America: The Land of Gluttony

America is the land of the free where a person can become anything and as such America has become a gluttonous society brimming with overindulgence and consumerism. Simply put gluttony is a lack of self-control it's a sickness that takes people by storm and invades every aspect of life. Fast food overconsumption torments physical well-being, technology represents an addiction that permeates the mind money, and materialism has become idols that invade spiritual life.

Christians are called by God to be in the world but not of it. American Christians draw this line at gluttony and continue to harm themselves with the ways of this world. Although the scriptures list gluttony as a sin, American Christians tend to ignore this topic as it pertains to indulgences related to eating, consuming technology, and spending money therefore believers must look at gluttony from a Biblical worldview and then choose to live a life of moderation. 

What we Eat

When we hear the word gluttony we might picture someone overweight who eats one too many slices of pizza. Because of this singular view of gluttony, many Christians tend to overlook it thinking that sins like lust or anger are greater than the sin of gluttony, this makes it such an easy sin to fall prey to.

Yet we forget to see that all sins are equal in God's eyes, comparatively no sin outweighs another.

All sins including gluttony are ploys of the enemy to draw us away from a relationship with Jesus. Because gluttony has seemed like a minor sin to many Christians, it has made its way into the church. For example, church potlucks. Do not misunderstand me, I’m a fan of them, the practice of Christian fellowship and having a meal together is a wonderful example of biblical unity but gorging ourselves on food can make it an idol. With the wrong mindset, we can be at a place meant for worshiping God but praising ourselves by satisfying our gluttonous behavior.

 I believe the key here is not to get rid of potlucks but to educate people about gluttony and food addictions.

In the church addictions to things like porn, alcohol, and drugs are frowned upon while people can eat themselves sick and we still don't correlate the two. Studies have shown that there are similarities between those who have been diagnosed with substance disorders and food addictions (Gordon). Having a healthy relationship with what we eat encompasses God's desire for his creation, if it weren't He would not have made food taste good.

Not only does eating healthy lead to optimum physical health it also reminds believers to crave God even above a second or third piece of cake.  God created us to honor him with our bodies, he created us to enjoy life and that includes what we eat and how we feel physically. 

What We Watch

Alas, there are many more forms of gluttony seen in American society with the rise of modern technical advances gluttony has taken a new form American society encourages this gluttonous addiction while it hides in plain sight. although the Bible may not explicitly warn against the misuse of technology, aside from the fact that it didn't exist in the first century, the sentiment behind why God instructed against gluttony applies to the excessive use of technology. 

Just like with the gluttony of food got instructs his followers to abstain from self-serving and addictive behaviors because they're harmful, yet this is the exact behavior Americans exhibit.

Dr. Lisa Stroman the founder and director of the Technology Wellness Center suggests that over 50 million Americans struggle with some form of addiction at some point in their lifetime. I and many other people have fallen into the trap of scrolling for hours on social media,  staying up late to binge a show,  or even playing a video game for far too long.

While this may seem like a normal day it's a sign that technology has become an addiction and gluttonous behavior. Most adults do not leave the house unless they have their phones in their back pockets and many teens must have the newest most expensive models, even children have to watch an episode of their favorite cartoon every day.

The need for a technology connection may seem to bring satisfaction and stimulation but has only made life mind-numbing and dull. Personally, it breaks my heart to think about how much time I've wasted on my phone when I could be spending time reading my Bible and communicating with God.

Frequently, I feel like I love my phone more than I love my creator, and that is the gluttony of technology. Taking care of our mental health and prioritizing God above all else is equally as important as our physical health.

How We Spend

Obviously, gluttony has become rampant in America between the large amounts of food consumed to the insane amount of hours spent online the root of the issue comes from America's gluttonous uses of money. Spending on non-essentials like the newest phone models and eating out frequently has increased drastically, while at the same time, giving to churches and charities has declined (Bloomberg). Sadly, American Christians are also indulging in gluttonous behaviors identical to their secular counterparts.

As Christ followers, we should live in this world, but not follow the same patterns and sinful behaviors of the world. Too often we are terrified of the offering plate with the newest iPhone in our pocket, and yet,  we go out to eat right after church. Jesus says in Matthew 6:21 that where our treasure is, our hearts will also be. So . . .  where is our treasure?

As believers in the Creator of the universe, we should do better. We must do better. When Christian people learn to live generously, God shows up and amazing things happen. this doesn't mean we have to give it all away and be homeless, but it means being intentional to pass our blessings on to someone else. 

Because Christians are not living the life of generosity that Christ calls us to, gluttony rears its ugly head in overindulgences of many kinds not just overeating.

As Americans we have received the blessing of living in the privileged Land of the Free; American Christians should choose a life truly free from the sin of gluttony in all its forms rather than living a life enslaved to this sin. The benefits impact us holistically, moderation of the food we eat provides physical wellness, the technology we utilize optimizes mental health, and the money well spent creates a Christ-like spiritual generosity. I pray that we wake up from this slavery of gluttony and walk in the wonderful blessing and the empowering freedom of moderation. 

About the Author

Adelle DesEnfants is currently a student at Summit Christian College where she works to obtain a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies. She received her Certified Natural Health Professional license through Trinity School of Natural Health in December of 2023. With her education, Adelle seeks to educate people about holistic wellness and encourage complete physical, mental, and spiritual health.