Hope it's not to late to jump into this conversation.
I was thinking about this the other day as I was watching a bigger brother preach.
The following is the product of my musings. If I had to give this personal summary of thought a title, I might call it, "The causality of obesity and potential appropriate responses for normalization of body mass":
"The state of obesity comes about through a lifestyle where an individual's consumption of calories (on a daily basis) is much greater than the volume and rate of those being burned off by his/her body. When this metabolic imbalance is present, it is usually due to: a) A personal inability to judge proper levels of nutrient consumption, b) A lack of self-control in this area, c) Poor dietary practices and meal portioning, d) Some combination of these three. Due to the adverse effects obesity has on our temples (their arteries, lungs, even mood, etc.) as well as it's ramifications in every aspects of our lives and upon our witness, it is my unprofessional medical and spiritual opinion that obesity is irrefutably both unhealthy and ungodly. Even the heathen world knows that being fat is the result of eating habits which grossly exceed both necessity and common sense. I have and shall continue to lovingly urge my fat brothers and sisters to stop filling themselves with extra calories and poorly constructed meals, and to instead focus upon filling up with the Holy Spirit so that they may enjoy the peaceable fruit which He brings."
I'm @Peace.
Great post! Facts are facts. We need to stop dodging this issue. Bad health, a bad witness (example), and obvious lack of self control permeates from this problem. It won't go away unless we change our ways and be honest with ourselves. Christians should live healthy, balanced lives, in body and soul. Practicing this will eliminate depression, physical ailments that are deadly, and will unleash a well of energy to perform great exploits.
It's sad to see people speak about not wanting to hear what an overweight preacher has to say merely because of his appearance.
I suppose you don't stop at just preachers, but you must be turned off by anyone who is that way. How sad.
I hope none of you who posted the above thoughts come to the Gathering in Jackson because if you do, I don't want to meet you. I can't imagine what you might think of me based on my appearance.
BTW, in case you might want to approach me but don't know who I am, I'll be the skinny girl hugging on the fat folks that I call my friends.
PTL Sis,
As always, you stir the pot. Love you for that. Makes people think, including me.
Your point about judging those behind the pulpit because of physical appearance; How would you feel if your pastor preached NAKED? I mean, this is how Adam and Eve once lived. It's natural. The body was created by God.
This of course would draw the wrong kind of attention and divert people's thoughts to possible gutteral conclusions. This is dramatic, but proves one thing----Appearance is important, whether we like it or not.
Another point. I spent 6 years in the United States Marines. Training men to protect our Nation and to give them the ability to conquoer the enemy started in a place called "Bootcamp". My first contact with leadership in the military was in this place, and these men where prepared to do a job; Produce the BEST. They could not tell us to run 5 miles unless they were willing to run it with us. They marched, slept, hiked, and became what they wanted us to become. If a 400 pound drill instructor stood on the sidelines, shouting orders with no willingness to lead by example, the Marine Corps would FAIL to be the greatest fighting force on Earth.
If preachers stage themselves behind the Pulpit, fat, obese, and unhealthy, this poor example will spread into the Church, leading us all to a life of depression, laziness, and very bad example to the World that is looking for hope.
If anyone should have self control (temperance) in this area, it should be the preachers. I'm sorry, but orders coming from a man who won't take care of himself, gorging on a diet that is proven to make one sick, this is leading the Church strait to the hospital, not the battlefield. How can we pull others out of the ditch if we are in the ditch ourselves?
Great post! Facts are facts. We need to stop dodging this issue. Bad health, a bad witness (example), and obvious lack of self control permeates from this problem. It won't go away unless we change our ways and be honest with ourselves. Christians should live healthy, balanced lives, in body and soul. Practicing this will eliminate depression, physical ailments that are deadly, and will unleash a well of energy to perform great exploits.
NFS
Why does this only apply to fat people?
Skinny people can eat like heifers, and the statements about it are, "Oh goodness, that girl can sure put the food away, can't she? How does she stay so thin? Wish I could eat like that and look like she does!"
Sadly, that thin person has an overactive thyroid and can (and does) eat 10,000 calories a day. Those judging her don't see that.
Fat people eat 2000 calories a day, but have a piece of cheesecake after a Mother's Day dinner and the comments are, "I think she could have done without that slice of cheesecake. If I looked like that, I would only eat tuna fish!"
Sadly, that fat person isn't fat because of overeating, but because of an underactive thyroid, but those judging her don't see that.
__________________
I've gone and done it now! I'm on Facebook!!!
As always, you stir the pot. Love you for that. Makes people think, including me.
Your point about judging those behind the pulpit because of physical appearance; How would you feel if your pastor preached NAKED? I mean, this is how Adam and Eve once lived. It's natural. The body was created by God.
This of course would draw the wrong kind of attention and divert people's thoughts to possible gutteral conclusions. This is dramatic, but proves one thing----Appearance is important, whether we like it or not.
Another point. I spent 6 years in the United States Marines. Training men to protect our Nation and to give them the ability to conquoer the enemy started in a place called "Bootcamp". My first contact with leadership in the military was in this place, and these men where prepared to do a job; Produce the BEST. They could not tell us to run 5 miles unless they were willing to run it with us. They marched, slept, hiked, and became what they wanted us to become. If a 400 pound drill instructor stood on the sidelines, shouting orders with no willingness to lead by example, the Marine Corps would FAIL to be the greatest fighting force on Earth.
If preachers stage themselves behind the Pulpit, fat, obese, and unhealthy, this poor example will spread into the Church, leading us all to a life of depression, laziness, and very bad example to the World that is looking for hope.
If anyone should have self control (temperance) in this area, it should be the preachers. I'm sorry, but orders coming from a man who won't take care of himself, gorging on a diet that is proven to make one sick, this is leading the Church strait to the hospital, not the battlefield. How can we pull others out of the ditch if we are in the ditch ourselves?
NFS
If living an unhealthy lifestyle was the only reason for fat people, I'd agree with you completely. But since that's not the case for many, I can't accept the blanket statements made for them. Unless you are with them 100% of the time, watching everything they eat, and have proof that what they eat is making them that way, then you aren't up on the facts, especially when there are skinny people with heart disease that come to my unit for heart caths and surgeries all the time because they won't put down the cheeseburgers.
And, while I'm glad you love me for my pot stirring, let's not compare the appearance of fat people, which could be for any reason, to naked people, who are only that way for one reason.
__________________
I've gone and done it now! I'm on Facebook!!!
Skinny people can eat like heifers, and the statements about it are, "Oh goodness, that girl can sure put the food away, can't she? How does she stay so thin? Wish I could eat like that and look like she does!"
Sadly, that thin person has an overactive thyroid and can (and does) eat 10,000 calories a day. Those judging her don't see that.
Fat people eat 2000 calories a day, but have a piece of cheesecake after a Mother's Day dinner and the comments are, "I think she could have done without that slice of cheesecake. If I looked like that, I would only eat tuna fish!"
Sadly, that fat person isn't fat because of overeating, but because of an underactive thyroid, but those judging her don't see that.
If living an unhealthy lifestyle was the only reason for fat people, I'd agree with you completely. But since that's not the case for many, I can't accept the blanket statements made for them. Unless you are with them 100% of the time, watching everything they eat, and have proof that what they eat is making them that way, then you aren't up on the facts, especially when there are skinny people with heart disease that come to my unit for heart caths and surgeries all the time because they won't put down the cheeseburgers.
And, while I'm glad you love me for my pot stirring, let's not compare the appearance of fat people, which could be for any reason, to naked people, who are only that way for one reason.
Sis, you are avoiding the facts. America is fat, lazy, and unhealthy. We are sick and need a revival of good diet and exercise in this Country. The Church is not excluded here. Our poor habits need to change, or we will continue to justify the act of poisoning our bodies. Moderation and temperance will bring back good living and testimony to a World that is looking for truth.
Someone made the statement that nothing is more sickening than a fat preacher behind the pulpit making a statement about food. That was all. Just a judgmental statement based on an outward appearance.
Fat people are done that way all the time. It's nothing new.
__________________
I've gone and done it now! I'm on Facebook!!!
Sis, you are avoiding the facts. America is fat, lazy, and unhealthy. We are sick and need a revival of good diet and exercise in this Country. The Church is not excluded here. Our poor habits need to change, or we will continue to justify the act of poisoning our bodies. Moderation and temperance will bring back good living and testimony to a World that is looking for truth.
We must lead by example, not words.
NFS
Oh, this I agree with, but I still disagree that it applies to fat folks alone, which is the topic of this thread.
Thin people are lazy and unhealthy too, but we don't talk about them because they don't look lazy and unhealthy.
BTW, being fat doesn't mean being lazy and unhealthy. I used to be almost 400 pounds and my bloodwork was perfect and I walked no less than 3 miles a day. I never had high blood pressure, diabetes, or anything that overweight people typically have. I thought I was the exception, but I see a lot of people like that. This isn't to say that the inevitable isn't around the corner, which is why I chose to change things.
I challenge anyone to carry that much around with them anywhere they go and still feel that I was lazy....LOL!
__________________
I've gone and done it now! I'm on Facebook!!!
Linear Mode
