If gluttony is a sin, are obese people sinners?

Question

and are slothful, gluttonous persons doubly bad? or do they all have 'medical conditions' ?

Answer 1

I don't know why you expect Christians to defend themselves instead of overweight Christians, but in answering your question I think that what a common problem people have in understanding why the Bible views "gluttony" lies with the misconception of what the Bible means by when it talks about the stomach.

Whereas in English the heart is associated with emotions, in Hebrew the stomach is associated with emotions instead - this is where people get the phrase "gut-feeling" from.  So, when talking about "gluttony" it's not so much that you have an eating problem that God is concerned with, it's that you are ruled by emotions.

Obesity really is a medical issue and cannot be simply written off as a sin.  There are instances where the person who suffers from this condition is unable to help the situation that they are in.  However, there are those who are simply lazy or unwilling to change.  This is why the Bible makes such strong comments like in Proverbs 23:2 "put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony."

It's not that God wants fat people to commit suicide, but in Philippians 3:19 the bible says "In the end they will be destroyed. Their own emotions ['belly' in most translations] are their god, and they take pride in the shameful things they do. Their minds are set on worldly things." (GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995))

Answer 2

Yes they are pretty much sinners. Its not as though they have diabetes or nothing. Honestly you can control how much goes through your mouth. On the other hand not really because there are Christians out there who are obease and preachers too. So in my opinion they're not.  

Answer 3

Why don't you ask a professor of medicine!?

I have been diabetic for years.  Just this week the doctor told me that I was practically 'cured.'  This was due to me having gone on a long term diet a while back.  

I eat one toast in the morning with coffee, I have the equivalent of one slice of pizza at noon, a SMALL snack at 2 perhaps, and eat supper between 3 - 3:30 PM.  My supper is perhaps one bowl (small of yogurt). Black coffee only - after that, till about 1 AM bedtime.

If I eat any more than this, I gain weight, and I walk 7 - 8km    6 times a week at least.

Saturdays, I cheat a little!

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Do you want to join me in my diet?

It seems that because of my body's makeup any more food would cause me to gain weight.  

I would like you to try to go on my diet for a month and see if you have the self-control to keep it up.

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In our world today where most things are mechanized, people do not get the physical exercise of former centuries (my conjecture).  

However, they eat the same amount they needed when they were young and active in sports.  Thus they gain weight.  It is unkind to call them gluttons.  I would call them victims of society's setup.  

If you try my diet for half a year and can keep it up yourself, then let me hear from you and see if you still think these people are gluttons or victims. (try it even for a month, and let me hear if you think other people can do this)

What can be done to help them out of this vicious circle they have entered?

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Edit: Coffee

I found that black coffee helps when and if I get really hungry in the evening.  Then a cup or two cuts the hunger pains and, of course, I try not to drink too much late at night.

It must be black coffee.  White or coffee with sugar would give too many calories -- the sugar would ruin the diet and probably worsen the hunger feelings.

Answer 4

no and yes. i suppose gluttony: a person who eats and drinks excessively or voraciously.

2. a person with a remarkably great desire or capacity for something: a glutton for work; a glutton for punishment.

nevertheless, there is medical conditions for people being obese :Hypothyroidism...Cushion's syndrome.... and side affects of many medicines especially those that treat mh illness.

depending the source of the obesity, will determine if a sin is applicable to the cause.

Answer 5

He loves you and wants to have a personal relationship with YOU.. He doesn`t need you to be perfect. He never asked for perfection.. He just asks that you love him and believe Jesus lived and died to cover your sins.. That is it, in a nutshell.. The only perfect human was Jesus.. The rest of us are s***w ups and God loves us anyway..

Contrary to popular belief, We did not get a packet of *INSTANT HOLY* and a bottle of * INSTANT GOD`S KNOWLEDGE* the second we decided to follow God.  We all fall short....

Peace and Blessings from Texas <><

Answer 6

Ruby: The Christian God just wants you for your body.

He'll make you fat once he's done with you....

Answer 7

nope

Answer 8

Very interesting question, I'm looking forward to reading some of the replies.

Answer 9

It is said: "Eat to Live but do not Live to Eat"!

Little quanity will support and carry you...

But if you eat more, you will have to support and carry it!

Overeating is the cause of many diseases!

It is a sin to self-inflict just about every organ in the body to the hardful effects of self-indulgence in over eating!

Eat for one intestine and not to fill seven intestines!

Obviously illness is exempted from topic, example: thyroid glands condition, etcetera...

Sin on the parents who never inculcated in children the habit of eating less so that they are saved from sickness and greed!

Answer 10

I never heard of gluttony as a sin. Rather it is advised not to be gluttonous. Obesity is neither any crime/sin, nor a fault of that person due to having too much food ---be kind to them, pls.  

Answer 11

The bible teaches all things in moderation and basically says we should not put anything before God. To scoff and stuff yourself,as some fat people do is a sin.It The Bible states that......

Our Bodies are a Temple for the Lord Jesus Christ.

It also warns us not to sin against our own bodies never mind anyone elses.

Some are very particular of what they eat, they like the cak the gunk the junk full of scientific equations and FORMULAS. E numbers and unpronouncible ingredients is what some look for.

Some people do purposely aim to get fat.

Others know better and are a lot pickier. They like the Quality as well as the Quantity.#

And all of it!!!!

It Takes Devotion to be a fatty, Real stubbrn dedication.

Others unfotunately really make the effort and gain weight and size because of illness, physiologial issues rather than plain. GLUTTONY.

GLUTTONY, the word itself says it all. IF YOUR FAT AND CONFESS TO BEING A GLUTTON, ITS NOT GOOD. ITS A CONFESSION AND SO THEN A HIDEOUS SIN.

FAT IS ONE THING ... GLUTTONY IS OBVIOUSLY another job altogether.... may be one for the less religious minded, but then i do know afew fat ovrweight christians.

Answer 12

We are all sinners, whether gluttony or anything else.  

Answer 13

Gluttony yields obesity.  The two are not the same.  There are various 'medical conditions' that have an effect.

Answer 14

i am veeery gluttonous. :) today i ate

kfc burger

kfc chips

coke

chocolate

TWO bacon burgers

pie

more hot chips

another coke

donuts

a bowl of whipped cream with chocolate on it

lemon cordial

yet i am as skinny as a twig

the christian god must love me?

Answer 15

Not all people who are obese are gluttons. Some eat a normal amount, but due to their lifestyle or a disability don't wear off the normal number of calories through activity.

So that would not be a sin.

But some people do way overeat, and if your faith teaches such is sinful, then yes, that would be.

But obesity can have causes other than simply excessive eating, so obesity in itself is not a sin.

Answer 16

No, just disgusting that's all.

Answer 17

Which obese people are you talking about?

Those who were born that way due to genetic problems or thyroid problems... that is okay..

obviously not those who eat away their lives and do nothing...

Answer 18

Yes. And they're also unpleasant to look at.

Answer 19

We will now sing Hymn #57:

"Who ate all the pies?

Who ate all the pies?

You fat sinners! You fat sinners!

Who ate all the pies?"

And now the reading, which today is taken from the Menu of MankyDee, Chapter #4:................