Is Eating Poorly a Sin?

The most recent study done by the CDC states that around 30% of Georgians are obese. If you have cable, you have most likely seen Georgia’s efforts to combat childhood obesity. Is this just a southern thing? Ken Farraro from Purdue University doesn’t think so. 

He states in his article published in the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion that states with high numbers of practicing Protestants show a higher average number of obese people. Does this trend correlate with what Christians believe, or is it a contrast to the word of God?

James 4:7 says, “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”

There is a plethora of knowledge out there to consume about health and nutrition. Education is available at school, libraries, on television, as well as online.  According to this scripture, if you contain the knowledge to live healthily and choose not to, it would be a sin. 

This is not to say that making healthy decisions is easy. On the contrary, many folks may agree with struggle, which Galatians 5:17 describes. “The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.” 

Although obesity in and of itself is not a sin, choosing to live an unhealthy life is. It is time for the church to lead the way in health and lifestyle and, as 1 Corinthians 6:9 says, treat their bodies as “a temple of the Holy Spirit.”