Glutton - Part 10

Gluttony is the sin that almost everyone condones. 

“Have just one bite.” 

"It's Christmas for goodness sake!"

"Granny made this just for you.  It will break her heart if you don't eat it."

You’ve heard all these.  I could go on for pages but, really, haven’t you suffered enough? 

But here's the hard question.  Would any other sin earn you this kind of pass?   If you admitted to your women’s bible study group that you were embezzling from your employer, would they coo over you in sympathy and blame it on menopause?  If you confided to your pastor that you were having an affair, would he say “I have the same problem every Thanksgiving?”  (And if any of these answers are “Yes”, you might want to consider finding another church.  Good grief!)

And while these scenarios seem comical, they are pretty accurate in regards to gluttony.  I know we hate to admit it but Christians are really good at picking on sins that don't tempt them.  That's why your 40 something, married for 22 years type Christians rail against pre-marital sex and birth control.  They do not struggle with that so it's easy for them to decide that these are the most heinous possible sins.  But gluttony?  That hits a bit too close to home.

Walk into most American churches and try to give a sermon on gluttony.  Good luck my friend.  Chances are very good you ain't receiving a love offering and you are definitely not getting invited to the monthly potluck supper.  Too bad buddy.  Miss Emma makes a kick butt peach cobbler and you are getting none of it. 

Is eating peach cobbler a sin?   Nope.  Is hoping the sermon is over quick today so you can run down to the fellowship hall and be first in line for the peach cobbler a sin?  Well...kinda.

Here is the truth.  Not only has the church condoned gluttony as a sin, most of them have institutionalized it. Jesus told us to feed the hungry.  When are we gonna stop feeding ourselves long enough to try that? 

And look, there are lots of churches out there that are doing great work.  They are following the commands of Christ in a way that is more than admirable.  But if your congregation is filled with people that are obese it may be time to acknowledge that maybe not all of us are 'big boned'.  Maybe it's time to admit that we are a big ol' bunch of sinners.  And in this case the plank in our own eye just might be a stick of butter.