The United States is facing an obesity epidemic That 's the past 20 years, obesity rates have more than doubled in the US and they are on the next 20. 20. Experts predict that by 2030 more than half of Americans will be obese with 13 states having obesity rates above 60%. This will result in millions of new cases of diabetes, coronary heart disease, and stroke and other chronic illnesses.
A study studied by Purdue University Professor Ken Ferraro examined the relationship between religion and obesity. The study found that church members are more likely to be overweight or obese than the general public, and These by findings prompted Ferraro, a professor of society who has studied religion and body weight, led by Baptists at a 30% obesity rate, compared with Jews at 1%, Buddhists and Hindus at 0.7%. since the early 1990s, to comment, "America is becoming known as a nation of gluttony and obesity, and churches are a grounding for this problem."
Other studies confirm this phenomenon: A 2011 study transferred by Northwestern University tracked 3,433 men and women for 18 years and found that young adults who attend church or a bible study once a day are 50% more likely to to Be obese. Likewise, the Pawtucket Heart Health Program found that more people than attempted church is more than cholesterol and blood pressure. A 2001 Pulpit and Pew study of 2,500 clergy found that 76% was overweight or obese comparable to 61% of the general population at the time of the study.
There is no doubt that excessive poses a very serious threat to our physical health, but it goes beyond even that - we are very limiting our usefulness in kingdom work.
In a 2012 op-ed for FoxNews, Scott Stoll, MD, observed, "The obesity epidemic in the church appears to be under the primary purpose of the church and its missions work by training church budgets, decidedly absorbing money that would be spent on missions abroad, and consuming the time and energy of pastors and church members.
Stoll went on to say, "contemporary church culture has unwittingly contributed to the rise in overweight and obese parishioners. Has become secret and acceptable vice in the modern church."
An "Acceptable" Vice
God created us with both a need for a wish to have a wonderful experience. We are told in 1 Corinthians 10: 31, "So, maybe you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." If we can honor God in our The problem comes when we allow our desire for food to control us or to harm us.
Scripte condemns overindulgence in many things, including food. Proverbs 23: 20-21 says, "Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of meat, for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags. Proverbs 23: 1-3 advises, "When you sit down to eat with a ruler, observe carefully what is before you, and put a knife to your throat if you are given to appetites.
A point to you put a knife to your throat. A reminder that if you indulge yourself you are slitting your own throat.
The Apostle Paul laments, "For many, of whom I have many told you and now tell you more with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ., With minds set on earthly things" (Phil 3: 18-19 ESV) We make our belly our god whenever we have a duties to our body and the damage it to to our body which is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Paul also says that these people glory in their shame We got a big temple, or that we will just get to Heaven sooner, we are glorying in our shame. We When we do these things we are enemies of the cross of Christ and our end is destruction.
The Disconnect
We can recognize the health risks of smoking, alcohol abuse, and sex outside of marriage. We understand that it is sinful to engage in these habits and encourage their avoidance. But do not you dare talk about our food.
You would be shocked to walk into your church on Sunday morning and find a full liquor bar or a table full of cigarettes, but would be greatly annoyed to not find your weekly fill of donuts, bagels and cream cheese, and coffee with cream and sugar .
And some of it is wrong to try a recovering alcoholic with his favorite vice while tables at potlucks strain under the weight of fried chicken, creamy casseroles, pizza, pound cakes and cheesecake. We are very literal "killing each other with kindness."
Think I 'm being over-dramatic? Think again. A recent RAND report concluded, "obesity is linked to very high rates of chronic illnesses - higher than living in poverty, and much higher than smoking or drinking."
I am not judging here - I was not guilty as any guy out of my way to bring my father, hot Krispy Kreme donuts to our Sunday School class. I was also 274 pounds and had high As Paul said, "When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I feel like a child, I have a healthy and delicious. I reasoned like a child, I gave up childish ways "(1 Cor 13: 11 ESV). We have to" grow up "and put away the immature habits that are destroying the body.
Desecrating the Temple
Scripture is absolutely clear on what God expects of us and the importance of taking care of our physical bodies.
"Do you know that that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, what you have from God? (1 Cor 6: 19 ESV)
As obesity rates continue to rise in the US, and in our churches, so do not research products published in the October 27, 1999, issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), Center for Disease Control (CDC) director Jeffrey P. Koplan stated, "Obesity and overweight is linked to the nation" # s number one killer - heart disease - as well as diabetes and other chronic conditions.
Overweight and obese people are of increased risk of developing condition like coronary heart disease (type 2 diabetes, stroke, hypertension, high cholesterol / trigclycerides, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea and other respiratory problems, several types of cancers, liver and gallbladder disease , infertility and even death. Not to mention low energy, low self-esteem and lack of confidence.
We would be deeply offended if someone vandalized our church, yet many Christians are destroying the temple of god with high calorie-low nutrient food, overindulgence, insufficient sleep, and physical inactivity. Oswald Chambers put it this way,
"I am accountable to God for the way I control my body under His authority ... What I must decide is whether or not I will agree with my Lord and Master that my body will indeed be his his temple"
Poor Stewardship and Irreverence
Not only is our body a temple of the Holy Spirit, it is not even our. We were bought and paid for the blood of Christ.
"You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." (1 Cor 6: 20 ESV)
We are also told that we are to present our bodies as a living sacrifice to God.
"I appeal to you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living marriage, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. (Rom 12: 1 ESV)
Christ willingly sacrificed His body on our behalf, therefore, we should offer our bodies as a living sacrifice to him. John Piper commented on this verse:
"Your body here is not to present to your mind or heart or spirit ... The point is to stress that your body counts. All. Your body matters."
We have take care of our bodies in our bodies in such a way that we are physically prepared to do whatever God requests of us, whenever He requests it. The body means making a commitment to live a healthy lifestyle by carefully considering the foods you put into your body, making exercise a regular part of your life, and getting enough sleep.
Not only is obesity poor stewardship of the body, it is also poor stewardship of our financial resources. In her book, The Real Cost of Living , personal finance expert Carmen Wong Ulrich estimated that the price tag for obesity is $ 6,454 a year. "Add together the higher annual costs of health care and medication ($ 1,429), wage discrimination ($ 2,500), travel costs (a conservative $ 25), and other lifestyle costs such as mobility and clothing ($ 2,500), and the cost of being overweight is around $ 6,454 a year, or $ 538 a month. Over a lifetime (40 adult years), that & # 39; s more than $ 258,000. And had you instead put that $ 538 a month in your retirement account, approaching a moderate average of 6 percent interest, you & # 39; d have $ 1,082, 675. do not diabetes or complications. Consider those pricey add-ons, and you & # 39; re looking at $ 19,454 a year in total costs - that & # 39; s $ 778,160 over a lifetime and over $ 3 million if that money had been invested.
Bad Theology
This common misconception isoted in an ancient heresy called Gnosticism or Platonic dualism, which is overly concerned with the "being spiritual" things in church and though being invited. , this belief that the spirit is sacred and the physical body is corrupt and inconsequential. Scriptures exposes this fallacy.
"Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be set blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Th 5: 23 ESV)
It is be like neglecting one leg of a 3-legged table. Without all three legs in God wants to sanctify us entirely: spirit and soul and body. It is all His. I do not stand, I can not stand, I can not have it.
Repentance and Healing
"Churches across America stand at a critical crossroad urgently in need of a decision to be a cause or a cure to the growing epidemic of disease and obesity." ~ Scott Stoll
Likewise studies Included people That people who read the Bible more often frequently asked for a good positive opinion. Most people are involved in church are also depressed. Most churches are also encouraging restraint or absence from tobacco, alcohol and sex outside of marriage. If we can be a positive influence in these areas , can we certainly do the same when it comes to physical health. There is hope. We can do this!
"Couple this with solid faith based teachings" by Catherine in the church itself. Stoll concluded his article by saying that the solution for obesity in the church. "Similarly, Ashley concluded her article by reminding us," the Bible addresses, "on health, stewardship, and return to foods provided by the creative and serious as a positive influence and resource to surviving communities. blessed when their pastor encourages them to make changes in their lifestyles that will perfectly bring glory to God.
First John 5: 14-15 says: "And this is the confidence that we have to him, that if we ask anything according to to "We have the request that we have asked of him." (1 John 5: 14-15 ESV)
I am living proof of that. God has given me a ministry to reach out to to those who are caught in the same trap I was . Our churches and communities are filled with people suffering the consequences of neglecting and abusing their bodies, many unknowingly.
We have community, proper motivation, and most importantly, we have the Power (Matthew 10: 8). As followers of Christ, we are exclusively equipped to battle this epidemic. of God.
"(2 Chr 7:14 ESV)" I will hear from heaven and will for my wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. " )
Your Call
2) You can dismiss me as a a) You can to have the rubber meets the road. 3) You can take these these words to heart and join us in the fight to save lives - and the first life you save may be your own. The ball is in your court. It & # 39; s your choice.
"Choose this day whom you will serve." (Josh 24:15 ESV) "(Josh 24:15 ESV)
1 CLINE, KMC and FERRARO, KF (2006), Does Religion Increase the Prevence and Incidence of Obesity in Adulthood?. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 45: 269-281. Doi: 10.1111 / j.1468-5906.2006.00305 . x
2 "Fat in Church", Fox News
3 "The Health Risks of Obesity Worse Than Smoking, Drinking, or Poverty," Rand.org
4 Obesity epidemic increase dramatically in the United States: CDC director calls for national prevention effort
5 Oswald Chamber, My Utmost For His Highest (December 5)
6 John Piper, Present Your Bodies As a Living Sacrifice (June 13, 2004).
7 Wendy Ashley, Obesity in the Body of Christ , SBC Life
8 Wong, Carmen, The Real Cost of Living: Making the Best Choices for Your, Your Life and Your Money (2010)
