LESS CURDS, MORE WHEY.....

Gaining weight is rather easy to explain: The more calories we take in than we expend equals weight gain. It really is that simple. And, of course, we know this.

The solution? Turn the process around. Expend more and take in less. But because of human frailty it is easier said than done. Most of us can attest to this fact. 

So, how can we turn things around? 


FIRST of all, we must educate ourselves about what is good food and what is bad. We've heard it a thousand times - more fruit and vegetables. SECONDLY, we need to eat less, sometimes drastically less. Our land of plenty feeds us plenty of calories. THIRDLY, exercise more. I wonder how many in-house bicycles are web covered? FOURTHLY, we should name 'the ever-advertising-money grabbing-billion dollar diet industry' for what it is (more clever schemes for dropping weight than you can shake a cheeseburger at) and refuse to get suckered in (as in 'sucking it in' gluttony-wise). And FIVE, we must constantly review the many dangers of over-eating and scare ourselves gut deep. Every other magazine article seems to rightly and  direly inform us in great detail. And, lastly, we must just DO WHAT WE MUST DO...eat less and exercise more. 

Can our Christian faith play a part in this? Yes, indeed! As Christians we can pray and ask God to quicken our will power (or won't power, however you look at it). After all, isn't prayer powerful? I mean to really ask God for the victory! Then, we can join with some friends and diet as a team. This makes for accountability. And then, we must arm ourselves with Scriptures, memorize them (carry them with us on cards) and allow God's directives to enable us in the undertaking. Isn't the Bible "quick and powerful"?

Here are some pertinent Bible verses:

"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?    For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body" (1 Corinthians 6:19,20). With an obesity epidemic rather obvious, Christians who take care of their bodies will be unique. This can be part of our testimony. 

"Do not be with heavy drinkers of wine, or with gluttonous eaters of meat..." (Proverbs 23:20). Isn't this a convicting verse? God puts drunkenness and gluttony in the same prohibition. Why are believers so quick to pounce on one of them but not the other?)

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience........SELF-CONTROL" (Galatians 5:22,23). Does the Christ-life and the Spirit-filled life pertain to my table habits?

Other than the physical benefits of controlled eating, are there spiritual ones too? Yes, very much so. A.W. Tozer remarks, "There is a sweet theology of the heart that is only learned in the school of renunciation." It is when we deny self that we know more of Jesus Christ.

This being a reality, I'll be able to know Him better, serve Him better and be a better Christ-like example. I can't imagine Jesus was obese.

- dr. dick christen