Should the weight of pastors be addressed?

[Ascetic X]

Let me add here that simply being overweight is not a sin. It cannot be a sin because it is a condition, rather than an action. So answering the OP, the sin of gluttony cannot include being overweight, but must be actions that make one overweight: overeating, not caring for the Holy Spirit's temple, etc.

So yes, as the OP says, we can address obesity in pastors by encouraging proper diet, exercise, self-control, etc. But that obesity is not a sin though it may be a result of the sin of gluttony.

Yes. Obesity is usually a sign of sinning by eating too much, not exercising, etc.

If a man is staggering, slurring his words, and stumbling around — we ask why?

Someone says, he was drinking whiskey at the tavern all day.

So the staggering, slurring, and stumbling are not necessarily sins, but they are abnormal behaviors that point to the sin of getting drunk.

Likewise, obesity itself is not a sin, but if what led to it was gluttony, that practice of overeating is a sin.

 

[Ben1445]

Yes. Obesity is usually a sign of sinning by eating too much, not exercising, etc.

If a man is staggering, slurring his words, and stumbling around — we ask why?

Someone says, he was drinking whiskey at the tavern all day.

So the staggering, slurring, and stumbling are not necessarily sins, but they are abnormal behaviors that point to the sin of getting drunk.

Likewise, obesity itself is not a sin, but if what led to it was gluttony, that practice of overeating is a sin.

But assuming why someone is stumbling around is a problem. There are medical conditions that do this to people.

It is a sin not to exercise?
What passage of Scripture would you preach that one from?

 

[Ascetic X]

But assuming why someone is stumbling around is a problem. There are medical conditions that do this to people.

It is a sin not to exercise?
What passage of Scripture would you preach that one from?

My scenario was based on a person who is drunk, not a person with a medical condition.

I said:

If a man is staggering, slurring his words, and stumbling around — we ask why?

Someone says, he was drinking whiskey at the tavern all day.

So the staggering, slurring, and stumbling are not necessarily sins, but they are abnormal behaviors that point to the sin of getting drunk.

————————————

Our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.

It is sinful to be slothful and not take care of the body.

We are not glorifying God in our body if we smoke, drink alcohol, eat too much, never exercise, etc.

In 1 Cor. 6:12-13, Paul speaks about the way we use our body. "I will not be mastered by any of my bodily desires".

Food is essential for our bodies; but if you want to be a servant of God, you must not allow yourself to be mastered by food. If you love food so much that you are mastered by it, you will never be a useful servant of God. You have to break free from that slavery. This is where fasting can help. It is not only our spirit, but our physical body also is a "member of Christ" (1 Cor. 6:15). So we must never use it for any immoral purpose. It must be for the Lord's exclusive use - our eyes, our tongue and every part of our body.

I Corinthians 6

19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?

20 For you have been bought for a price: therefore glorify God in your body.

 

[Marooncat79]

You quote Shakespeare to belittle the dangerous sin of over-eating?

Men that are fat are men who over-indulge, reveling in their lust for more food than they need.

Gluttony is perhaps the most tolerated sin in American Christianity.

Gluttony, after all, is food worship. It’s table idolatry. Exalting stomach over spirit.

People complain about pastors living in mansions, but how about pastors living in obese bodies?

Lack of self-control in any area of life is sinful disobedience to God.

Obesity is no joke. It brings many diseases along with it. Food addiction must be overcome like any compulsive behavior.

Most over weight people have a parasite causing it

Its relegated mostly to America and is about our diet

 

[John of Japan]

Yes. Obesity is usually a sign of sinning by eating too much, not exercising, etc.

If a man is staggering, slurring his words, and stumbling around — we ask why?

Someone says, he was drinking whiskey at the tavern all day.

So the staggering, slurring, and stumbling are not necessarily sins, but they are abnormal behaviors that point to the sin of getting drunk.

Likewise, obesity itself is not a sin, but if what led to it was gluttony, that practice of overeating is a sin.

Nailed it!

 

[John of Japan]

It is a sin not to exercise?
What passage of Scripture would you preach that one from?

I'd like to know that too. I'm sure he just misspoke. If not exercising is a sin, then:
1. How long does one go without exercising before it becomes a sin?
2. What type of exercise must it be to make it not a sin?
3. What about the guy who worked all day in a factory or another blue collar job, getting the equivalent of exercise on the job?

I only know of one Scripture that mentions "bodily exercise," and it doesn't make it a mandate. Godliness is the mandate: "For bodily exercise does profit some, but godliness is profitable in everything..." (1 Tim. 4:8, b; my rendering).

 

[Ascetic X]

Most over weight people have a parasite causing it

Its relegated mostly to America and is about our diet

No, not most.

Parasites are an exceptionally rare cause of obesity. Obesity is overwhelmingly driven by genetics, diet, and lifestyle, with only an estimated 10% to 15% of chronic gut cases linked to specific weight-altering parasites (like Giardia). In fact, many intestinal parasites are historically associated with weight loss and undernutrition.

 

[Ascetic X]

I'd like to know that too. I'm sure he just misspoke. If not exercising is a sin, then:
1. How long does one go without exercising before it becomes a sin?
2. What type of exercise must it be to make it not a sin?
3. What about the guy who worked all day in a factory or another blue collar job, getting the equivalent of exercise on the job?

I only know of one Scripture that mentions "bodily exercise," and it doesn't make it a mandate. Godliness is the mandate: "For bodily exercise does profit some, but godliness is profitable in everything..." (1 Tim. 4:8, b; my rendering).

Exercise is a key element in honoring our body as a temple of the Holy Spirit.

Some jobs involve plenty of physical labor, but sedentary jobs can cause health issues.

Thus, neglecting your health and allowing extreme laziness (sloth) or a completely sedentary lifestyle cause weakness can be viewed as poor stewardship of the body.

When we’re young, strong, and healthy, exercise may not seem important. But as we grow older, exercise becomes vital.

Whether we call it sin or foolishness, self-harming and avoidance of necessary exercise can cause us to be physically unfit to serve God and others.

 

[Ben1445]

I'd like to know that too. I'm sure he just misspoke. If not exercising is a sin, then:
1. How long does one go without exercising before it becomes a sin?
2. What type of exercise must it be to make it not a sin?
3. What about the guy who worked all day in a factory or another blue collar job, getting the equivalent of exercise on the job?

I only know of one Scripture that mentions "bodily exercise," and it doesn't make it a mandate. Godliness is the mandate: "For bodily exercise does profit some, but godliness is profitable in everything..." (1 Tim. 4:8, b; my rendering).

I can’t remember where I ever heard it but someone said that you don’t need a gym if you’re pulling your weight.
I am no expert at any gym or on any fitness topic. Actually, I wouldn’t go to a gym in the first place.
But I have had people ask me for pointers on their weight workouts before I ever used any kind of equipment.
I personally find that the muscles that you need are the ones that you use. For myself, if I need equipment, it would be for the sake of therapy, which I don’t need. I prefer to keep busy.

 

[John of Japan]

Exercise is a key element in honoring our body as a temple of the Holy Spirit.

My kung fu sihing (elder brother in the art) used to say this to me.

Some jobs involve plenty of physical labor, but sedentary jobs can cause health issues.

Certainly.

Thus, neglecting your health and allowing extreme laziness (sloth) or a completely sedentary lifestyle cause weakness can be viewed as poor stewardship of the body.

Agreed, but not that it is sin per se.

When we’re young, strong, and healthy, exercise may not seem important. But as we grow older, exercise becomes vital.

Absolutely.

Whether we call it sin or foolishness, self-harming and avoidance of necessary exercise can cause us to be physically unfit to serve God and others.

I see a real difference between sin and foolishness.

Sometimes such lacks can make us unfit, but other times not. I mentioned the fellow missionary I knew and worked with who was very obese. He was a better missionary than I in various ways, but could not go out house to house any more because of his weight. He probably died years younger than he should have. On the plus side, he raised his only child, his daughter, to honor God. She and her husband serve God in Japan. Interestingly enough, their daughter (my friend's granddaughter) was looking for a college online, and found me! She plans to come to our college in the fall. So my obese friend did some things right, though he should have taken care of the Spirit's temple better. Isn't that all of us--doing well in some things and others not so well?

Some famous missionaries and pastors have failed totally with their children. I'd rather see a man raise his kids right than succeed greatly but lose his kids. I've known many missionaries and pastors that way. I am so blessed to teach alongside my only son. What a privilege!

 

[John of Japan]

I can’t remember where I ever heard it but someone said that you don’t need a gym if you’re pulling your weight.

I am no expert at any gym or on any fitness topic. Actually, I wouldn’t go to a gym in the first place.

I don't go to gyms, but my wife and I sometimes use the walking circuit at the YMCA. For old codgers, walking is a good workout. We have a nice woods here that she and I like to walk, sometimes seeing a deer or other wild animal.

But I have had people ask me for pointers on their weight workouts before I ever used any kind of equipment.
I personally find that the muscles that you need are the ones that you use. For myself, if I need equipment, it would be for the sake of therapy, which I don’t need. I prefer to keep busy.

I believe in full body workouts rather than one muscle at a time, so I've never been a weight lifter. Running, walking, aerobics, circuit training, and the martial arts all work out the entire body.

Then there are these exercises: pushing your luck, backing off from trouble, jumping to conclusions, sidestepping responsibility, and the like.