Biblical Counsel on Eating Disorders

With the bad example of some worldly models in the fashion industry, there is a concern that some young ladies are so obsessed with their bodies that they would starve themselves in order to lose weight to look slim and "good". This is a serious misunderstanding of God’s will for our lives and we need to address the problem of anorexia and bulimia which are mental or obsessive compulsive disorders when someone rejects much needed food and nourishment in favour of a better looking body. Some of them may have a history of abuse or have experienced teasing by friends on their size and shape, others may want to have a dream body after seeking to imitate some super stars or fashion supermodels who are not worthy of our emulation at all.

In Thin Enough: My Spiritual Journey through the Living Death of an Eating Disorder, Sheryle Cruse, the author says the following.

Jesus said, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”  The thief Jesus is referring to is Satan. He is bent on destroying your life. Eating disorders are tools used by him to stop the wonderfully perfect plan God has for your life. They are tools he pulls out of his bag of destructive instruments, to tempt us, hook us and reel us in to a life of bondage. By delving or toying with the practice of eating disorders we authorize the most deceptive and diabolical creature complete and total control of our lives. We are granting him access to the control center of our minds which is dangerous.

We must not willingly hand over the reigns of our heart, mind body and souls to the wiles of the evil one. James 4:7- 8 says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”

An eating disorder appeals to our self-reliance or independence to fix things that we do not like in our lives rather than relying on God. Our total dependence upon its destructive dictates has serious consequences. Do not give in to the temptation to lose control of our wrong desires by the counterfeit fulfillment of the eating disorder promises. Some misguided young people conveniently substituted the eating disorder in the place of truthfully facing and dealing with problems in the strength of the Lord and one can be stifled in our growth emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually.

Someone once said that eating disorders can be defined as “self-injurious, self-serving, self-indulgent, self-taught and learned behaviours”. To define it in a truthful way helps us to make the right choice and willingly and adequately arm ourselves with the weapons, in God’s Word, that will help us to win the battle over this addictive and destructive behavioural habit

A proper biblical understanding gives us hope and a right response. We can change bad eating behaviour by the renewal of our thought-life by the word of God and re-training our eating habits by the enablement of the Holy Spirit. The biblical concept that will serve as our weapon against this behaviour already provided in Ephesians 4, Colossians 3:5-12 and Galatians 5:16-23 in the ‘put offs' and 'put-ons' which we need to do daily and faithfully by God's help.

God's practical way of fighting against destructive behaviours is a two-step process. He does not instruct us to simply stop doing what we are doing, but gives also explicit instructions of what we should do, positively instead. We put-off the destructive and injurious behaviour and put-on i.e. practice the edifying habits that lead to life and health in Christ.

Eating disorders are at variance with the teachings of Holy Scripture. They principally reject a Creator whose love for His elect transcends physical traits (1 Sam 16:7; 1 Pet 3:3-4). Eating disorders are in disobedience to God's command to take care of oneself, and to be holy for the Lord. A life of holiness in the fear of God (1 Pet 1:16), is more important than beautifying our bodies; for we note that our bodies are not our own. We are to be faithful stewards of all He gives us and therefore we need to be good stewards of our bodies as well (1 Cor 3:17). This has to do with self-control or temperance that we deny both gluttony and starvation. It is with transformed and sanctified minds that we expose and discern the superficiality of our fallen worldly culture's demands and reject the selfish interests and destructive eating disorders that would undermine our testimonies; our physical bodies and ultimately, our health.

Conclusion

There is a proper place for a healthy mind and fit and trim body in the Christian testimony for the Lord through exercise and diet. But we need also to beware of false notions and worldly influences that would lead us into excessive addictions and eating disorders in our lives. We need biblical principles to guide and lead us in this important matter. Let us be cognizant of the potential danger of obsession with physical health and fitness to the neglect of our spiritual walk with Lord.

More importantly, Jesus says that we are to seek Him first and the kingdom of God and his righteousness (Matt 6:33) and all these things will be added unto us Colossians 3:1-2 says, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."

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