Churches Preach Fitness (Baptists are Fattest)

Foxnews via AP ^ | March 9, 2004 | Bobby Ross, Jr.

[gobucks]

GRAPEVINE, Texas

[gobucks]

"While the Bible frequently condemns gluttony, Marshall said, "it just appears to be a more acceptable vice."

Finally, a little step in the right direction. However, a quick heads up to readers. This article would NOT have gotten published in the 'mainstream' but for the stress on "low fat" eating.

High fat eating is NOT the primary culprit - most folks find gluttony via the high protein high, fat road, isn't really appealing.

However, gluttony via the high sugar (cookies), high starch (potatos, break, pasta) eating IS the culprit, oh yes.

Ever notice one cookie is never enough? But, after two pork chops, who really wants to eat six more?

Still, its nice to see an article that shows how Christians basically shoot their message right in the foot the instant a big fat pastor gets on TBN. This is a GREAT start.

[onyx]

Good morning *ping* to you. :)

[LS]

I have to say that Dr. Fred K. C. Price, a "televangelist," has been on the fat issue for years. But for example to see John Hagee, who is a good Bible teacher, or Jerry Falwell, attack other sins and leave this one alone is, well, selective to say the least.

[ColdSteelTalon]

But for example to see John Hagee, who is a good Bible teacher, or Jerry Falwell, attack other sins and leave this one alone is, well, selective to say the least.

Well a preacher cannot preach against something that he himself is doing. That would be hypocritical. And would tend to mock the gospel.

[gobucks]

True, but I think LS's point, which I agree with, was more along the lines of the problem with 'do as I say, not as I do' preaching approach.

The effectiveness of Pastors is the issue here I think ... and the image of Christ on the Cross is usually not one of a man with a huge overhanging pot belly...

[anniegetyourgun]

Let's see, what does scripture say? (1) The body is His temple, we are not to abuse it and; (2) all things have been made clean and; (3) don't eat in such a way to make a weaker brother stumble and; (4) feast on the Word first, and all other needs will be provided.

[Martin Tell]

C.S. Lewis (in The Screwtape Letters) posited that gluttony is not so much a matter of ingesting too much food as it was an attitude of obsessiveness when it came to food. It is just as easy to be a glutton by fanatically counting calories, carbs, etc. as by pigging out.

When one makes one's belly one's god, the sin of gluttony is present.

Maybe a little penitential fasting is in order for us all.

[gobucks]

"....feast on the Word first, and all other needs will be provided."

True, and that makes the imperative of temple optimization ever more acute. For, of all men, the Preacher is the one 'feasting' on the Word the most (the flock would assume logically enough), but if the Preacher is rotund, then with his body he transmits the greatest LIE: the Word is not really a filling vehicle after all.

And so, what does the flock do in response?

[WKB]

I have to say that Dr. Fred K. C. Price, a "televangelist," has been on the fat issue for years. But for example to see John Hagee, who is a good Bible teacher, or Jerry Falwell, attack other sins and leave this one alone is, well, selective to say the least.



You don't hear Jimmy Swaggart say much about adultery lusting and pornography either

[WKB]

Thanks For the ping


Many people don't understand that
"Preaching is easier said than done"

[The Lumster]

There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile (pollute) him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.
Mark 7:15

And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.
Mark 7:18-20

For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murdersThefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
Marl 7:23

[anniegetyourgun]

Follow guidelines for church discipline. But that would require doing so with ALL in the flock who are gluttonous, not just the pastor. But then, that would require calling on ALL in the flock who are in open sin (the most frequently found would likely be fornication and drunkeness/drug use). And since following discipline guidelines requires one examine oneself first, there should be some within the Body who could come out of that process and still be able to confront all those who need to be confronted. However, church discipline is very out-of-fashion these days because relativism and easy-believism have made their way into our houses of worship. No one seems to really want purity in the body - except Christ, that is.

[gobucks]

Yours is a very odd post indeed, given you are a newbie, all of what, 3 days old? I'm not sure what you mean to imply. I, about six months into this, am still totally a newbie.

But, I'll accept at face value the implications of your scripture quotes - that the heart, not the food, is the issue - and respond thus:

The Corban Vow seems to apply to your quotations. You nullify temple optimization mandates with the sense that one can't be defiled, or lead a flock astray, by eating in such a way that rotundness follows.

All foods are indeed 'clean' - that is eating certain foods under conditions outside of Jewish traditional requirements - doesn't make you 'unclean'.

But, eating such that you look like Mama Cass, and then preach the Word ... that's a recipe for dirtying up a flock indeed.

Indeed the heart is the wellspring of all 'foolishness'. And its a foolish pastor who thinks neglecting his temple sets a neutral example to his flock.

[gobucks]

"No one seems to really want purity in the body ..."

I know what you mean ... and I've been there myself. All I can offer in response is this: most folks I know have serious trust issues.

Either the church leaders/elders or their parents/family, but often all of them have abused them to a sufficient extent that the idea of the appetite being the King of the World is injected into the heart of the youth.

Lying about their own failures with appetite becomes the norm for them, w/ complicit endorsement from their parents oftentimes. Lying then becomes a way of life.

By trusting I mean that commitment to truth telling, including laying bare lies of omission, is the first order of trust. Even to the extent dealing w/ inevitable betrayal is seen as part of the trust building process.

Once trust becomes TANGIBLE, then within the first order family relationship (often a marriage), intimacy grows. There is a tipping point at which intimacy needs are met, such that appetite's allures are eclipsed by 'heart satisfaction'.

Many folks don't reach this point, nor believe reports attesting to its reality. Bondage is thus the order of the day and our age.

Betrayals, lying .... these are artifacts of pursuing appetites run amok. And its LEARNED behavior. This is why I posted this article to begin with.

But, I share your realistic view of how few will resort to discipline ... what I would reword it as is the unwillingness to trust Christ's formula (truth), and wait for a period of time to see the results of such a drastic change - most don't and won't wait. And that's because most people don't trust God/Christ/H.S., and thus discipline is an alien concept.

If I weren't such an optimist about the reality of the Power of Christ, I'd be depressed about it all!!

[LS]

Well, not any more . . . but they used to!

[LS]

Yah, to an extent. I think it is better though, for a pastor to attack the problem and be honest with his congregation. You know, "We're in this together and we're all going to whip that fat demon in the name of Jesus!"

[WKB]

Well, not any more . . . but they used to!


I was watching Swaggart one time and he was preaching
on porn and I wondered how he knew so much about it.

[LS]

Sort of like the Supreme Court justices that need to watch the porn movies many times so that they have a good definition of pornography :)

[WKB]

Yes and they should all have to witness a Partial Birth
Abortion of their own grandchild.