I have often wondered why church folk are often so obese.?

Question

The Bible tells us specifically, to keep yourselves clean and healthy in mind and body. We are also reminded in the Bible, that our body is the temple of God.

However, so many church folk seem to ignore the sin of gluttony and continue right on living in this sin. Eventhough, they know it is unhealthy.

Now, it seems that if people associate with the obese they are more likely to become obese...so, maybe churches breed fat people?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20070725/sc_livescience/studyobesityissociallycontagious

Finally, if a person dies fat, will they not go to hell? Fundamentalists say that if we do not turn from our sin, that we will not inherit the kingdom of God....if a person dies fat, they obviously did not turn from the sin of gluttony...your thoughts?

And no, I do not believe this to be true....but, fundamentalists can't have it both ways...interpret the Bible literally for others, but, not for themselves.

Granted the majority of the U.S. is overweight...church-goers and not...

But, people who claim to be Christians should be held to a higher standard correct?

They know they are sinning and continue to live in the sin...while the non-church goer does not...

So, I would expect the churched to be an example of Christ...

Answer 1

In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth and populated the Earth with broccoli, cauliflower and spinach, green and yellow and red vegetables of all kinds, so Man and Woman would live long and healthy lives.

Then using God’s great gifts, Satan created Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream and Krispy Creme Donuts. And Satan said, “You want chocolate with that?”

And Man said, “Yes!” and Woman said, “and as long as you’re at it, add some sprinkles” And they gained 10 pounds. And Satan smiled

And God created the healthful yogurt that Woman might keep the figure that Man found so fair. And Satan brought forth white flour from the wheat, and sugar from the cane and combined them. And Woman went from size 6 to size 14.

So God said, “Try my fresh green salad.” And Satan presented Thousand-Island Dressing, buttery croutons and garlic toast on the side. And Man and Woman unfastened their belts following the repast.

God then said, “I have sent you heart healthy vegetables and olive oil in which to cook them.” And Satan brought forth deep fried fish and chicken-fried steak, so big it needed its own platter. And Man gained more weight and his cholesterol went through the roof.

God then created a light, fluffy white cake, named it “Angel Food Cake,” and said, “It is good.” Satan then created chocolate cake and named it “Devil’s Food.” God then brought forth running shoes so that His children might lose those extra pounds. And Satan gave cable TV, with a remote control, so Man would not have to toil changing the channels. And Man and Woman laughed and cried before the flickering blue light and gained pounds.

Then God brought forth the potato, naturally low in fat and brimming with nutrition. And Satan peeled off the healthful skin and sliced the starchy center into chips and deep-fried them. And Man gained pounds.

God then gave lean beef, so that Man might consume fewer calories and still satisfy his appetite. And Satan created McDonald’s and its 99-cent double cheeseburger. Then said, “You want fries with that?” And Man replied, “Yes! And super size them!” And Satan said, “It is good.” And Man went into cardiac arrest.

God sighed and created quadruple bypass surgery.

Then Satan created HMOs.

Answer 2

I don't think most fundamentalists would say obesity is a sin. Obesity is a medical term whereas gluttony is a Biblical one. Gluttony is SO much more than just eating a lot and being a chubbster.

As for your original assumption, that folk church are often obese- I'd say you're looking too much into something. For one, people find solace and acceptance in the Church when the rest of society shuns them. The same thing goes for people deemed to be "backwards." Society is extremely judgmental while preaching acceptance. God will take you as you are and work with you from there.

AND, one last thing. :) Just because a person dies fat (which is a relative term) doesn't mean they've obviously not turned away from gluttony. We don't know where others are in their walk. That person could have died having made a conscious effort to lose weight and become healthier, or that person could have been praying for help with food addictions. Just because a person is fat on the outside doesn't mean their spirit isn't trying to be healthier. Again, we just don't know where people are in their walk. We see things on our time table, but it's God's time table that matters.

Neat interpretation of the article. I read it earlier too and thought a person could decide to shun fat people. :P

Answer 3

All those potlucks and donut coffee hours after church and meetings.

the Extra Large Idol of Most High Fat and Sugar is frequently worshipped in FundProt( and other religious) circles.

They are really Pastery Pantheists and Colesterol Cultists!

They will be in the Circle of Hell were they will be forever fondued by the Pillsbury Doughboy!

Maybe they need more "Sunday Morning Aerobics" with "dancing in the Spirit" during church services?

Oh! the Horror! Give me a danish right away!

Answer 4

It's just another sad example of that good ol' "pick and choose, but deny picking and choosing, while condemning others who pick and choose" mentality!

As long as the anti-gay crowd continues to condemn gay people and never gives a second thought to using the Bible to justify the sin of homophobia, they can go about their merry way and overlook whatever else they want. God has given them the special right to do so.

It's also fascinating how so many who respond miss your entire point over and over: your point is the hypocrisy of picking and choosing from Scripture while casting stones at others.

Answer 5

Church folk are not often so obese. Americans are often so obese. Go to a Christian church in a third world country and tell me how many obese people you see.

Answer 6

You are obsessed with this.

Please provide statistics to back up your theory.

I don't believe it for a minute.

No one will go to hell just because he/she is fat.

I think that you are disgruntled because as a gay Christian, you have been treated unkindly. YOU, of ALL people, oought to be kind to others who might have been discriminated against. If you are indeed a minister, as you stated in your profile, you would know that there is only one way that a person might go to hell.

I am sad to think that there are ministers such as you.

Answer 7

WELL, IT IS TRUE IT SIS THE CASE NOWADAYS, because fat people become dewpressed , so they go to oray for god to show that they have morals not like preety healthy girls whoi don go to church... i don think these fat people that go to church just because they hate their life like this will go to heaven because there intention is to show that they sth good, which is going to church but they from the inside they are not faithfulll.

Answer 8

You are simply generalizing. The vast majority of the population are obese. Some cannot help it, some can.

Answer 9

You sit in those pews and eat all those pot lucks and tell me you'll be skinny buddy boy!!!!

as to your last question, only if they have retrofitted the gates to make them ADA accessible

Answer 10

pull the plank out your eye before you try and remove the speck of sawdust from someone Else's eye