© 17 Colin Melbourne
Self-Control or Self-Idolatry?
Q: Is it regarded as idolatry for a Christian to diet?
A: Very pertinent question, with obesity, vanity, self-idolisation, over indulgence, and eating disorders, rampant in the world.
The answer is straight-forward for a believer in Christ; where motivation to diet arises from a godly desire to keep fleshly lusts under the control of your spirit, it is; noble, proper, and biblically acceptable in principle, 1 Co. 9:27 KJV;
But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
Who Controls Self?
The “I” is the Apostle Paul’s spirit, writing by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost in him.
Your spirit is the real (though invisible) you, the hidden man of the heart, of which the Holy Ghost also writes through the Apostle Peter (1 Pe. 3:4).
God’s word teaches born again believers to keep our fleshly desires subject to the control of our spirit, and thereby in step with God’s Spirit.
This is a basic lesson of discipleship which every believer must embrace, or forever face repeated failure in their Christian walk, instead of victory.
More Than Meets the Eye
In the Bible, idolatry encompasses more than bowing to wooden stocks, and stones; anything which usurps the place of God’s Spirit leading a believer is an idol. That is why the word says, in 1 Co. 10:13 and Col. 3:5-7 KJV;
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience. In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
Notice, the Spirit of God is not writing only of overtly pagan idolatry such as; prostration before crucifixes, idols of stone and wood, worshipping the moon, stars, sun, mountains, rivers, and created beings, but of anything deflecting from the leading of God’s Spirit in our heart.
Carnal or Godly?
With the repeated divine injunction to flee idolatry in mind, it therefore becomes easy to examine our heart, and discern with integrity if our dieting is godly, and when it is carnal, vain idolatry.
Eating Disorders
Obesity is plainly an eating disorder, the person is out of order and following their stomach, not the Lord.
They have made their ungodly appetite into an idol.
Overeating steals health and kills people, just as surely as starvation, anorexia, and bulimia glorify the Devil: Not God.
Christians are to be self-controlled: That is, our spirit, by the power of the Holy Spirit, controls our flesh. Submitting to the Spirit’s leading is the individual’s responsibility, not God’s.
Overweight = Undisciplined
Obesity is an obvious outward sign that a person’s appetite is not in line with the Holy Ghost.
They lack the temperance the Holy Ghost wrote of through the Apostle Peter, in 2 Pe. 1:5-6 KJV;
And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
Temperance is; self-restraint in all things, including both alcoholic drink and food intake.
A fat Christian is a very poor witness, and sure to be compromising their obedience in other areas too. (See also Rom. 13:13-14.)
Fighting the Flab
Personally, I keep my body weight to what it was in my physical prime (18-21 years old).
My ministry and lifestyle in Asia incorporate lots of physical exertion, and in the tropical heat, I’m quickly made aware of carrying any excess body mass.
I also weigh myself, and do the “pinch-test” regularly.
If I stray over my threshold, I simply eat less, and go to sleep hungry each night until my weight is back to normal. It’s not difficult.
It’s a wise habit to fast at least one day a week, simply to remind your body (flesh) that you (your spirit) are its master, not your flesh and appetites mastering you.
This attitude of self-control runs throughout New Covenant teaching. Attend to the Holy Ghost as you read aloud, Jn. 8:34, Ro. 6:16, 2 Pe. 1:4, 2 Pe. 2:19 KJV;
Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
Food was Man’s Downfall
As an interesting side-thought, bear in mind that man’s original rebellion was induced by a dietary temptation, Gen. 2:16-17 KJV;
And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
That is why we keep our fleshly appetites subject to the control of our spirits, and in step with God’s word and Spirit. 1 Co. 9:27 KJV;
… I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
A Word on Biblical Fasting
Fasting is not to be confused with dieting: We fast as the Holy Spirit leads us, and for the purpose He shows us: Not to lose weight!
Mature Christians live a fasted-life: This book on Biblical Fasting teaches what that is, and is a balanced guide to Christian fasting.
© 17 Colin Melbourne
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