“The Elephant in the Room” proposes a topic not many seem to be serious about discussing today, perhaps because of its sensitive nature.  So, I will introduce it this way: what would you say if I said there was a major sin pandemic amongst Christians today that few are addressing?  This sin is deadly, literally killing thousands, and stifling the vitality and growth of the church, but very few pastors and teachers will acknowledge, much less preach or teach about it.  By the way, everything I just said is 100% true.  If I were to introduce the topic that way, would you agree that this sin should be immediately addressed and corrected?  I sure hope so.  The sin I am talking about is the sin of gluttony.

Gluttony is at an all-time high in America, and you don’t have to be a doctor to diagnose it…just go to a Wal-Mart near you and see the evidence for yourself.  As a nation, we are FAT!  And lest you think I am only pointing my finger at others, I too have had my struggles with gluttonous behavior.  To my shame, there was a lonely time in my life as a Marine bachelor when I would put down a whole large Dominos “Meatza” and a six pack of adult beverages in one sitting by myself!  Yes, I was a lot more active then, with a higher metabolism; but regardless, I think we can agree that that was very UNhealthy and foolish, both physically and spiritually! 

Now that I’m fully depressed (not really), there are a few terms that will help us understand the gravity of this issue.  Overweight and obese both have to do with how much you weigh, given your height, and can be discovered by finding your body mass index or BMI.  You can use this formula – weight x 703 divided by your height in inches squared – to give you a number that will categorize you as underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese.  Using myself as an example, at 210 lbs and 75 inches, my current BMI is 26.2, which is considered overweight.  I know, I need to lose weight…but hey, I would still be 10 lbs under my max by Marine Corps height & weight standards!  Now, this number will not tell you how much fat vs muscle you have, but for most it is generally obvious where the extra weight comes from, fat or muscle.  Here is the classification chart:

• Less than 18.5 – Underweight
• 18.5 – 24.9 – Normal weight
• 25.0 – 29.9 – Overweight
• 30.0 – 34.9 – Obese (Class 1)
• 35.0 – 39.9 – Obese (Class 2)
• 40.0 + – Obese (Class 3)

Did you know that approximately 30.7% of Americans (like me) are considered overweight?  That may not sound that bad to you, but when you consider that an additional 40.3% of Americans are obese (9.2% of whom are severe), it makes a difference.  That means approximately 71% of all Americans are either overweight or obese.  I don’t know what RFK calls that officially, but I call it a national health crisis! 

This sin of gluttony in America has caused a whole host of health problems including gout (4% of adults), diabetes (14.7% of adults, 90-95% of which is type 2), cardiovascular disease (19% attributed to obesity), and others.  Because of our lack of self-control, our resulting health problems are not only weighing us down, but also our pastors and church members, with endless hospital visits and prayer requests that should be nonexistent; our already struggling healthcare system, with preventable diseases; and our family members, with unnecessary worries, which they should not have to carry.  Speaking of loved ones, our endless appetites are being passed on to our children.  As of 2020, approximately 19.7% of American children and adolescents ages 2-19 are obese.  This translates to about 14.7 million young people!  Question: where do police officers, firemen, and military servicemembers come from?  Young people.  So, if we follow this through, gluttony and its voracious nature not only debilitates us individually, but collectively it threatens our future security and wellbeing as a nation. 

What does God’s Word say about the sin of gluttony?  Here are some verses:

• Deuteronomy 21:20 – “They shall say to the elders of his city, ‘This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey us.  He is a glutton and a drunkard.’”  Gluttony is part of a rebellious and disobedient lifestyle.
• Proverbs 23:1-3 – “When you sit to dine with a ruler, note well what is before you, and put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony.  Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.”  This is a warning to practice restraint against overindulging.
• Proverbs 23:20-21 – “Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.”  Gluttony is linked to laziness, poverty, and ruin.  Also, are you noticing how gluttony and drunkenness are almost always tied together?
• Proverbs 25:16 – “If you find honey, eat just enough – too much of it, and you will vomit.”  Moderation is recommended, especially with “good” things.
• Ezekiel 16:49 – “Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy”.  This sounds like an indictment on our nation today.  We have more (food) than we will ever need, yet there are still poor and hungry people all around.
• Matthew 11:19 – “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’  But wisdom is proved right by her actions.”  Jesus was falsely accused of being a glutton because of His association with outcasts, but their charge against Him describes the negative view of gluttony in the culture.
• Romans 13:13-14 – “Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery…Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.”  Paul calls believers to turn from indulgent living, including gluttony.
• Philippians 3:18-19 – “For, as I have often told you before and now tell you gain even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.  Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach…”  This is a strong and revealing rebuke against those who are ruled by bodily appetite.
• Titus 1:12 – “One of Crete’s own prophets has said it: ‘Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.’”  Paul references a cultural judgment of gluttony, which affirms its negative implications.
• 1 Corinthians 10:31 – “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”  Although gluttony is not mentioned, it sets the principle that even eating is not an unimportant thing, but that it should be done with spiritual purpose and self-control.

There is no one-size-fits-all reason someone over-eats, but personal experience and general knowledge says that it occurs for many different reasons.  Some see it as an escape from depression, stress, or various other mental or emotional issues; for others it is a habit formed by their environment over time; while many seem (like me) to have simply inherited a large appetite for good food.  No matter the reason (or excuse), gluttony is an idolatrous sin where food (or the stomach) becomes a god – a sin which directly contradicts the active faith we as Christians claim.  And as we have seen, this sin has far-reaching consequences.  Though the consequences may be less immediate or severe than other sin, over time gluttony damages our physical bodies, our spiritual wellbeing, the cause of Christ, and the church of the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is a sin because after surrendering our lives to Jesus, He owns ALL of us!  1^st Corinthians 6:19 says “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?”  Although the context of this verse addresses sexual immorality, the principle applies to any over-indulgence.  Paul said in that same letter, a few verses prior (v. 12), “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable.  All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.”  Whether it is alcohol, over-eating, or checkers, the guiding principle is the same: Do not allow yourself (body or mind) to be mastered or controlled by anything.

I cannot help but notice today that there are many Christians who seem (directly or indirectly) focused on the “big” cultural sins like sexual immorality, alcohol and drug addiction, etc. while turning a blind-eye to the ever-increasing waistlines and diet-related health issues among their own.  I have been guilty of it.  But the reason I am writing about this is, I believe gluttony is a visible indicator of a deeper spiritual problem, which is inactivity; more precisely, disobedience to Jesus’ commands.  In short, Jesus said “Go” (Matthew 28:18-20), but the glutton says “No”.   

To illustrate, when you see a person that has chiseled muscles and seems to be in good shape, what is the assumption?  Is it that he or she is lazy?  No!  They work (or work out) hard and keep their bodies in check.  If you add a deep tan to that person, you might assume he or she works hard outdoors at their job.  What about when you see an obese person?  Is your first impression that he or she is a hard worker?  Likely not.  In this case, perception is very likely – but not always – reality.  In the same way, gluttony in a Christian is an indicator that there is little interest in following Jesus, at least for very far.  Think about it.  If a person cannot keep their own body in check, how can they teach others to do the same?  If they can’t practice self-control with food & drink, then how can they expect others to take them seriously when they read Luke 9:23, “Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself…”?  I’m here to say, the old days of “Do as I say, not as I do” are gone, and that type of “discipleship” will scarcely work in today’s culture.  But that is a good thing, because it forces us (who still care) to live out what we say we believe. 

If Jesus has commanded us to “Go”, but we daily, knowingly, force things into our temples that sabotage His mission for us and shorten it, how can that be seen as anything but blatant disobedience?  His command to “Go into all the world…” was literal.  If we get winded walking from the parking lot to the store, how on earth can we be trusted to take the good news into all the world?  Yes, gluttony and obesity among Christians is a BIG problem…no pun intended.

What is the solution?  There is no “easy fix” but here are some thoughts, some steps WE can take TOGETHER as we move in the right direction.  1. Practice Self-control: Self-control is one of the fruits of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22, and if the Holy Spirit is in you, you CAN exercise control over your body’s fleshly cravings and desires.  You can say “No!” to over-indulging, and if you don’t, it’s because, in the words of Dr. Ray O. Brooks, “You haven’t gotten your ‘want-to’ fixed yet”.  Because we have the power to abstain, that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Self-control is a deliberate discipline to be enforced. Like a muscle, it must be exercised to be strengthened. Paul said in 1^st Corinthians 9:27 “…but I discipline [literally “to strike a blow to”] my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.”  Whether or not we take gluttony seriously, the stakes are high, and it is as serious as any other sin.  Be willing to do the hard things, to sacrifice, to cause your body pain if necessary to bring it into subjection under the Lordship of Jesus.  It will be worth it!  2. Surrender.  In 2 Corinthians 10:5, Paul encourages again, “…and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ”.  There is nothing that is minor when surrendering to the Lord, even food or drink, or thoughts about it.  Surrender your impulses and cravings to the Lordship of Christ immediately in prayer.  When you are at your weakest, that is an opportunity to lean on the Lord and allow Him to strengthen you (2 Corinthians 12:10).  3. Exercise (physically and spiritually): If you struggle with overeating, subsequent weight issues, and a sedentary lifestyle, shake things up!  Go for a walk, take a bike ride, do some plyometrics, go for a short jog (increasing each time), hit a punching bag…something.  Anything is better than nothing, but consistency is key.  God gave us this amazing chemical cocktail that releases in our brains and makes us feel good when we exercise.  If you haven’t felt that “high” in a while, break a good sweat and you will feel it!  Exercise your spiritual muscles by diving deep into God’s Word.  I don’t know about you, but drawing close to Jesus through the study of His Word makes me want to live a more disciplined life, whether it’s eating, abstaining from sin, or being His hands and feet.  When the devil tempted Jesus with bread in the wilderness after a 40-day fast, Jesus quoted Scripture.  He said in Matthew 4:4 “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”  Feed on the Word and let it be your fuel toward a more disciplined lifestyle.  4. Obey: Jesus said in John 4:34, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.”  I remember coming back from a month-long training operation in the desert (29 Palms, CA), and the only thing we had on our minds was LIBO (liberty)! All we wanted to do was turn in our weapons at the armory, grab our gear, and go home…nope!  There’s a motto (one of millions) in the Marine Corps: Weapon, gear, body.  First, clean your weapon thoroughly to pass the inspection at the armory; next, find your gear, unload it, clean it thoroughly, and stow it away properly; and THEN you can be released for LIBO!  This was torture for a bunch of thirsty Marines who’d gone a whole month with little-to-no liberty libations.  Nonetheless, it reinforced the discipline of restraint and retrained our focus on taking care of the most important things first.  Jesus was saying that doing God’s will and accomplishing His work was the most important thing, even a higher priority than food.  Obviously, He didn’t mean for us to starve ourselves, but when we’re focused on more serious matters like serving the Lord, eating will cease to become such a high priority.  When you feel the desire to over-indulge, let it sound like an alarm bell in your mind, reminding you to focus on service to others.  Let Jesus’ words be your motto.

I realize this has been a long post about a sensitive topic, and I apologize for any offense, as that is never my intention.  The truth is that this study has been convicting to me!  That said, if the message sparks a change of mind and behavior resulting in the expansion of Christ’s kingdom, then it will have been worth it!  God bless as you put your best foot forward in following the Master!