I have seen people so obese at these gatherings, I can see the pain it takes one just to walk a couple feet, and I think, why are you living this way? I know there are medical issues, from gland disorders to medications, but do you know how many of these conditions can be solved by diet alone? and when I say "diet" I don't mean going on a diet, but changing their lifestyle on what and how much one eats.

Ihere are reasons for overeating and sometimes it is the matter of the soul. You think of the sins of the youth and sometimes people overeat to forget the pain and the consequences of their youthful indiscretions. Sometimes a person eats the wrong food because he or she loves food and worships it as an idol. In other words, eaten because the end all . Other times they eat to forget the pain of what happened. When you use the word obesity, you muddy the waters. You cannot say to the congregation you must eat this and must not eat that, because that makes it legalistic. What has to happen is to speak to the person's heart and gt him to recognize that he is using food to cover up a sin or a set of sins. For example, worry or that person harboured resentment against another and uses eating the wrong food to cover it up. Then there is allergies, and gluten intolerance, chemicals in food, trans fats and the empty feeling in the stomach that is not hunger but pain and grief. The reason that so many are fat is because they are using food to cover up an emptiness in their heart. Or they cannot afford the right kind of food -high utility bills, spending on bad things, etc. Or it is ignorance.

This is one of the many contradictory things in our society and in our worship. The Bible does admonish that we are not to be gluttonous at "love feasts" and advises people to eat before they come. We hear an occasional sermon from these passages, but yet we are struggling. I do not see many in my local church who are obese,of the four I can think of two for sure have actual health issues that cause it. One woman has fought diabetes her whole life, I have watched her walk daily and regulate her food. She is now going to get stomach surgery, she is 67. They are finding that in a lot of people it cures diabetes. I knew her over thirty five years ago, and she has never been really thin. The next lady has more health related problems than you can shake a stick at and knows how to eat healthy and again, walks daily, but does not lose. The other two are brother and sister and although they have lost some, and their respective spouses and every one else in their family is thin, they are large even yet. I think the dichotomy here is that we need to eat to live, and we are also admonished to break bread together, and to feed the hungry and we just think about food all of the time. Potlucks or carry ins, which could serve as a vehicle to minister to those who are needy often turn out to be a showcase for our cooking skills and it seems that food has no calories once blessed in the sanctuary. Even the healthiest of foods can become deadly if taken in excess. On the other hand, many churches offer their facilities for programs like TOPS free of charge. They sponsor programs like 3D, which I believe is associated with the Baptist Church, and Weigh Down Workshop which is non denominational. There are aerobics classes and walking clubs that meet in the recreation areas of the church as well. To many, food is love, and the sweetness of candy and desserts is like manna to them. Or honey from the honey comb. It is important that we should both love and feed the people we encounter.

I used to have problems with overeating but I've outgrown it. People wouldn't believe me when I tell them that I used to overeat because of my slender physique.I've always been slim but I could finish at least 3-4 platefuls of rice.One of the reasons why I overeat was I desperately wanted to put on more weight but doctor's told me that I burn food easily because of my metabolism.