I have been paying a lot of attention to the issues that the church seems to be hyper focused on lately. Some are obsessed with music styles, others with the environment and yet others with certain brands of theology.
However, I think it is sad when I watch Christians who will obsess about issues that MAY be important…but choose to ignore an issue that is often right in front of us—that being the issue of obesity and abusing the body by abusing food.
Like it or not—we are commanded by God in I Corinthians 6:19-20 to be good stewards of our body, which is becoming an ever increasing challenge in our super-sized culture. Temptations are all around us…and for some reason the church has chosen to remain silent on this issue.
Why?
I’ve been in churches that have no problem at all going off on…oh, I don’t know, pick a sin…let’s say the abuse of alcohol. You will hear pastors and church members SCREAM about “the devils brew” and make swiping statements about who all who choose to partake of “that stuff.” I have heard self-righteous Christians proclaim, “Alcohol has never touched my lips” when it is also obvious that a treadmill has never touched their legs.
I know, I know—people have yelled at me about this before, “But Perry, it’s different…people DIE from abusing alcohol…they have car wrecks and such.” AND I agree…I have seen firsthand what alcohol abuse can do to someone. Trust me—I do not need a lecture here.
BUT I would argue that being overweight and even obese is just as bad…people are oblivious to the fact that they are literally eating themselves to death.
I will say this…and this may cause some of you to quit linking me…but pastors are the worse at this. They would never have a beer with a church member—but they don’t mind hitting the buffet. They will YELL at a church member about smoking while all the while pounding cheeseburger after cheeseburger. It’s hypocrisy in its worse form.
I was there…I have fought this battle…at one point in my life I weighed over 300 pounds. I was a fat slob!!! I was lazy! I ABUSED my body! And I had to come face to face with the facts that I HAD to do something about it. (More about the specifics tomorrow.)
Folks—this IS a problem…consider that
- 127 million people in the US are overweight
- 60 million people in the US are obese
- 80% of type II diabetes are related to obesity
- 70% of cardiovascular disease are related to obesity
- Obesity costs Americans around $117 BILLION dollars every year
- Here are more stats if you are interested
We need to wake up!!! Like it or not this is a spiritual issue. The Apostle Paul tells us that one of the fruits of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23 is SELF CONTROL!!! I think its sad when Christians who have self control have lost control in front of the fridge, therefore proclaiming to the world that God cares nothing about our health.
I know this is HARD for some people to read…because it means facing your problem and then doing something about it. I was there…I faced my problem HEAD ON…the road wasn’t easy…but through PRAYER AND HARD WORK I am continually overcoming the temptation to overeat and neglect my body…and you can as well. The same God who delivered me can and will deliver you!!!
Tomorrow I will hit some specifics as to how I personally fought this battle…