Food Addiction in the Church

Food addiction and the church...why is it not talked about?

It’s not like the issue isn’t real. I’ve seen, and been a part of, the need for increasingly wider chairs in the sanctuary. I’ve seen, and been part of, the need for multiple big ole men to catch the chunky one in prayer lines. I’ve seen, and been, one of the out of breath, red in the face, sweating from just standing behind the pulpit, preachers.

It’s sad.

Really sad.

We are Christians know that our bodies are not our own, that we are living/breathing, temples for the Most High God...but here we are, hiding a very visible issue of defilement. It has to stop. It needs to be confronted for what it is. We can’t sugarcoat it any longer...after all, we’d like eat it if we did. Food addiction is real. There are many of us in the body of Christ who have very unhealthy relationships with what we eat. I’d even go so far as to say many of us idolize what’s on our plates. Seriously. We choose day after day to either purify, strengthen, and care for these temples or we do the opposite and defile them, weak and destroy them...with our forks!

Let me back up.

I am a self labeled “bapticostal”, I got that from an old school Veggie Tale song actually, and I love it! It explains that I believe wholeheartedly in the Word of God being just that, the Word of God! That I completely stand on it, live by it (try to at least), and recognize it as the Bread of Life. But the “costal” means that I’m also a believer in the manifestations of the Spirit, speaking in tongues, prophecy, clapping...what have you. So as I share, you will likely see both in who I am.

That brings us to the topic of deliverance, you know, casting out devils. You’re probably picturing some Hollywood movie depiction of what that means, I can’t undo your view of it in a short writing but I will remind you, you can’t always trust what you see on tv. Ok? Moving on..

I had the tremendous blessing of attending training classes that taught how to walk somebody through deliverance and help set them free with and for Jesus. Incredible classes! I learned more than I could ever likely put into words, sincerely. After classes concluded, I was able to schedule my own “deliverance session” with the same pastor who had taught the class! I was beyond excited to finally be able to get free from so many traumatic and sinful things that I knew were anchors in my life. Don’t get me wrong, I was also nervous as all get out, but I wanted to be free so badly that I was able to push ahead.

During my “session” with the pastor and his assistant, we prayed over, and through, literally pages and pages of junk that I knew I had to break off myself. I had spent more hours in therapies in my young lifetime (I was early 20s at this point) than most folks spend in 70years.

I knew clearly what all was wrong...I was just learning how to break it once and for all with Jesus.

As we neared the end of my virtual book of issues, I was a sobbing mess, I was soooo snotted! (Some of you fellow church folk will know what that means...crying so much you’re just dripping from every facial opening.) We all sat there in the office praying and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal anything else that we may have missed...then I asked, “what about food addiction? how do we break that sucker off too?”

I can still see the look of complete confusion on the pastor’s face and that of his assistant. It was as if they were saying “Food what? What are you talking about lady?” I was taken aback but their reaction but tried to explain further, “you know, food addiction? Turning to food for false comfort, before God, for stress management, for happiness on sad days...food addiction.” They continued to make those faces of wonder...I can’t recall the exact words that followed but it was pretty much them brushing off the topic and bringing things to a close in our meeting.

I left that encounter changed. So sincerely changed and free, I felt like a brand new woman! I was a brand new woman! But in the back of my mind I planted seeds from their responses that said “you’re the only Christian with a food addiction issue, nobody else has ever even heard of it before...you’re a freak fatty.” And that stayed hidden in the recesses of my mind for many years...I walked forward with all the freedom I had received and my life took an incredible leap into amazing things with Jesus. But that food struggle....it was still there...waiting.

Please understand, I still love and honor that pastor very much! I still thank him for being used by God to help me gain freedom I never even dared to dream of! He sincerely changed my life in ways no words could ever describe and I will forever thank God for him! I have no ill feelings toward him or his assistant in the least bit. They did all they could and knew to do for me and my life has been forever marked by their love for God.

But over the years as I have fought time and time again to win this battle against food once and for all, I’ve replayed that meeting and recounted those confused looks on their faces. I’ve come to realize that the pastor himself likely has a struggle with food as well. He’s a big fella, and over the decades since we sat in that office together, he’s gained a good bit of weight himself. I hadn’t been able to see clearly that maybe it was his own battle that blurred his understanding when I mentioned it that day. And in seeing that the pastor whom I esteemed highly (still do), likely battled the same stinkin’ issue I had, I began to look around at other pastors and church leaders. I found time and time again I was seeing more and more obese, neglected, some defiled, temples amongst God’s Ambassadors. From pulpit to pew, temples were being expanded in a negative way.

But nobody was talking about it, at all. Much like sex, it seems obesity is also a taboo topic in churches. Wouldn’t want to risk offending anybody I guess. We will just sit by and pray for them after their heart attacks when we drop off casseroles. Seriously? With the population of obese people rising at incredible rates, you’d think church leaders would see this is something that needs to be addressed. In love, of course, but still, addressed. Instead we just stand by and watch each other die younger and younger. Watch as so many wonderful fellow believers are weakened by preventable health issues and can no longer dance for Jesus or serve His people fully. It’s heart wrenching and it needs to be discussed.

Love covers, and obesity, food addiction, those are VERY sensitive topics, I don’t think it’s an easy thing to confront by any means. But it needs confronting while there is still time. Statistics show that obesity is increasing in children at alarming rates...this is a generational issue that we can help correct. Even just one life that is changed for the better is worth the uncomfortable discussion! One person, one child of God, who has their eyes opened and changes their habits and therefore avoids a deadly heart attack, is worth it! One person who sits in their car sneaking that chocolate bar when nobody is looking and beats themselves up with shame...deserves to hear the HOPE that have in Christ. Yes, there is even hope for food addicts! But who is telling them that?

So I have decided to share my journey. I’m freaking scared! Seriously!

A life time of being bullied and shamed has made me hide. I’ve gone through seasons of being comfortable and bold but mostly I’ve lived hidden and ashamed.

I am choosing to take a stand and to fight for my life!

To fight for the freedom Christ died to purchase on my behalf. On your behalf!

To use every tool and weapon I have been given to attack this stronghold and see it fall!

As I battle this war one more time, in the public eye so to speak, I will share everything I can with you. I will do my very best to be blunt and honest, trusting that you will learn along the way that I do it all out of love. Love that God has shown me for those of you who feel trapped like I do. Love that longs to see each of us walk in total freedom and victory in all areas of our lives for God’s glory in the earth. Love that knows somebody has to expose the hidden lies that keep us chained so they can be broken by the light of His grace!

In love I will share my tears and battle with wretched self hatred and how I’ve gone from being lost, to knowing my identity in Christ to letting go of that and hiding again...as I regain what the enemy and my flesh has taken from me. I choose to believe there is always hope with my God and that as long as I am breathing, He’s not finished with what He’s started in me! I, you, we, still have purpose on this earth!

I will seek to walk with you any way I can, to encourage you in your journey and hopefully inspire you with transparency.

He who the Son sets free...is FREE indeed!