Originally Posted by Digging4Truth (Post 703359)

Well said...

And I will add this... not adding to your thoughts... but sharing some of what your post has prompted within my own mind.

Perhaps this should go in the "5 Things AFF Doesn't Know About Me" thread...

But.. I weigh 437 pounds. WAY too much. And I am working on that.

But... 4 years ago I weighed 550+ so I have lost 120 pounds in the last 3-4 years. VERY slow weight loss... but steady.

This has come from educating myself about what I should eat and even from acting on some of what I have learned. LOL

Over time my desires have changed because of educating myself about how food affects me. It has taken half a decade of study to get here too. After all... I am undoing over 4 decades of bad concepts about food. And it is not all about not eating fatty foods etc. I read earlier today that someone drinks 2 liters (I believe) of diet soda per day. OH MY GOODNESS... from my study... that makes me cringe. Probably most of it has Aspartame in it. There is much to know and it doesn't all revolve around sugars & fats.

The main reason I share this is because most people who saw me on the street would think... glutton.

Hey... I have lost 120 lbs... Does the average Joe seeing me walk down the street know that? Nope. Is that the snap judgment people jump to? Nope.

I just got my new drivers license yesterday. WOW... what a difference. But no one who simply saw me walking down the street would look at me and say... Hey... he looks like he has been changing his eating habits and, consequently, lost 1/5 of his body weight.

Originally Posted by 2020Vision (Post 662038)

Sigh - this topic AGAIN? Obesity and gluttony aren't the same, though the share a relationship.

Well, it should be brought up again and again, this is a "big" thing in the Churches.

We don't eat to live, we live to eat. Right after Church, the buffet restaurants are crowded with Church goers. And I was right there amongst them all, not just chowing down, but cowing down. Moooooo

Originally Posted by NotforSale (Post 662026)

With obesity considered the #1 health epidemic in America, causing irrepairable damage to the human body (our temple), how should we as Christians approach this subject? I was told as a new convert, take care of your temple (body). Be moderate. Have temperance (have self-control).

Repent of things that destroy and be a good example.

Obesity is proven to cause diabetes, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, cancer; and the list goes on.

We tell folks to quit smoking because of the dangerous side affects caused by this unhealthy habit. Are we able to take this stand if we accept the "overweight" issue by looking the other way?

I've seen many preachers "joke" away at this subject to calm the air of thier obvious lack of self-control in this area. In reality, being fat is not funny, it's unhealthy. I've watched them preach strong and hard to live holy; Live holy? I guess I'm a little confused here, as holiness covers our physical and spiritual being.

Don't mean to offend here, just stating the facts of how the lost may (are) looking at our ability to justify gluttony. In past churches I've attended, visitors were very suprised at the amount of overweight people on the pews. I'm not just talking about a few pounds either; 100 or more.

I have many good friends who are big. One of them is 400 pounds and he is only 40. He laughs now, but in the next few years laughter will turn to tears.

I do believe mercy plays a role in this somewhere. But, where do we draw the line? How far do we go? Will the church simply end up "full" of the sick because we can't push the plate away or get off the couch?

The prayer line would shrink and we would feel better if we would learn the blessing of proper diet and exercise.

If you are overweight and are reading this, please, I have compassion on your dilema. We have great abundance in this Country and many convienences that now take away the "task" where calories were once burned. There is hope, though. Find people who enjoy getting out, who have the same desire as you to shed the pounds and get in shape.

People can revolutionize thier existence by good old fashioned discipline and motivation. Not only will you feel better, people will notice you care about yourself and your Light will shine with new vigor. The doctor will be stunned when you show up to your next appointment with normal blood pressure and no more need for "PILLS".

:treadmill::situps::walking:

Originally Posted by Aquila (Post 863207)

Yes, obesity is a sin.

Originally Posted by Nitehawk013 (Post 863195)

We will reap what we sow.

I think it needs to be preached and taught against. People think as long as they aren't smoking or drinking they are fine. "Hey, I'm not fornicating. I'm a good Christian! Yes I would like to super size my Double Whopper with cheese combo. And can I get a piece of the Reese's pie with that? Thank you.

Drinking a little beer or wine would at leats have a benficial effect on your blood pressure. The way we eat does nothing but harm us.

Originally Posted by Aquila (Post 863207)

Yes, obesity is a sin.