Why is gluttony a sin?

[RDKirk]

Or their palates. C.S. Lewis said that contrary to the modern image that gluttony was over concern with things of the flesh, particularly food. Chasing after new tasted to excess fits, even if one never overeats. For that matter the disciplined man of that sort may never eat to the point of being full, always keeping capacity in reserve for some new taste.

Yes. I don't think Paul was drawing a distinction between people who ate to excess and people who lived to experience new tastes. In fact, when he said, "...their god is their bellies..." I think he was speaking of the entire range of people allowing their physical needs and desires to dictate their actions.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Does it matter in the context of this thread/ topic ? (no)

The Bible never mentioned that the fruit, in which Adam and Eve ate,was an apple.

 

[KingdomLeast]

Why is gluttony a sin?

<BURP!> I dunno

 

[Ken-1122]

Because one's gluttony can deprive others ...

In todays economy, gluttony does not deprive others. Would you say that sin is obsolete?

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

In todays economy, gluttony does not deprive others. Would you say that sin is obsolete?

Actually, a gluttonous person cannot serve someone else as well as a healthy slave can.

 

[Ken-1122]

Why is gluttony a sin?

Why? What prevents them?

 

[HTacianas]

Why is gluttony a sin?

Gluttony is a selfish and unhealthy lust for a thing. Gluttony, as a lust for food, is the same as covetness for property or lust for sex. It is an improper use of the natural senses.

 

[dqhall]

In todays economy, gluttony does not deprive others. Would you say that sin is obsolete?

According to one study obesity drives up health care costs by 29%. That drives up monthly health insurance payments, medicare and medicaid costs. These costs are not only increasing for gluttons, but for others in the system as well:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/02/180208180356.htm

According to an Oxford study, obesity takes 3 - 10 years off a person's lifespan:
http://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2009-03-18-moderate-obesity-takes-years-life-expectancy

Obesity increases risk of 13 different types of cancer:
https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2017/p1003-vs-cancer-obesity.html

Obesity increases risk of heart failure, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, sleep apnea, etc.

Gluttony is a sin.

 

[Ken-1122]

Gluttony is a selfish and unhealthy lust for a thing. Gluttony, as a lust for food, is the same as covetness for property or lust for sex. It is an improper use of the natural senses.

What do you mean by "lust for food"? Are you saying you shouldn't eat food you find delicious? That you should only eat food that doesn't really taste good because you aren't supposed to enjoy it too much?

 

[Ken-1122]

According to one study obesity drives up health care costs by 29%. That drives up monthly health insurance payments, medicare and medicaid costs. These costs are not only increasing for gluttons, but for others in the system as well:

Actually the argument I was making was concerning depriving others of food. Fat people are not taking food away from skinny people, and eating it themselves. That is not something that happens in todays society.

In your opinion, is it just a sin to be fat? Or is the sin related to the amount you eat; because often the two are not related. I know of many athletes who can eat 7000 calories per day and remain below 5% body fat. Often people with high metabolisms can do the same thing if they exercise on a regular basis.

If excessive fat is a sin, where is the line drawn? Is 20% body fat a sin? 30%?, 40%? What BMI is a person required to remain within in order to remain sinless? And what about anorexia, and the problems those eating disorders cause? Are they sinners too, or are we only judging fat people.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/02/180208180356.htm

According to an Oxford study, obesity takes 3 - 10 years off a person's lifespan:
http://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2009-03-18-moderate-obesity-takes-years-life-expectancy

Obesity increases risk of 13 different types of cancer:
https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2017/p1003-vs-cancer-obesity.html

Obesity increases risk of heart failure, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, sleep apnea, etc.

Gluttony is a sin.

The links you provided only shows the damage done to yourself; not to others.

 

[Dave-W]

Gluttony equals giving in to fleshly desires.

So does eating at any level.

So does breathing, for that matter.

 

[Doug Melven]

So does eating at any level.

So does breathing, for that matter.

Eating and breathing are necessities of life.
Having 2nd and 3rd helpings when the first one satisfied your need for food is giving in to fleshly desires.
Fasting from food tells your flesh that the flesh is not in charge.
Gluttony tells the flesh that the flesh is in charge.

 

[Ken-1122]

Gluttony equals giving in to fleshly desires.

What's wrong with "fleshly desires"? If my flesh desires apples over oranges, so I eat the apple rather than the orange, what's wrong with that?

 

[RDKirk]

What's wrong with "fleshly desires"? If my flesh desires apples over oranges, so I eat the apple rather than the orange, what's wrong with that?

It becomes wrong when we let fleshly desires control the decisions we make. When that happens, we have allowed our flesh to be our master.

Don't you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. -- Romans 6

And,

No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. -- Matthew 6

 

[FireDragon76]

gluttony isn't just about food but includes an excessive passion or appetite in general.

 

[Doug Melven]

What's wrong with "fleshly desires"? If my flesh desires apples over oranges, so I eat the apple rather than the orange, what's wrong with that?

You are missing the meaning of "fleshly desires".
The flesh lusts against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh. Galatians 5:17
Do you honestly think the Spirit is concerned whether you want an apple or an orange?

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world..... For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh .....
is not of the Father but is of the world ....
Do you think the Father is concerned whether you want an apple or an orange?

God is concerned with you letting fleshly desires rule your life, and that is what gluttony does.
Now if you decide to eat a bushel of apples and a bushel of oranges you have let your appetite control you.

 

[Ken-1122]

It becomes wrong when we let fleshly desires control the decisions we make. When that happens, we have allowed our flesh to be our master.

What do you mean when you speak of the flesh? Is this another term for your mind? Or your ability to think? Or is it something else; because obviously our flesh (skin, muscle and bone) does not make decisions, or control anything we do.

Don't you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.

-- Romans 6

Does this mean we are all slaves of the law?

No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other.

-- Matthew 6

Let me guess... is one of those masters called "the flesh"?

 

[Ken-1122]

gluttony isn't just about food but includes an excessive passion or appetite in general.

How about if that passion or appetite is doing something good? Is it wrong to put a lot of effort in a project that is good?

 

[RDKirk]

What do you mean when you speak of the flesh? Is this another term for your mind? Or your ability to think? Or is it something else; because obviously our flesh (skin, muscle and bone) does not make decisions, or control anything we do.

This concept isn't even something unique to Christianity. It's a matter of taking conscious control of the urges of the flesh. Within Christianity, the concept involves the Holy Spirit and conforming one's mind to that of Christ, but Christianity isn't the only believe with that concept.

In Paul's times, the Stoics were already doing it.

 

[Ken-1122]

You are missing the meaning of "fleshly desires".

So what is “the flesh”? Is it a part of me? Or something outside of myself. Please explain.

The flesh lusts against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh. Galatians 5:17
Do you honestly think the Spirit is concerned whether you want an apple or an orange?

Well this spirit seems awful concerned about the amount of food I choose to eat, or how much I might enjoy tasty food, so……. Yeah! Judging from what you are telling me, it sounds like this spirit would be concerned with something as petty as apples vs oranges.

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world..... For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh .....
is not of the Father but is of the world ....
Do you think the Father is concerned whether you want an apple or an orange?

I dunno! Is this father as concerned about my cuisine as that spirit you spoke of earlier?

God is concerned with you letting fleshly desires rule your life, and that is what gluttony does.
Now if you decide to eat a bushel of apples and a bushel of oranges you have let your appetite control you.

Eating a bushel of apples or oranges would be painful; probably even getting me sick. When I am hungry, eating is pleasurable. As I become full, eating is no longer pleasurable, and if I continue to eat it will become painful to eat any more. What’s wrong with eating when it is pleasurable to eat, and stopping when it it starts to become painful?


PS this pettiness does not make your religion look very attractive.