Why Do So Many Churches Promote This? (America, atheist, bible)

[BudinAk]

Some of you who do not drink, mentioned in another thread that it was because of your interest of treating the body (temple) properly. That is fine. But, I want to address something else, related to the wellness of the body:
Do some of these same people drink 5 or 6 cans of soda daily, then gulp down a large helping of cake, pie, or other sugery gooey treat for desert? One soda a day will likely not hurt you, but I suspect a 6-pack a day of the syrupy stuff is not going to do your body any good. (do you know how much SUGER is in a can of soda?) (LOTS!) Not to mention all the other chemical additives. Keep this up every day, and eventually some medical condition may crop up as a result. (diabetes, for one, comes to mind...)
Here's my beef: I cannot believe how many church functions/picnics I've been to where they had multiple coolers stacked with sodas, and table after table of cakes, cookies, ice cream, pies, candies, etc. Every kind of suger-coated, gooey, syrupy, gloppy man-made gunk imagineable. Why would a church promote this stuff? (And cheerfully teach this to the kids as something fun, safe, and good to eat and drink, by our example?) You would think, with so many overweight people in the U.S. today, that the churches would take the lead in limiting the consumption of problem foods, instead of pushing them. Is this attitude wrong? Am I the only one who feels this way?

Bud

[kawgpz550]

It's funny you bring this up. We went to a couple's retreat a couple of months ago and they served DEEPFRIED TWINKIES for dessert

I'm not the best one to watch my food intake and all, but wow! I see a lot of irony in the way that Christians consume food...

But hey, die happy...right?

[KewGee]

You make very good sense and it is crazy how much people can pack away that is bad for their body. It really doesn't matter what it is and some of the things you mentioned can do as much harm as alcohol.

I know when we first moved to Texas, my mother was appalled at Sunday School parties, children were given soft drinks and/or tea for a drink. In California, that just wasn't done at our church. It was water or juice or nothing. Tea for children is one of the craziest and dumbest things of which I've heard.

I do not drink because I don't like what it does to other people who have to be around one who does. A drinker can hurt so many people and it is ever so unpleasant to be in their presence.

It may sound rather shallow, but if someone wants to gorge himself/herself with food and soda, it really is only hurting that person to a certain extent. Sure, it will hurt a family member worrying if the overeater is going to keel over with a heart attack, but that is just different that living with a person who is a drinking and is altering the mind with the drug of alcohol.

But please adults, give the children the good stuff even if you can't resist the temptation with the artery clogging and cancer causing foods and drinks.

[Jazzedforhim]

Great point! I'm not legalistic about avoiding all "bad" foods but moderation with food is the key as you said and that is how I teach my kids and that is how we live. I have a "problem" with sugar foods so they are out of the house! Our church doesn't have a policy of not having those kinds of foods but our pastor does follow a very strict diet for the reasons mentioned. Along with drug/alcohol addictions our church also has CR (Celebrate Recovery) for eating disorders of every kind.

So, I think some are addressing it. But again, like drugs/alcohol food is not an issue for everyone and having a treat once in a while in moderation is not bad for everyone. Some things are permissible but not everything is beneficial. That is different for each person. Me...I stay away from that sweet table! LOL

[spunky1]

I find this thread quite comical. Boy, take Christians for task for everything! Please, take another look. I believe something like 75% of the general population is overweight and 35% obese. It is not just a Christian problem; it is a problem in the U.S. Why don't we check out what the atheists are having at their functions for desert.

[dreameyes]

Originally Posted by spunky1

I find this thread quite comical. Boy, take Christians for task for everything! Please, take another look. I believe something like 75% of the general population is overweight and 35% obese. It is not just a Christian problem; it is a problem in the U.S. Why don't we check out what the atheists are having at their functions for desert.

Yes being overweight and obese is certainly a national probem (a global problem!) The point is that many Christians claim the body is a temple and use that reasoning to not drink/do drugs yet eat like pigs! Atheists do not make this claim. I totally agree that it is just as sinful to binge on sugary, fattening food then it is to drink a lot. Like jeff said in the other thread it seems kinda hypocritical that Christians take this stand and then stuff their faces with other stuff that is just as bad for the body as alcohol if not worse.

[spunky1]

Originally Posted by dreameyes

Yes being overweight and obese is certainly a national probem (a global problem!) The point is that many Christians claim the body is a temple and use that reasoning to not drink/do drugs yet eat like pigs! Atheists do not make this claim. I totally agree that it is just as sinful to binge on sugary, fattening food then it is to drink a lot. Like jeff said in the other thread it seems kinda hypocritical that Christians take this stand and then stuff their faces with other stuff that is just as bad for the body as alcohol if not worse.

Oh, it's not that I don't agree, I do. And I think the obesity epidemic in our country is well, obscene! But to single out Christians to me seems silly. And of course it starts with our children. I think a lot of it stems not only with our eating habits but with the lack of exercise our children and society as a whole engages in.

[Miss Blue]

Originally Posted by kawgpz550

It's funny you bring this up. We went to a couple's retreat a couple of months ago and they served DEEPFRIED TWINKIES for dessert

I'm not the best one to watch my food intake and all, but wow! I see a lot of irony in the way that Christians consume food...

But hey, die happy...right?

Deep fried twinkies? Never had one. Okay where are they. Ole blue jumps out of her seat with a wild look, snatches up her ankle length skirt above the knees, and makes a dash for the dessert table kicking chairs, tables and anyone in her path off to the side. She is about to overrun the dessert table, but manages to score as she snatches the last deepfried twinkie.

[dreameyes]

Originally Posted by spunky1

Oh, it's not that I don't agree, I do. And I think the obesity epidemic in our country is well, obscene! But to single out Christians to me seems silly. And of course it starts with our children. I think a lot of it stems not only with our eating habits but with the lack of exercise our children and society as a whole engages in.

Yes I definately agree. I don't think the OP was necessarily singling out Christians. Much of America is Christian and it is a fact that many are grossly overweight and obese. I just think he was pointing out that it is quite hypocritical for Christians.

[jco]

Originally Posted by BudinAk

Do some of these same people drink 5 or 6 cans of soda daily, then gulp down a large helping of cake, pie, or other sugery gooey treat for desert?
Here's my beef: I cannot believe how many church functions/picnics I've been to where they had multiple coolers stacked with sodas, and table after table of cakes, cookies, ice cream, pies, candies, etc. Bud

AMEN! My rule is "everything in moderation". I don't drink soda for the reasons you described, but I might have a glass of wine on a date with my hubby. The Bible doesn't say not to drink alcohol, it says not to get drunk. We're all works in progress, so I don't think it's fair to lump us all together. I do, however, agree with your observation.