Speak the Truth in Love

​As Christians, we are commanded to love our neighbors as we love ourselves (Leviticus 19:17; Mark 12:31).  However, that does not mean coddling, sheltering, or outright lying when it comes to sharing God's Word.  On the contrary, we are instructed to speak the truth in love to foster and promote spiritual maturity through Christ (Ephesians 4:15).  In other words, we are not doing the world a favor by watering down, sugar-coating, or withholding the truth of the gospel from this increasingly evil generation.  While we should not be judgmental when sharing our faith because all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), we should actively be about the Father's business of saving souls even though it might make us unpopular, the message may be rejected, and/or the world hates us for it.
 
That said, I have to tell you something you do not want to hear.  You are overweight not because your family members are fat, not because you have a disability, and not because you lack willpower.  On the contrary, you have a weight problem because you are actively sinning against God, and you are suffering from the consequences of your sin.  It is not God's will for you to habitually commit the sins of gluttony and idolatry by worshipping at the altar of the false gods of your stomach, food, and beverages every time you have a craving.  Likewise, if you are suffering from an eating disorder, you are also sinning against the Lord by failing to take care of the temple of the Holy Spirit, which is your body, by obeying God’s command to eat and drink for His glory in order to, “Be holy because I am holy” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 10:31; Leviticus 11). 
 
The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), and you can expect an often slow, painful death from an obesity-related disease if you do not repent and begin to eat and drink for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).  Similarly, those suffering from eating disorders can anticipate a host of mental and emotional illnesses as well as physical ailments which could lead to their early demise.
 
“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free” (John 8:32).  Satan uses the ignorance of God's people against them.  The Bible confirms this fact in Hosea 4:6 which states, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge because they have rejected knowledge..."  The devil's plan is to steal years off your life by keeping you entangled with the sin of gluttony and failing to honor God with your body.  If successful, gluttony, making an idol of your stomach and food, and failing to otherwise take care of God’s temple by eating and drinking for His glory will ultimately bring about your untimely death and destroy the abundant life God meant for you to share with your family.  Do not let the enemy win.  Seek the knowledge of God in regard to your battle to lose weight and overcome eating disorders.
 
Romans 12:1 teaches that we should present our bodies as living sacrifices which are holy and acceptable to God.  When you become a living sacrifice, your lifestyle reflects it.  Those who knew the past version of you marvel at the change, and those who hear your testimony about who you used to be and the things you used to do have difficulty believing it is true.  Not only does your behavior change, but your very character is fundamentally different.  The result is the same, as with every other sin, when you turn away from gluttony, idolatry, and failing to eat and drink for the glory God in order to honor Him with your body. 
 
Those who knew you as an overweight glutton, an anorexic, or bulimic will marvel at how God has changed your life.  Those who meet the healthy you will find it difficult to believe you have ever starved yourself, binged and purged, or known a fat day.  The fact that you were able to overcome your sinful nature through Christ will plant seeds of faith in others that they can do the same.  In other words, it is not really about you, about simply overcoming your eating dysfunction, or about losing weight.  It is actually all about reaching the lost, setting the captives free, and preventing others from becoming ensnared by the sins of gluttony, idolatry, and failing to eat and drink for the glory of God.  Just like you, they need to hear the truth of God’s love spoken with the love that only Christ can give.
 
If you accept God’s truth which was revealed to you through His love, register today for the Eating as an Act of Worship Ministries Health and Fitness Master Class, featuring Dr. Tara Cannon, author of Health and Wellness for the Believer, Elsa Oliver, Christian nutritionist, and First Lady of Fitness, Debra Jones!  The classes are free!  There are no registration fees or membership fees!  Participants are only responsible for the cost of the class materials.  Classes begin online only on Monday, August 22, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. CST!  Space is limited.  Sign up now at www.eatingasanactofworshipministries.org!
If you are unable to take the course, purchase your copies of the Eating as an Act of Worship Workbook and the Eating as an Act of Worship Teacher’s Edition online today at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.com.  In the books, you will learn the biblical principles regarding the body, dieting, exercising, and maintaining a healthy body for the glory of God.  Read our weekly blog for motivation to stay healthy and fit through Christ.  Follow us daily on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest for recipes, diet, and exercise tips.  Tune in to our syndicated radio show on the DFW Den Radio Station, the StudioW Buzz Radio Station, and Victory KVDW 100.9 FM, 95.3 FM, and 1530 AM in Little Rock, Arkansas for interviews and health and fitness trends.  Lastly, make your tax-deductible donation to Eating as an Act of Worship Ministries at www.eatingasanactofworshipministries.org!