Fat City

At the Lutheran church I attended during my childhood, comic strips from the local newspaper were posted on a bulletin board. One in particular I remember was Hägar the Horrible sitting at a table with his first mate Lucky Eddie. They had the following conversation... 

Eddie: “Is gluttony a sin?”

Hägar “Is it fun?”

Eddie: “I think so.”

Hägar: “It’s a sin.”

Of course, God is not against us having fun. 1 Timothy 6:17 says He “...gives us richly all things to enjoy.” That would include food. But like most other things, eating can be abused when done in excess. Scripture has a few things to say about those who eat too much...

“So that place was called Kibroth-hattaavah (which means ‘graves of gluttony’) because there they buried the people who had craved meat from Egypt.” - Numbers 11:34 (NLT)

“But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked; You grew fat, you grew thick, you are obese! Then he forsook God who made him, and scornfully esteemed the Rock of his salvation.” - Deuteronomy 32:15

“Do not mix with winebibbers, Or with gluttonous eaters of meat. For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe a man with rags.” - Proverbs 23:20-21

“For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things.” - Philippians 3:18-19

We’ve all probably heard preaching against smoking and drinking. I heard one Christian comedian point out how some preachers put down men with long hair and yet they themselves have a weight problem. When was the last time you heard a sermon on gluttony?

I have friends who would be considered “fat.” Therefore, my intent with this article is not to bring condemnation but to remind everyone the importance of taking care of our bodies. 1 Corinthians 3:17 in the New Living Translation says, “God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.” Verses 19 and 20 from Chapter 6 goes on to say, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

One website for skeptics has a page titled “What the Bible says about Fat People” in an attempt to point out contradictions in Scripture. The King James Version’s use of the word “fat” doesn’t always refer to overweight people. Sometimes it describes God’s blessing. For example, Proverbs 13:4 (KJV) says, “The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.” The New King James Version renders the second part of that verse, “...the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.” 

God’s word does not contradict when rightly divided. Luke 15:23 mentions killing a fatted calf to celebrate the prodigal son’s return. On the other hand, Leviticus 3:17 and 7:23 commands us not to eat the fat itself.

Organizations such as the American Medical Association have labelled obesity a disease. I disagree with this assertion. More people today willingly eat too much of the wrong types of food plus don’t get enough exercise. I’ve been guilty of this and have put on extra pounds when I sat around too much working on my computer. One thing that helps me keep the weight down is going for prayer walks (during which I often evangelize). Fasting also helps the body eliminate unnecessary fat and toxins.

By the grace of God, all of us can exercise self-control and enjoy the fat of the land (Genesis 45:18) without being fat ourselves.

“But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” - 1 Corinthians 9:27

Was Jesus a Vegetarian?

In the liner notes of his best-selling album “Play”, electronic music artist Moby encouraged everyone to become vegetarians and avoid all killing of animals. To support his cause, Moby quoted from a variety of sources, including a portion of Isaiah 66:3; "He who kills a bull is as if he slays a man..." A casual glance at this verse gives the impression that it is totally wrong to kill animals.  But if you read the rest of this and the following verse, you'll see what the Lord is coming against is false worship: "…He who sacrifices a lamb, as if he breaks a dog's neck; He who offers a grain offering, as if he offers swine's blood; He who burns incense, as if he blesses an idol. Just as they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations, so will I choose their delusions, and bring their fears on them; Because, when I called, no one answered, when I spoke they did not hear; But they did evil before My eyes, and chose that in which I do not delight."

Some folks claim Jesus was a vegetarian.   Apparently these folks don’t know Scripture.  Twice Jesus helped Peter catch abundant amounts of fish (Luke 5:4-7 and John 21:5-11).  Luke 24:41-43 clearly shows that Jesus ate fish with his disciples in their presence.  In the Parable of the Lost Son, Jesus talked about the father killing the fatted calf to celebrate his sonʼs return (Luke 15:23).  When Jesus instructed his followers to take communion, he used the phrase “eat my flesh” (John 6:53) when referring to the bread representing his body.  If Jesus totally opposed meat eating, why didnʼt he use different wording?

Now it should be pointed out the Bible commands man not to abuse animals. Proverbs 12:10 (NIV) says, "A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal."  Man is accountable to God for being a good steward of all his earthly possessions.

The Bible also points out a meat-based diet can be unhealthy. Numbers 11:31-33 mentions how God provided quail in the wilderness for the Israelites who became diseased because they ate too much of it.  Daniel 1:11-17 shows how God's people were healthier because they ate vegetables and water instead of the king's meat.  But God doesn't love us any differently if we choose to eat certain foods or not.  1 Corinthians 8:8 in the Darby translation says, "But meat does not commend us to God; neither if we should not eat do we come short; nor if we should eat have we an advantage."

God commanded man in Genesis 1:28 to subdue the earth and have dominion over all animals.  After the fall of man, God used an animal's skin to clothe Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:21).  Fur protesters need to realize that it was God's idea to use animal skins for clothing in the first place.  While I agree with the Humane Society for going after people who deliberately mistreat animals, I cannot agree animals have equal status with humans.  Jesus said in Matthew 10:31, “Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” The Lord also said in Matthew 12:12, “Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep?”

Activist groups like PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) try to discourage meat eating by designing buttons and posters with phrases like "Meat is Murder" or "Thou Shalt Not Kill: Go Vegetarian."  Many of these same folks who fight to save the lives of animals think it is okay to kill their unborn children.  Even in Jesus´ day, there were people who valued the lives of animals more than the welfare of humans. In Mark chapter 5, Jesus delivered a demon-possessed man by allowing the evil spirits to go into a herd of swine that later drowned. The pig farmers didn’t rejoice in the demoniac being set free. They were more concerned about losing their “deviled ham.”

Today’s animal-rights advocates misuse Scripture to condemn meat eating but neglect more important matters like people’s eternal destinies. This is a prophetic fulfillment of 1 Timothy 4.  Verses 4 and 5 from this chapter go on to say, “For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.”

We should examine our motives in whatever we decide to eat and not impose our convictions upon others.

“Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.”

 - Romans 14:3-4