When was the last time you heard preaching against gluttony, excess, surfeiting, or lust for food? Have you ever heard anyone preach that a person could lose their soul over food? Have you ever had someone say that if a person cannot control their eating appetites they will burn in hell forever?
It is the neglected standard of the church. The Bible says plenty about uncontrolled appetites, gluttony in particular. Phil 3:19 in describing the wicked states that their "god is their belly". Some might say that is a reference to the appetites of the flesh, but what appetite of the flesh is more fundamental than that for food? I would say that if an individual could not control their eating habits, then it is likely they cannot maintain discipline in other areas of craving.
Jude 1:12 describes the wicked as those who attended the "Agape Feasts" (similar to a potluck dinner) of the early church that "feast with you without fear, serving only themselves." Paul condemns similar actions in the Corinthian church.
Jesus warns in relationship to the Second Coming and the impending judgment in
Luke 21:34: "And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with
surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and [so] that day come upon you unawares." We are so quick to condemn (and rightfully so) drunkenness, but where is the cry against the overindulgence of food so prevelant among us?
I believe fasting is a crucial weapon and tool in these last days that the children of God are to use to combat the enemy and break the yoke of bondage in our world. How can a Christian with an uncontrolled appetite for food fast for even one day?
A trademark of the wicked is their overindulgence in "deceitful meat", that is food that causes one to lust for and to eat it in an excessive fashion. David speaks of the "dainties" of evil men and prays against it in
Psalm 141:3-4: "Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. Incline not my heart to [any] evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties."
We apply the principle of I Cor.6:19-20 (and rightfully so) to address the issues of tobacco, drugs, tattoos, and other harmful and unattractive practices related to the body, should we not also apply it to harmful eating habits and addictions?
We would force a preacher to resign his office if found drunk somewhere or pulled over for a DUI. We will strip a man of his ministry if he had a drug problem or an addiction to tobacco products. How many preachers have been banished from the ministry for gluttony? How many have been stripped of their credentials for excessive eating and overindulgence in food?
I believe a man who is a drunkard and a drug addict would seriously damage his ability to sway any authority over a congregation of God's people and should not be able to minister. I believe scripture supports that. I would also have difficulty in following a preacher who was 100 lbs. over his ideal weight primarily because he could not control his eating habits. Could you seriously listen to a man preaching to you about exercising restraint with sexual cravings, chemical addictions, anger issues and the like if he weighed 300-400 lbs? I don't think I could.
This applies to all Christians, not just preachers of course. When as a child of God in good conscience limited yourself to eating one helping of food? When was the last time you ate until satisfied, but not until you were bursting at the seams? When was the last time you wanted to eat a tempting dessert but told yourself "no!"?
I believe scripture demands we address this oft neglected issue if we are truly going to be a holiness movement.
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