A question concerning gluttony

[abcgrad94]

Hi JNS9333;

Like others have said Gluttony is not about size. I did a study on it once and found that it seems that Gluttony is actually when a man becomes so selfish that he eats all he can to keep others from having it. Gluttony is actually selfishness and one can be a glutton with anything and not just food. Pig's are gluttons. I've seen pigs climb up and lay down on top of the food to keep other pigs from eating it. Gluttony is an obsession to have all of what ever the persons desires most.
You mention Jerry Falwell. I have to admit that it is difficult for me to learn disapline from someone who isn't disaplined himself. I believe that we should take care of our bodies after all we only have one.
MB

I was taught that in Biblical times, people would feast for days on end. Some folks would fill up, then purge, and go fill up again. That was gluttony.

So what if Jerry Falwell was big. Do people have to be perfect before we can learn from them? I'd rather have a fat pastor and know his weakness and pray for him, than have an outwardly perfect one who is full of pride inside or addicted to porn. They're both sin, you know.

 

[J.Wayne]

We must also be FAT!

Faithful
Attainable
Teachable

In order to become FAT we must first loose the FLAB...

Fleshly
Lust &
Affections that
Burden us down.

We are all overweight, and we carry more weight than what we are designed for.
1 Timothy 4:8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

i.e. unbiblical religious practices, rebellion, unresolved guilt, low self esteem

Thus we must begin a weigh loss program. Starting is the hardest part. Taking that first step, but steady paced runners....win the race. Here are a few basic exercises:

1. Kneeling
Psalm 95:6 Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; Pray about everything, and Praise God

2. Casting...cast off, do some serious housecleaning, get rid of "darkness owned" bad habits.
Matthew 11:28-30

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."




3. Lift, using the proper weights...
Galatians 2:5


5We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you.


4. Run...the extra mile, quit accepting the least that you can do.

Ecclesiastes 5:12




12 The sleep of a laborer is sweet,
whether he eats little or much,
but the abundance of a rich man
permits him no sleep.


5. Finish...be a good finisher.

2 Timothy 4:7-8


7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.







​

 

[J.Wayne]

Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Tennessee
Gender:

Posts: 22
Rep Power: 0

6. Be a TEAM player. God and you are the majority! God is the trainer.1 Corinthians 4:8-9
8Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have become kings—and that without us! How I wish that you really had become kings so that we might be kings with you! 9For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men.

7. BELIEVE in God & what He says!
Hebrews 13:15-16

15Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name. 16And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

If we follow these ever so simple steps we can all become FAT. Praise God Almighty!

 

[jsn9333]

People don't have to be perfect, no. But they should at least acknowledge their sins. I'd rather have a pastor who was openly addicted to stealing then one who was obviously addicted to it but was in denial. (That isn't to say I would want either of them to be my pastor, but if I had to choose one of them I would prefer the one who was not in denial).

The problem I see with Falwell is that he seemed to be in denial of the problem of the sin in general, and perhaps even in himself (if he was a glutton, something I can't judge for sure). "According to a 1998 Purdue University study, obesity is associated with higher levels of religious participation. (Broken down by creed, Southern Baptists have the highest body-mass index on average, Catholics are in the middle, and Jews and other non-Christians are the lowest.) When this finding was brought to the attention of the Reverend Jerry Falwell, he was unperturbed. "I know gluttony is a bad thing," Falwell said. "But I don't know many gluttons."" ( from http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2003/11/23/the_deadliest_sin/ )

I mean come on! That's like going to an AA meeting where half the people have liver disease and saying I don't see many alcoholics (or drunkards). Seriously!

I just don't see the "eat until you barf, then eat some more" definition of gluttony in the Bible. If that is what Falwell believed, then he was being a bit hypocritical when demanding literal interpretation of the Scriptures on other points. Throwing up is never associated with the definition of gluttony. I think the obvious, simple definition of both gluttony and "drunkard" is "eat too much" and "drink too much". How much is too much is the question.

I would think it is obvious that if you're increasing your chance for liver diseases, you're drinking too much. If your increasing your chance of heart attack (obesity) then you're probably eating too much. And as was pointed out very by tinytim, a lot of it is quality more then quantity. Butter gets you toward "glutton" faster then carrots or chicken... just like whiskey gets you toward "drunkard" faster then wine or beer.

That Falwell said what he is quoted above as saying is sad on the one hand (it makes Christians look like fools in denial of a terrible problem) but on the other hand it gives me hope that the big fella ended up in heaven. The Scriptures teach that true Christians will not continue in sin ("whoever is born of God will not continue in sin"). That doesn't mean Christians never sin, as Paul makes clear, but it does mean Christians grow in Christ from babies to maturity and shed sinful habits along the way. The Christian life is characterized by growth out of sin, not continuance in sin. I would say it is likely that if Falwell knew he was sinning by eating until he was 400lbs and clogging his arteries... then I would even say the man was not a true Christian. Believe it or not it is possible for people to preach the gospel and not actually be saved themselves. But hopefully, if he was a glutton, he actually was in denial, and God will not hold him accountable for a sin that he didn't actually intentionally, knowingly commit. Only God knows for sure.

I was taught that in Biblical times, people would feast for days on end. Some folks would fill up, then purge, and go fill up again. That was gluttony.

So what if Jerry Falwell was big. Do people have to be perfect before we can learn from them? I'd rather have a fat pastor and know his weakness and pray for him, than have an outwardly perfect one who is full of pride inside or addicted to porn. They're both sin, you know.

 

[Palatka51]

The Scriptures teach that true Christians will not continue in sin. If Falwell knew he was sinning by eating until he was 400lbs and clogging his arteries... then I would even say the man was not a true Christian.

Man am I glad that you ain't God.

Fella, you need to cease and desist. You haven't a clue as to what gluttony is and your judgments are becoming trite. Grace is what's on the plate these days and you are not serving it up brother.

 

[Aaron]

Like others have said Gluttony is not about size. I did a study on it once and found that it seems that Gluttony is actually when a man becomes so selfish that he eats all he can to keep others from having it.

A glutton is simply one whose god is his belly. In otherwords, one who governs his life according to his appetites, and not one who walks after the Spirit.

People are right when they say that there are gluttons who don't look like gluttons. In C.S. Lewis' classic, The Screwtape Letters, Screwtape enlightens Wormword to the fact that he (Screwtape) has snared the patient's aunt with gluttony while deceiving her into thinking she is practicing moderation. She doesn't overfeed herself, but her food has to be "just right" before she will partake, and is an incredible snob about it.

That being said, it is not true that one can look like a glutton and not be one. I'm not saying that many intend to be a glutton, but one cannot be overweight without overfeeding himself reqardless of his glandular problems.

 

[jsn9333]

Man am I glad that you ain't God.

Great! That makes two of us then.

Fella, you need to cease and desist. You haven't a clue as to what gluttony is and your judgments are becoming trite. Grace is what's on the plate these days and you are not serving it up brother.

Let's assume a person says, "Gluttony is the over-indulgence and over-consumption of food. On this board we've investigated the many ways it can be expressed. One of them is obesity (though that is not always caused by gluttony)." You really think those statements mean a person "doesn't have a clue" what gluttony is? I think you should look in a mirror if so... because whatever definition you go by is probably the one that is lacking.

Also, you should look into a mirror concerning "judging". After all, *you're* the one telling me to stop speaking out and accusing me of lacking grace. Falwell judged *plenty* of people... including ones like me who drink alcohol. I have explicitly said I can't judge whether or not he was a glutton. Sure, I suspect he was... but at least I'm leaving a little room for other views and most importantly the view of the Ultimate Judge. I think that is perfectly fair.

 

[jsn9333]

To your definition "one who governs his life according to his appetites" I would add "or destroys his life via his appetites". If someone's doctor tells him "you really should eat less and eat healthier, you're killing yourself" and that person keeps right on stuffing himself with the delicacies and foods that got in into such a bad place. If you're willing to lose your life to keep eating what you like the most... I would say that probably meets the definition of "governing your life according to your appetite." Would you?

There are some people, though, who are obese b/c of hormonal problems. But the problems that cause that are extremely rare. I've known 2 people in my life with actual hormonally caused obesity. One has an *extremely* rare genetic disorder that actually makes her feel hungry all the time regardless of what she eats or how much. It is called prater willi. It is very sad, some people with it literally eat until their stomach bursts. But we're talking rare here.

A glutton is simply one whose god is his belly. In otherwords, one who governs his life according to his appetites, and not one who walks after the Spirit.

People are right when they say that there are gluttons who don't look like gluttons. In C.S. Lewis' classic, The Screwtape Letters, Screwtape enlightens Wormword to the fact that he (Screwtape) has snared the patient's aunt with gluttony while deceiving her into thinking she is practicing moderation. She doesn't overfeed herself, but her food has to be "just right" before she will partake, and is an incredible snob about it.

That being said, it is not true that one can look like a glutton and not be one. I'm not saying that many intend to be a glutton, but one cannot be overweight without overfeeding himself reqardless of his glandular problems.

 

[J.Wayne]

I may be fat, but you know what, my fat is evenly distributed over my body, while there are many whose gluttony forces all of the fat to remain in the "above the shoulder extremity.

God loves me for who I am, not what I look like. He gives all of us unconditional love, unlike so many humans, which choose to degrade others and put themselves above. Most importantly by them being better than others they also place themself above God.

Sounds like true Christian love to me??

 

[Palatka51]

Falwell judged *plenty* of people... including ones like me who drink alcohol. I have explicitly said I can't judge whether or not he was a glutton. Sure, I suspect he was... but at least I'm leaving a little room for other views and most importantly the view of the Ultimate Judge. I think that is perfectly fair.

Oh, ok I get it now, you've set this thread up to flame heavy set folk because a heavy set preacher said drinking alcohol is a sin. So to tell another person they have sinned makes you feel better because gluttony is the greater sin. I am very sorry to have been taken into this trap.

 

[Palatka51]

Let's assume a person says, "Gluttony is the over-indulgence and over-consumption of food. On this board we've investigated the many ways it can be expressed. One of them is obesity (though that is not always caused by gluttony)." You really think those statements mean a person "doesn't have a clue" what gluttony is? I think you should look in a mirror if so... because whatever definition you go by is probably the one that is lacking.

It is soo nice to be called a fat slob in polite terms and not actually be one.:laugh:

 

[Joe]

People don't have to be perfect, no. But they should at least acknowledge their sins. I'd rather have a pastor who was openly addicted to stealing then one who was obviously addicted to it but was in denial.

A person who with poor eating habits should never be compared to another committing criminal acts against the innocent.

1 Cor 6: 9-12 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
Achan the thief was stoned to death. Josh 7:25

In the Lord’s eyes, thieving is gross sin worthy of hellfire. Gluttony is insinuated within these passages.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20, yet rarely is much thought given to it. "Or don't you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

The Scriptures teach that true Christians will not continue in sin. If Falwell knew he was sinning by eating until he was 400lbs and clogging his arteries... then I would even say the man was not a true Christian

You may want to be careful in questioning another’s salvation based solely upon their dietary habits.
"For by the measure you judge others ye shall be judged"

1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart

Romans 3:23-24 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus

I’ll add….

Matthew 7:20 - "Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them."

Here's an interview with Larry Flint (abou 6 months ago May 07) of Hustler magazine speaking about Falwell, and how he sued him. It later went to the Supreme Court. If this doesn’t show godly fruit, I am not sure what would. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNty3J8TU8Y

 

[MB]

I was taught that in Biblical times, people would feast for days on end. Some folks would fill up, then purge, and go fill up again. That was gluttony.

This is true the Romans did this at almost every party. It's pure selfishness to be so wasteful

So what if Jerry Falwell was big. Do people have to be perfect before we can learn from them? I'd rather have a fat pastor and know his weakness and pray for him, than have an outwardly perfect one who is full of pride inside or addicted to porn. They're both sin, you know.

Perfect???? There is only one who was ever perfect Jesus Christ. Falwell may have been a good Pastor I don't really know. my statement wasn't meant as demeaning towards him at all. Yet it is obvious that he didn't take care of himself. I came from parents who were both fat. I learned to be fat just like them and was. How ever with God's help I over came being fat and lost over 100 pounds. You might say well not every one can do that but that isn't true. We may be weak but He is strong and with God's help we can. You have to put effort in to it on your knees and at the table.
You might say what about those who can't help it? We can all do something to improve ourselves and our surroundings. There is no such word in God's Language as "can't". Once we settle for "I can't" we have lost the battle. I never give up because my Lord has never given up on me.
MB

 

[abcgrad94]

This is true the Romans did this at almost every party. It's pure selfishness to be so wasteful

Perfect???? There is only one who was ever perfect Jesus Christ. Falwell may have been a good Pastor I don't really know. my statement wasn't meant as demeaning towards him at all. Yet it is obvious that he didn't take care of himself. I came from parents who were both fat. I learned to be fat just like them and was. How ever with God's help I over came being fat and lost over 100 pounds. You might say well not every one can do that but that isn't true. We may be weak but He is strong and with God's help we can. You have to put effort in to it on your knees and at the table.
You might say what about those who can't help it? We can all do something to improve ourselves and our surroundings. There is no such word in God's Language as "can't". Once we settle for "I can't" we have lost the battle. I never give up because my Lord has never given up on me.
MB

Good post, and good for you for losing the weight. Sorry if I misunderstood your attitude towards overweight folks in general. I thought you were dismissing someone's effectiveness for Christ based on their waistline. As an overweight person myself, this really irks me because I've seen it done often. It makes me wonder if they look at a skinny person and automatically assume that they are anorexic or bulemic, or if they look at a bodybuilder with more respect than a scrawny weak person. The Bible tells us not to be respecter of persons.

 

[Palatka51]

Good post, and good for you for losing the weight. Sorry if I misunderstood your attitude towards overweight folks in general. I thought you were dismissing someone's effectiveness for Christ based on their waistline. As an overweight person myself, this really irks me because I've seen it done often. It makes me wonder if they look at a skinny person and automatically assume that they are anorexic or bulemic, or if they look at a bodybuilder with more respect than a scrawny weak person. The Bible tells us not to be respecter of persons.

Amen brother amen. Now someone else please serve up some more Grace. I don't know about you but I'm not leaving until I get my fill and then some.:wavey:

 

[abcgrad94]

Amen brother amen. Now someone else please serve up some more Grace. I don't know about you but I'm not leaving until I get my fill and then some.:wavey:

Um, Palatka, I'm a sister, not a brother.:laugh:

 

[Joe]

It makes me wonder if they look at a skinny person and automatically assume that they are anorexic or bulemic, or if they look at a bodybuilder with more respect than a scrawny weak person. The Bible tells us not to be respecter of persons.

Yes, a skinny person can be sinning by defiling their temple (body) through not consuming enough food. This can happen even when a person is exercising and eating right. Most of my bike rider friends are thin, and have problems with bone mass, something you hardly find in an overweight person. I also have this problem.

Romans 3:23 All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

This applies to us all. :1_grouphug:

 

[Aaron]

To your definition "one who governs his life according to his appetites" I would add "or destroys his life via his appetites". If someone's doctor tells him "you really should eat less and eat healthier, you're killing yourself" and that person keeps right on stuffing himself with the delicacies and foods that got in into such a bad place. If you're willing to lose your life to keep eating what you like the most... I would say that probably meets the definition of "governing your life according to your appetite." Would you?

Yes, that certainly fits within the definition, but the definition is not limited to that. A man doesn't have to overfeed himself to be a glutton, he merely governs his life according to his appetites. You ever hear a fella criticize his wife's cooking? Maybe it's not seasoned just right, or the egg noodles have the wrong consistency, or anything that isn't just exactly to a fella's taste. Instead of being thankful, he finds fault because his appetites were not completely satisfied. That man is a glutton just as heinously as the man who ate himself into an early grave.

 

[Palatka51]

Um, Palatka, I'm a sister, not a brother.:laugh:

Ah, ha, Well then, I'll just ask for an apology and droop my head then take my leave. Sorry.
Is it hot in here or is it just me?

 

[abcgrad94]

Ah, ha, Well then, I'll just ask for an apology and droop my head then take my leave. Sorry.
Is it hot in here or is it just me?

That's quite all right. That's what I get for not picking a more gender specific username.:wavey: At least you didn't call me FATSO!:thumbs: