Temple

1 Corinthians 6:19-20  (NIV)
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. 

This begs the question:  If our body is a temple for the Holy Spirit, why are so many Christians abusing their bodies???

There are MANY reasons…

There are certain topics that we deem “private,” even though we know sharing will be for our own good.  This assumes that you are in a safe relationship that allows for open, honest communication, where the goal is to help/pray for one another.

Finances is a good example of a private topic, but sharing your struggles with others may help you in the long run.  My church hosted a Bible study on money and what God says about how to handle our money.  Very few people signed up, because that is “private” and “none of your business.”  In that Bible study, we didn’t share individual money situations, but discussed what God says we should do.  It was our responsibility to apply those concepts to our life.

Anyway, back to the subject at hand…

There are millions of new reports that talk about how obese our nation has become.  We overeat constantly throughout the day, while many countries are struggling to meet their basic food/water needs.  Our portions are out of control, in our homes and in restaurants. The sheer number of carby, sugary food and drinks available is amazing.  In recent years, the variety of coffee combinations has exploded and these combinations often include creamers, flavorings and sweeteners.

Abuse comes in many forms – drugs, alcohol, gambling, sex, physical, emotional, etc.  However, most often this list does not include food.  Why?  We need food to live.  We don’t need illegal drugs or alcohol to live.  All the more reason we should be discussing how to (and not to) use food.

I’ve grown up in a Christian home and attending Bible-preaching churches all of my life.  However, in my 35 years, I’ve never heard a sermon on the topic of gluttony or over eating… and I probably never will.  Most of the Christian preachers we see on TV are overweight as well.  But why not preach on a topic that they clearly struggle with as well?  It’s a topic that is seen as private and personal.  We don’t want to step on toes and hurt feelings.  But isn’t that what we need (at times) in order to repent and grow in Christ?

Matthew 11:19

The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”

It’s interesting that glutton and drunkard are side-by-side in this passage.  God views gluttony as a sin, just like drunkenness, murder, adultery, etc.  It’s humans that place a hierarchy on sin.

Here’s my opinion: While we are Christians, we still try to fill voids with “things” instead of Christ.  Those things may be drugs, alcohol and yes, food.  We stuff our face hoping the empty pit will fill up as well.  We eat to drown emotions and escape reality.  I’m just as guilty as anyone.

Having WLS doesn’t change or fill the void; it only limits what I can do physically to fill the void.  Daily, I have to let go and let Christ fill the void…