The Undisciplined Eater
January 15th, 2007The decision to follow Jesus should not result in greater adherence to a set of rules, but in a reshaping of one’s thought patterns, the adoption of a new set of attitudes, an entire change of direction in one’s way of life. For that reason this post would be incomplete if I only stated (in response to Kiki’s earlier question) that gluttony is condemned here or here.
I think it much better to start with the idea of self-control. Choosing to follow Christ means a lifetime of struggling against my inclinations. I want to be selfish, jealous, angry, and bitter. Instead, because of the change Christ has wrought in me, I will work on thinking of others and not just myself, being content instead of wanting more, committing to serve those around me rather than hating them for hurting me, and focusing on eternity rather than complaining about the present.
This is much harder than, say, hill workouts and will require much greater quantities of personal discipline. Is it any wonder that self-control is listed as one of those qualities that should be demonstrated in the life of a committed Christian? How can I struggle against the evil inside me if I have no ability to restrain myself from pursuing that very evil?
I find it interesting that gluttony is mentioned alongside of drunkenness and orgies – activities in which a person ceases to struggle effectively against himself and abandons himself to his cravings.
Here’s a question for ya:
You know how we pray over meals to thank God and ‘bless it to our body’? Can we do that when we’re about to eat a Chocolate Volcano as big as our head?
Seriously, are there desserts that really are “sinfully delicious”?
(*cringe*) You’re saying it’s harder to be nice to me than to do a hill workout, huh?
Well, yeah. Isn’t it easier to say, “I’m going running” (and do it) than it is to say, “I’m going to start being nicer to ____.”
Oh, and Kiki, while I’m thinking through my chocolate volcano post…I’m up to a trip to Riverside…been thinking about that moon cake, or whatever it was…