Merriam-Webster defines gluttony as “excess in eating or drinking” or “greedy or excessive indulgence.” In Christianity, gluttony can be described as a destructive sin that believers often take less seriously than God.
In fact, Philippians 3:18-19 identifies the “enemies of the cross of Christ” as people whose “god is their appetite” and who live for worldly pleasures and indulgences. The Bible repeatedly commands believers to be content with their “daily bread,” yet many American Christians fail to heed the biblical warning against overindulgence. Instead, they view it as a mere suggestion instead of an integral part of following Christ.
Identifying the problem
“Gluttony is the air we breathe in America. We are gluttonous of what we eat, what we drink, and how much we have, and we are just so used to it that we don’t even realize that it might be a sin,” Nate Hilgenkamp told The Stand.
Hilgenkamp is on staff at Harris Creek Baptist Church in McGregor, Texas. He is also a co-host of the podcast Becoming Something and has been outspoken about the consequences of gluttony and the importance of a call to moderation.
While gluttony permeates American culture every day, on no other day is it more apparent than Thanksgiving.
“Thinking about Thanksgiving, that is a day where we laugh about the fact that we eat so much and then fall asleep on the couch,” said Hilgenkamp.
Although gluttony may seem like a small problem, especially around Thanksgiving when it is most celebrated, gluttony is a symptom of a much deeper spiritual problem. It points to a lack of faith in the Lord’s design and provision.
“There’s a desire in us to not trust God to give us what we need, and [then] we want to take more than what we need,” Hilgenkamp explained. “When we overeat, it’s us saying, ‘I need more than what God designed my body to really need.’ It is a lack of faith in God.”
For example, when God mercifully delivered the Israelites from Egypt, they began to grumble in the wilderness about the prospects of dying from hunger.
Though no longer in bondage, they longed for the days of excess in Egypt when they sat by “the pots of meat” and “ate bread to the full” (Exodus 16:3).
Despite their complaining, God heard their cries and responded by providing a daily supernatural supply of bread called manna.
Unlike the excess of Egypt, however, the Israelites were instructed to gather only what they needed for that day, except for the day before the Sabbath when they were to gather double.
When they did gather excess, the bread spoiled, smelled foul, and filled with worms.
God’s purpose was to prove to His people that He could be trusted to meet their daily needs. In the same way, Jesus instructs His people today to trust Him with all things, including their appetites (Matthew 6:25-34).
Taking charge of the body
To overcome the sin of gluttony, Christians need to be mindful not to respond to cravings as if they are commands. Giving in to one’s feelings and desires is often the easiest and most instantly gratifying path, but Hilgenkamp urges believers to submit to the call of their Father and not to the call of their cravings.
“You can train yourself to say, ‘No, I don’t need to do whatever my cravings tell me to do,’” he said.
Whether it be food or anything else that leads to overconsumption and gluttony, believers must actively and intentionally choose to follow the teaching of the Bible and make their wills subservient to the will of the Father.
Hilgenkamp explained, “You tell your body ‘No’ because you don’t listen to your feelings; you listen to your Creator.”
Following practical steps
It’s one thing to understand that gluttony is a sin to be avoided; it’s an entirely different thing to take the necessary steps to pursue righteousness in response to gluttony.
Fortunately, God promises that there is no temptation too alluring to overcome, and Hilgenkamp offers valuable insight into practicing moderation at Thanksgiving feasts: “The right thing to do is put the food on your plate that would sustain you, and you don’t need to take more than that. … When your stomach is telling you you’re full, you’re full, and you don’t need to eat that second piece of pie.”
Choosing to refrain from overeating at Thanksgiving may receive some curious looks from friends and family, but Hilgenkamp reminds Christians that receiving stares and inquiries should be taken as a compliment.
He added, “You may feel like an outlier on Thanksgiving, but that is a good thing. We walk a narrow path.”
While Thanksgiving highlights the sin of gluttony, every day brings an opportunity to overindulge. Overindulgence also includes anything a believer uses or acquires in excess, such as clothes, alcohol, money, or screen time.
Gluttony also involves overindulging for comfort and emotional solace.
“We can use it as a way to deal with anxiety or stress,” said Hilgenkamp. “Rather than going to God, we go to food. We seek out comfort from food rather than our Creator.”
Practicing fasting
One way to combat gluttony is to practice fasting from food and other indulgences.
“Fasting is really important because it tells your body that it is not in charge of your life,” Hilgenkamp reasoned. “You might have cravings for food, but you don’t need to follow all those cravings.”
Fasting teaches the flesh that the Spirit is in control, helping the believer to gain control over the temptation to be gluttonous.
Heeding caution
However, Hilgenkamp warns Christians to be aware of potential dangers associated with restricting food intake.
“Eating disorders are prevalent in the church, so when we talk about gluttony or watching our food intake, there can be an unhealthy side to it,” he cautioned.
The key to making food-related changes in the face of disorder is to invite trusted friends and mentors into the process.
Hilgenkamp explained, “If you know you are prone to disordered eating, never make food changes in isolation; always do this in community.”
This will provide the believer with the necessary accountability and support to make food-related changes in a healthy and God-honoring way.
Going beyond Thanksgiving
There is no question that the temptation to be gluttonous this Thanksgiving will be on the table – both literally and figuratively – but so will the ability to deny the flesh through the power of the Holy Spirit. May all believers submit to the Father’s call for moderation this holiday season and each day thereafter.
(Digital Editor's Note: This article was written by Emily Moorman and was first published in the November 2024 print edition of The Stand.)
