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Gluttony is an underaddressed sin in the American church; fasting is a practical corrective; no need for strict calorie counting.

20 Questions with Pastor Mike (Episode 31) 01:17:38 – 01:21:44

Question 18 about how to avoid gluttony and whether strict calorie limits are legalistic.

Mike suspects gluttony has become normalized in American Christianity — a frog in the kettle phenomenon where surrounding culture shapes the church without notice. Gluttony is not identical to being overweight (thin people can be gluttons; overweight people are not necessarily gluttons), but weight can be a symptom. The heart of gluttony is being controlled by food and overindulgence as a habit. Correctives: (1) regular fasting — denying the flesh periodically and spending more time in prayer; (2) bringing back fasting as a normal Christian practice; (3) occasional feasting is fine; it is the habitual pattern that signals gluttony. No strict calorie counting required — that would be legalistic. Reference: 1 Corinthians 6 (food for the stomach, stomach for food, but God will destroy both; your body belongs to the Lord).

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