Sin or not? (moved)

Hello everyone.
I am new here and am struggling, as I have been all of my life with food. I have been overweight all of my life, even as a young child. And I have been overeating as long. I have been a Christian for # years (I am # years old). The thing I struggle with most is this: Do I have an eating disorder, such as compulsive overeating or binge eating disorder, or am I a glutton, which is a sin.
Does anyone have any thoughts on this?
 
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Landon Caeli

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As a Catholic, I would say that overeating is not a mortal sin, though it might be a venial one since:

A) the food would be better given to a poor person.
B) our bodies are a temple for our soul, which God gave us, so we should take care of it.
C) it could shorten our lifespan, which would take-away from our purpose in living here.
 
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teresa

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Hello everyone.
I am new here and am struggling, as I have been all of my life with food. I have been overweight all of my life, even as a young child. And I have been overeating as long. I have been a Christian for #years (I am #years old). The thing I struggle with most is this: Do I have an eating disorder, such as compulsive overeating or binge eating disorder, or am I a glutton, which is a sin.
Does anyone have any thoughts on this?
Hi Amy

I'm no expert, but since I struggle with the same things as you, I thought Id volunteer an answer, only based upon my humble thoughts on this issue, which are by far not the most knowledgeable:

The wisdom of man says you have an eating disorder and I do as well. This is not gods wisdom which is separate. In this world, you and I will indeed be diagnosed as having a disorder and big pharma and doctors will try and make a profit out of us. But then again, maybe there is something they have that will bless us, as I believe that god gave mankind wisdom and knowledge too, such as the invention of penicillin.

God's wisdom says that we are gluttons and I believe it is a sin.

That being said, I see no reason not to combine bible study, prayer and support groups all together to work on overcoming this issue.

It's not an easy issue to figure out, but turning to gods word first is always the best first step.
 
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teresa

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As a Catholic, I would say that overeating is not a mortal sin, though it might be a venial one since:

A) the food would be better given to a poor person.
B) our bodies are a temple for our soul, which God gave us, so we should take care of it.
C) it could shorten our lifespan, which would take-away from our purpose in living here.

this is a great answer landon

good stuff

well thought out

all true

thank you
 
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So, that being said, that it is indeed a sin, means that I am living in sin and failing God. Maybe not even on my way to heaven. Galations 5:21 says anyone that does such things (that are listed) shall not inherit the kingdom of God. I know gluttony is not listed, but it is also a sin, so I guess I have to believe that if I cannot get victory over this sin when I meet Jesus he will say "depart from Me, I never knew you." I guess it is no different than living in sexual immorality or anything else.
 
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teresa

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check out this tune by christian contemporary group Unspoken, called Who You Are:


http://www.songlyrics.com/unspoken/who-you-are-lyrics/

I know that look you're giving,
Like you've got something to prove
'Cause I have walked for miles and miles
In that same pair of shoes

You refuse forgiveness
Like it's something to be earned
Sometimes pain's the only way that we can learn

You can never fall too hard,
So fast, so far
That you can't get back
When you're lost


Where you are is never too late,
So bad, so much
That you can't change

Who you are, ooo-oooh
You can change who you are, ooo-oooh

You believe in freedom,
But you don't know how to choose
You gotta step out of your feelings
That you're so afraid to lose

And everyday
You put your feet on the floor, you gotta walk through the door
It's never gonna be easy
But it's all worth fighting for

You can never fall too hard,
So fast, so far

That you can't get back
When you're lost

Where you are is never too late,
So bad, so much
That you can't change
Who you are, ooo-oooh
You can change who you are, ooo-oooh

So let the ashes fall wherever they land
Come back from wherever you've been
To the foot of the cross
To the feet of Jesus,
The feet of Jesus

You can never fall too hard,
So fast, so far
That you can't get back
When you're lost

Where you are is never too late,
So bad, so much
That you can't change
At the foot of the cross
You can change, yeah
Who you are, at the foot of the cross
You can change, yeah
(Who you are)
You can change who you are, ooo-oooh
You can change, ooo-oooh
 
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teresa

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If Jesus' blood is going to save us despite of our sin, then why does it say that in Galatians 5:21? and if I am in the wrong forum for this conversation, please forgive me and point me in the right direction. I don't want to discourage anyone.

Jesus died for all, but all do not accept His grace.

When you accept His grace, its because you have had your eyes opened and see that you are indeed not perfect, as the world would have you to believe, but a sinner.

When we repent of our sin, and then accept Jesus blood as an atonement for our sin, we are saved, and we will be recognized by Him when we appear before him.

The reason there is guidance in the holy scripture on sin, is so that we can see what sin is. The apostle Paul was trying to tend to the flock in Galatia.


Its easy to understand.
 
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teresa

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Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

- Romans 12:2 (NLT)
 
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Kristen.NewCreation

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All of us have sin... but all of us have the ability to go before the throne of God and request help and forgiveness. So many of us struggle with eating issues... scripture gives us guidance, and that's necessary for our salvation. That said, it's our willingness to ask for help, to move toward healing, I believe, that when we do eat too much, eat too little, are sexually impure, etc., that God is merciful to our cries for help and forgiveness.

I think your question is a good one, and as long as there isn't debate, we are good here. Lots of us struggle to please God and to want to go to heaven, but with an example like depression - sometimes we are so down that we don't even know how to pray anymore. We feel void. Sometimes that happens with eating issues too. Especially overeating. We live in a culture where everything is fast food without much balance. Even a person who doesn't binge when they eat, will find if they eat fast food regularly that most of us will gain weight.

As far as having an eating disorder? I'd encourage you to look up the signs of compulsive over eaters or binge eating, and see if the symptoms/behaviors apply. If they do, consider seeking counseling (a Christian counselor would be good with your struggles on sin vs eating disorders) to work on what is going on. And don't forget that some people medically have eating problems such as thyroid issues can cause issues, heredity could be an issue, etc.

I'd check out these two pages from NEDA - http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/other-specified-feeding-or-eating-disorder and http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/binge-eating-disorder
 
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theniceiceman

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My heart goes out to you, Amy. I struggle with this same thing. I've turned to food for emotional comfort since my childhood, before I even realized I was doing it. I believe binge-eating/compulsive over-eating/food addiction is a mental disorder. Sometimes God cures us of them, sometimes He doesn't. It depends on His master plan.

Here's my take on things...and I could be wrong. I think that God understands that these are things we've struggled with for years. For you, it's been # or so, for me it's been about #. Unless God miraculously heals us, it's not something we can quit overnight, probably.

God knows we're weak. He knows we won't ever be perfect. I believe the people Paul was referring to in that verse had no desire to change or please God--you do. Paul also said that anyone who is in Christ is a new creation and dead to sin. I've heard that this means God doesn't see us as sinners anymore, but as Christ's righteousness.

God loves you. He knows that we're but dust and that we can't be perfect all the time. He also knows you're hurting and that you want help, that you want to live a life pleasing to Him. Try not to be too hard on yourself, and try not to worry. I, too, am guilty of singling our verses that make it sound like I'm condemned, but when I think about Jesus, I think about him sitting me down and saying, 'I love you. Let's work through this, together.'
 
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The Lord saved me out of a terrible life # years ago. I was a heroin addict and a prostitute living on the streets. After He came into my life I was able to quit a large heroin habit and change my life, but here I am # years later still holding onto food. I held onto cigarettes until # years ago. It seems the older I get, the more I fall apart. I used to be pretty happy, and on fire for the Lord, going door to door, praying for ppl, and hoping they would come to Him. Now I feel totally unworthy to do even that because I am living in sin with this addiction. It is eating me up. It makes me cry all the time. A few weeks I was in church and some of the young ppl were giving their testimonies and I couldn't stop crying because I kept thinking these # year olds have it more together than me and I'm #! I had to leave church because I was so embarrassed. I feel like everything good is behind me.
 
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theniceiceman

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It's not up to you. Not entirely, anyway. The apostle Paul prayed #times for God to relieve him of the thorn in his flesh, which most people assume to be some sort of physical ailment, but it might also have been an addiction, lust, or something else entirely--we don't know. But what we DO know is that God didn't take it from him. God said, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.'

God helped you quit your heroin addiction. That's fantastic! However, for whatever reason, it doesn't seem that He's focusing on healing your addiction to food right now. I'm sure you've prayed about it. Like I said, Paul prayed #times to get his thorn taken from him. I agree with one of the above posters that you should seek out a Christian counselor--even if you don't have binge-eating disorder. You're clearly in a lot of pain and very stressed. I think a Christian counselor could help you make a plan of action to find healing, with God at the center of that plan. Is it possible that you also have clinical depression and/or anxiety? I'm not a doctor, but addictions are often cohorts with mental illness.
 
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Yes, I was diagnosed with clinical depression when I was young, like #. I have been taking medicine for it all of my life. I cannot go to counseling because it just makes my depression worse. But, I'm glad you brought up Paul and his thorn. I am reminded that the Lord did not take it away. But, then I always think that this is different that an illness because this is something I am doing to myself. The fruit of the Spirit living in me is supposed to be self-control. It's just very difficult for me to understand where God draws the line.
 
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theniceiceman

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Ah man, I'm sorry to hear it makes you depression worse! Is it possible that you just had a bad experience (or two, or three) with a counselor? Sometimes it takes a while to find one you click with who can really help you. I don't mean to push the suggestion; I just really think it could help you if you found the right one.

I suppose that it is in a way something we're doing to ourselves, but it's something that formed for the both of us in our childhood. I had a counselor tell me that food was what I used as a child to manage my anxiety, so my brain became accustomed to that relief. When I try to avoid binge-eating, my brain goes, 'No! This has worked for you for twenty years! Without it you'll be a wreck!'

I've heard that Paul also implied that the law makes us sin more. Of course that wasn't God's intention in making it; it was to make us aware of our own sinfulness. However, in a fallen world it's human nature to want the 'forbidden fruit' (for example, a teenage who wants to try smoking cigarettes or weed just to see what it's like, see what the 'big deal' about it is), so when we think of something we can't have or can't do that we 'want' to do (binge eating), it makes it all the more appealing, in a strange, convoluted way. Paul said he didn't do what he wanted to do, but he DID do what he DIDN'T want to do. You might think, well I must want to do it, or I wouldn't! But that's where it comes back to being a deeply rooted mental and emotional addiction--the very fact that you're trying to stop suggests that you don't want to do it, even though you (and many, many others, myself included) fail.

Even though you don't have self-control in this particular area of your life, I'm sure you have it in others! For example, when I came back to God after drifting away, I stopped cursing (save for the ultra-rare slip) literally overnight. However, my eating has been much harder to stop. There's times when I want to say something mean or snarky to someone, but then I think, no, no, don't--and that's self-control! I'm sure you have similar experiences. We aren't ever going to be perfect. If we could be perfect, we wouldn't need Jesus. But we can't be perfect, so we definitely DO need him.
 
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Well, I am glad you are on the right path for being so young (#?) It's good to see young people serving the Lord. I'm sure you will do well in your fight with binging and get the victory. I hear being positive is half the battle and you seem to be a very positive person. Thank you for all the uplifting words and I will keep trying also.
 
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teresa

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I found this website very helpful, as I continue to struggle myself with this issue:

http://www.jesuswalk.com/galatians/7_flesh.htm

"7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life." (Galatians 6:7-8)

These are troubling statements. Actually, many so-called Christians are quite happy mocking God, that is, sinning like hell while expecting heaven. Paul says no. James agrees.

"17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, 'You have faith; I have deeds.'Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do." (James 2:17-18)

Our doctrinal problem is that we have confused "justification by works of the law" to mean that we can sin on and on and still be saved. It is very true that we cannot be saved by being good -- because there's no way we can be good enough to reach God's high standard. But if we have a cavalier attitude towards sinning, what does that say about our so-called faith and allegiance to Jesus?

Paul's concern "is to warn believers that they must therefore not live as others who are destined to experience the wrath of God" (Colossians 3:6).[245]

If we're serious about following Christ, we need to repent of our sins and begin a pattern and practice of yielding to the Holy Spirit. Yes, we'll slip now and then. But that doesn't mean that we can't walk consistently in the Spirit. You can't credibly say you're a follower of Jesus when you sin with impunity -- that's hypocrisy!
 
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I am sorry, but I suffer from binge eating disorder and have since the age of #, and I am # now, and have done and tried everything including # months at a # day a week outpatient eating disorder clinic to no avail.

Eating disorders, especially this serious and long standing are NOT gluttony and will not tolerate for a second anyone calling me that - it is bad enough to be called a fatso, a pig, etc, the last thing us sufferers of this miserable disease or psychological disorder is to be told in addition to being a pig we are sinners as well.

 
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