The Neglected Standard

[deacon blues]

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.

[retsambeW]

I do not desire to talk about this fault of mine. It is obviously the cook's fault.




























:D

[Hoovie]

Burp!

[retsambeW]

Burp!


And again I say unto thee...


AMEN




:D

[Elihu]

What a wonderful post by the Deacon!

May I refer our readers back to Galatians 5:22?

Temperance is synonymous with self-control. This attribute of the Spirit should be active in every Christian's life.

[Sheltiedad]

Why do I hear crickets?

[HeavenlyOne]

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.

There are problems with this line of thinking.

1. Someone weighing 300-400 pounds isn't necessarily because they overeat.

2. Thin people can also be gluttons.

3. Is gluttony merely defined as overeating?

4. If #3 is answered 'yes', how is that regulated from person to person, considering that we all eat quite differently?

I believe gluttony to be not just overeating, but with such excess that it becomes wasteful. Whether or not they gain weight means nothing.

[HeavenlyOne]

Why do I hear crickets?

You don't hear them anymore. I just ate them.

[rgcraig]

Is this Sunday's sermon?

I might have to wash my hair and miss...................or at least skip going to Firebirds afterwards! LOL!!!

[deacon blues]

Is this Sunday's sermon?

I might have to wash my hair and miss...................or at least skip going to Firebirds afterwards! LOL!!!


Nah----

Had lunch with Philip Miller at camp meeting and the subject came up.

[RevDWW]

You don't hear them anymore. I just ate them.

:slaphappy:slaphappy:slaphappy:slaphappy:slaphappy :slaphappy

That is gut busting funny........:killinme:killinme:killinme

[deacon blues]

There are problems with this line of thinking.

1. Someone weighing 300-400 pounds isn't necessarily because they overeat.

2. Thin people can also be gluttons.

3. Is gluttony merely defined as overeating?

4. If #3 is answered 'yes', how is that regulated from person to person, considering that we all eat quite differently?

I believe gluttony to be not just overeating, but with such excess that it becomes wasteful. Whether or not they gain weight means nothing.

I understand some people have "glandular" problems, but I would bet that MOST 300-400 pounders weigh that much because of overeating.

I agree that thin folks can be gluttonous. People can hide their alcohol drinking, their eating disorders, their prescription drug abuse, their spousal abuse, their porn addiction, etc. It is sinful nevertheless.

Gluttony is defined according to dictionary.com as "habitual eating to excess", "greediness in eating", "excess in eating or drinking", "excessive eating and drinking".

Like all biblical standards it has to be an issue of the heart. How do you know if a person has looked upion another to lust after them? Only the individual and the Lord knows, unless it is blatantly obvious. How can one tell if someone gives cheerfully or not? How can one decide if someone thinks they are better than another? The Lord knows the thoughts and the intents of the heart. The indivdual knows whether their attitude toward food is a godly one or not. Nonetheless it needs to be preaced or taught and allow the Word to do its work.

[RandyWayne]

I think the issue is that eating is celebrated in apostolic circles.....
Jokes are made about it and people actually compete to see who can out eat each other (not trying to take things away from all the hot-dog eating champions out there).
Ministers stand behind the pulpit and pat their gut saying how much "we" like to eat, at which the congregation laughs.
I'm NOT into health food myself, but self control when it comes to pure volume is an issue. It can be very hard to control! But so is smoking and drinking....

[stmatthew]

Funny how its always the skinny guys that want to preach on gluttony.



hehehehe!!!!

[deacon blues]

I think the issue is that eating is celebrated in apostolic circles.....
Jokes are made about it and people actually compete to see who can out eat each other (not trying to take things away from all the hot-dog eating champions out there).
Ministers stand behind the pulpit and pat their gut saying how much "we" like to eat, at which the congregation laughs.
I'm NOT into health food myself, but self control when it comes to pure volume is an issue. It can be very hard to control! But so is smoking and drinking....

Not everybody struggles with tobacco or alcohol, but we ALL have to eat. Since it is such a common part of our everyday life, it seems more difficult to place gluttony and chemical abuse on the same level. But therein lies the danger---the familiarity with food and the affluent world in which we live to where gluttony is an option for us, the whole issue is easy to ignore or justify or made into a light-hearted matter.

[deacon blues]

Funny how its always the skinny guys that want to preach on gluttony.



hehehehe!!!!


I wish I was skinny---I need to lose about 10-15 lbs. And I will admit that there are times I struggle with lust for food---not just being hungry, but really craving certain sweets and desserts that I don't need to indulge in.

Think about how many in our churches suffer from diseases born out of poor eating habits: diabetes, heart problems, circulatory problems, high cholestoral, high blood pressure, etc. much of which can be regulated and controlled with a good diet.

The only overweight preacher I ever heard chatise himself for his poor eating habits is Billy Cole. I've heard him do it more than once.

[freeatlast]

You'll not hear many preachers address an issue that affects so many of their own ranks.
It's much more popular to just rail on the women folks about their hair

[NLYP]

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.

NOw your making to much sense and hitting some ministers where they live!!!

This should go over well.....

Dont cut, dont paint, dont watch, dont dont....now having said all that whos for seconds at the buffet....

[HeavenlyOne]

:slaphappy:slaphappy:slaphappy:slaphappy:slaphappy :slaphappy

That is gut busting funny........:killinme:killinme:killinme

I didn't think it was that funny until you said so....LOL!

I just thought with the subject and all........:slaphappy

[HeavenlyOne]

I understand some people have "glandular" problems, but I would bet that MOST 300-400 pounders weigh that much because of overeating.

Let's assume that's true. How do we tell the difference? And why the high standard regarding weight? Aren't people who weigh 250 overweight too?

I agree that thin folks can be gluttonous. People can hide their alcohol drinking, their eating disorders, their prescription drug abuse, their spousal abuse, their porn addiction, etc. It is sinful nevertheless.

I agree, but they won't be the ones wanting to crawl under the carpet when gluttony is preached against. Nor will they be the ones looked at.

Gluttony is defined according to dictionary.com as "habitual eating to excess", "greediness in eating", "excess in eating or drinking", "excessive eating and drinking".

Like all biblical standards it has to be an issue of the heart. How do you know if a person has looked upion another to lust after them? Only the individual and the Lord knows, unless it is blatantly obvious. How can one tell if someone gives cheerfully or not? How can one decide if someone thinks they are better than another? The Lord knows the thoughts and the intents of the heart. The indivdual knows whether their attitude toward food is a godly one or not. Nonetheless it needs to be preaced or taught and allow the Word to do its work.

I agree that it's an issue of the heart, but since most people associate gluttony with being overweight, there is a blanket statement made or implied if such preaching is done. That isn't the case in preaching against lust or preaching about giving cheerfully.

[HeavenlyOne]

I wish I was skinny---I need to lose about 10-15 lbs. And I will admit that there are times I struggle with lust for food---not just being hungry, but really craving certain sweets and desserts that I don't need to indulge in.

Think about how many in our churches suffer from diseases born out of poor eating habits: diabetes, heart problems, circulatory problems, high cholestoral, high blood pressure, etc. much of which can be regulated and controlled with a good diet.

The only overweight preacher I ever heard chatise himself for his poor eating habits is Billy Cole. I've heard him do it more than once.

While I agree those things are related to poor eating habits, they are more likely to come from genetics, and there is nothing one can do about that.

[Sherri]

Eddie actually talked about this in his sermon Sunday (I was definitely convicted!!). He was talking about the Cost of Sin, and about anything having control over your life. I was doing fine until he got to the food part!!

[deacon blues]

bump