The Sin No-one Talks About...

There is a sin that Scripture names that almost no one talks about. I'm just going to say it…Gluttony

We hear sermons about sexual immorality, gossip, drunkenness, lying, stealing, adultery, witchcraft, money, idol worship, almost every category under the sun. Rarely do we hear about appetite, yet the Bible does not ignore it.

Proverbs 23:20–21 warns against being among “gluttonous eaters of meat” and pairs gluttony with drunkenness in the same breath. Deuteronomy 21:20 describes a rebellious son as “a glutton and a drunkard.” Philippians 3:19 uses even stronger language: “their god is their belly.” That is worship and lordship language!

The issue in Scripture is not body size… it is mastery.

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 6:12, “I will not be mastered by anything.” Food is a gift from God, feasting exists in Scripture. The problem begins when appetite governs the heart. That is where this became personal for me.

I’ve struggled with overeating, emotional eating, mindless eating and using food to self sooth for many years now. These patterns have led to real consequences: sleep apnea, major joint pain, lab results showing high cholesterol and more. My body is giving me information; something needs attention.

Then my priest shared his own story after mass a couple of weeks ago...

He spoke about losing somewhere in the vicinity of one hundred pounds. He described realizing that “you shall not murder” was not only about killing other people. He recognized that he was actually harming himself with his morbid obesity. He was sharing his testimony; it was not shared as condemnation but rather a “revelation”, that was shared with vulnerability. And God knew I needed to hear it.

The sixth commandment in Exodus 20:13 uses the Hebrew lo tirtsach, referring to unlawful killing. Its direct meaning is about taking innocent human life. Yet Christian moral reasoning has long understood the sanctity of life to include self directed destruction. Life bears God’s image and belongs to Him.

Hearing him speak awakened me. The Holy Spirit convicted me and clarified reality. This conviction brought hope! Praise God!

For me, it is not about shrinking my body. It is about refusing to let food function as a savior and about recognizing that using appetite for comfort, control, and relief had slowly become a form of misplaced trust. It is also about not harming myself by disregarding the seriousness of abusing food.

It is easy to see why this topic gets avoided.

First, cultural normalization. In societies where food abundance is constant, overconsumption becomes ordinary. When something is common, it stops feeling shocking. Churches often preach most forcefully against sins that are socially disruptive or visibly scandalous. Gluttony is quiet.

Second, complexity. Sexual immorality, theft, and lying are easier to define in clear behavioral lines. Food is necessary for survival. That makes overindulgence harder to draw boundaries around. When does enjoyment become excess or stress eating become idolatry? Pastors may avoid it because it requires nuance.

Third, sensitivity. Weight, food, and health are deeply personal. Preaching bluntly on gluttony can easily wound people who are already struggling with shame, medical conditions, trauma, or eating disorders. Many leaders would rather avoid causing harm. I get that.

Fourth, hypocrisy risk. In cultures where many leaders themselves struggle with food, it becomes uncomfortable to address publicly. Sexual sin may feel externalized. Gluttony is often embodied in the congregation itself.

The question Scripture presses is simple and sobering:

Who rules? Appetite, or Christ.

Gluttony is not about aesthetics… it is about lordship and whether something good, has quietly taken the seat of authority in one’s heart.

Food is a gift, there is no denying that. Life is also a gift and it is sacred. Scripture tells us that “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22–23). Self control is not “self powered grit”. It is evidence of the Spirit at work within us.

If I belong to Christ, then I am not left alone in this battle with appetite. The same Spirit who convicts me, also strengthens me. Thank God!!!

If this is an area where the Lord is stirring you, let that stirring be an invitation, not shame.

I know that food can be a very sensitive topic but so is sin and sin is serious.

I have not arrived. I am only a couple of weeks into this shift. One of my major hopes for Lent this year was to overcome my struggle with food, through the power of God and He is already proving Himself faithful. Hallelujah!