In 1978 the arcade video game Space Invaders was released. The aim of the game is to fire your laser cannon and defeat aliens that are descending upon you. Hugely successful, it was the forerunner of modern video games. Since then video games have become more sophisticated. Unfortunately, the foods we eat have too. Michael Moss, an investigative reporter for the New York Times has written the book, Salt, Sugar, Fat: How The Food Giants Hooked Us. In the article, The Extraordinary Science of Addictive Junk Food excerpted from his book it turns out that the modern-day space invaders are right there on your plate – the big food companies. He says, “Their stature was defined by their skill in fighting one another for what they called ‘stomach share’ – the amount of digestive space that any one company’s brand can grab from the competition.” You may know your enemy but are you prepared to fight?
Millions of people have recently been watching the History Channel’s five-episode, 10-hour miniseries, The Bible. Annalists note that it has a strong emphasis on fighting with plenty of bloody and violent scenes of ancient wars. The people in the Bible were often actively rugged and passionately focused on being faithful – simply put, they knew how to war. This is in stark contrast to today’s civilized Christianity that is inclusive (afraid) and peaceful (compromising). To be actively rugged today we do things like aerobics, a fitness boot camp or an obstacle course race in the mud.
It’s a nice try. However, while it’s physically demanding don’t expect your spirit to grow much unless you’re ready to go to war. Christianity isn’t pretty or passive. It is original and bold.
If you’re overweight you have to hate being fat. If you have limited mobility and are sick you’ve got to fight. If you’re a slave to your appetite then resist the culture, the lies and the temptation.
High in fat, overly processed and excessively packaged — I’m just getting started about how people are “spiritual”. If the obesity crisis is to be effectively addressed there has to be a spiritual conversation and a faith-driven solution that has origins in the church. Attitudes need to be challenged and changed. Practical solutions need investment and commitment from all Christians to bring leadership to the most basic daily human activity – eating. When you really think about it, “waging war” isn’t too aggressive of a stance. A steady diet of bad food is killing people physically and spiritually.
Seriously I’m not trying to make cute or interesting associations between diet and faith. In “The Bible” after the Jews gained their freedom from being enslaved to the Egyptians for years they had not ventured far when they started complaining, “it would be better for us to be slaves than to go through this journey of freedom.” They were soft and satisfied with a life that was far less than the life God intended for them. Sure they complained in Egypt, “We don’t like this. We don’t want to be slaves.” BUT in many ways it was a fat life for them – predictable, convenient and manufactured to perpetuate dependence. Honestly, the diet of many Christians today is identical, longing for freedom but choosing instead to be bound.
WHERE IS MOSES, DAVID AND JESUS?
These guys were leaders. They taught what it means to repent of sin. They demonstrated uncompromising trust in God. They practiced uncomplicated wisdom. These are the qualities that Christians must have if they are to be part of the solution to obesity – if they are to extend the grace and compassion of God – if they are to demonstrate joyful and abundant life through Christ.
To eat, drink and be merry is the life Christians pursue all too often as if it is a spiritual entitlement. The Bible teaches discipline, humbleness and reverence to God as a means to hunger and thirst for righteousness. If you’re continually filled full with food do you have any need to be filled with the Holy Spirit? If your every craving is fed how can you expect to know His sufferings? The sacred communion table has been replaced by a buffet for believers to binge. The war on junk food needs to be an all-out WAR. In “the Bible” Jesus overturned money-changing tables in the synagogue saying, “You’ve made my father’s home a den of thieves.” Today’s church tables are filled with foods that steel health and days of life. What would it take for you to boldly call for the church to be purged of the corrupt and be made pure? We’re looking for Christians that are ready to take a stand and be hungry for God.
The April/May 2013 issue of Faith & Fitness Magazine features inspirational examples of people who find their sufficiency in Christ. They’ve found that Jesus spiritually satisfies. By doing this He speaks to the psychology of eating and transforms the physical experience with food. This issue offers nutritional guidance to help improve health, exercise tips to help your physical body feel better and an invitation for you to intentionally make a difference in the lives of others with each meal.
This is YOUR time.
This is YOUR call to war.
This is YOUR victory.
Train strong in Christ,
-Brad Bloom, Publisher
