Overeating is a sin.
Do you cringe reading those words? I admit, I cringe typing them.
Yet the truth is that overeating is a sin. Here’s how to overcome it in your life and and if you are overweight, how to break free from emotional and spiritual bondage to food.
When a Culture Worships Food
If there was ever a wrong behavior that is considered acceptable in today’s modern culture, it’s overeating.
With 24/7 food channels, restaurant portions of ridiculous sizes, and food photos and videos splattered everywhere you look, food is worshiped in today’s world.
There’s nothing wrong with enjoying food. Food is delicious and pleasurable. But, when more people are overweight than at a healthy weight (reference) it’s obvious we’ve taken this idea too far.
It’s important to keep in mind that the people who market food, push food, and glorify food are often those who stand to profit from food.
While they are just doing their jobs in a free market, try to recognize that the food messages you receive from our culture are rarely about what’s best for you and your health and are more invested in how to get you to spend your dollars.
Is Overeating a Sin? {Videos}
In Video 1, Becky and I discuss what the Bible says about overeating and sin.
This topic has generated hundreds of reader comments and questions! In video 2 we read many of these and discuss.
What Does the Bible Say About Overeating?
When it comes to the topic of overeating, the Bible uses the word gluttony. (Ugh, even the word is unpleasant.)
Gluttony is habitual greed or eating in excess.
Why is overeating a sin? Overeating puts a physical item (food) in place of God. Overeating makes food an idol in your life and negatively impacts the body God gave you.
Many of us have a pattern of overeating. When I was 100 pounds overweight, I certainly did. Even today, 10+ years into recovery, I must be continually mindful not to fall into the sin of gluttony.
Where in the Bible does it say overeating is a sin? Here are just a couple verses and there are many others.
Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.
Philippians 3:19
Proverbs 23:20-21
Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of meat, for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags.
Overeating NOT Okay – It’s a Big Deal
How is overeating a sin?
Gluttony, or the sin of overeating, is one of those insidious sinful behaviors because it’s doesn’t seem that bad in the moment.
We say things to ourselves like to justify that overeating is not a sin.
- What’s a few extra potato chips?
- Everyone overeats at the holidays.
- Just one more bite is no big deal.
Yes, I knew it was wrong to overeat but surely it wasn’t as bad as moms who drink alcohol or do drugs.
Honestly, I think I felt that my heavier body was almost a badge of honor. It showed the world how much I was willing to sacrifice – even my health – for my children.
Yet sin is sin and there is no justifying it away.
Compassion to Heal Food Addiction
A tremendous part of my healing from eating addictions was learning to treat myself with grace and compassion.
Just as God has given me grace, I can extend that grace to myself and others.
Yet compassion doesn’t mean saying overeating is “no big deal”. Just the opposite. Compassion is recognizing that overeating is serious yet Jesus’ saving work on the cross covers it completely.
Trade Your Guilt for Grace
Maybe you recognize that your overeating is a sinful behavior, but now what? Trying to just stop isn’t exactly easy. In fact, it can feel absolutely impossible.
Together with my business partner, Becky, I run an online Christian women’s weight loss program called Faithful Finish Lines.
The foundation of our program is a principle we call Trading Guilt for Grace. While the exact process is exclusive to members of our program (which opens to the public on September 15, 2019) here is a helpful overview.
How to Trade Your Guilt for Grace
When you overeat or are in a pattern of overeating, here’s how to rely on God’s grace and strength to find healing, hope, and forgiveness.
Step 1 – Admit Your Sin.
Overeating might seem like a minor sin compared to some, but that’s the trick of this sin, right? Overeating is sinful and it’s not okay. Confess your sin to the Lord.
Step 2 – Ask for Forgiveness.
Because of Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection from the dead, you can be assured that God offers you complete and total forgiveness for any overeating you have done. Ask God to extend his mercy and grace to you.
Step 3 – Accept God’s Grace.
Often, accepting God’s grace is the toughest part of trading guilt for grace. You might be tempted to beat yourself up for your overeating behaviors. Instead, recognize that you are forgiven! Let go of shame. Turn away from your sin and walk as a renewed child of God.
Do you believe overeating is a sin? How will you trade your guilt for grace? Share in the comments below.
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Having dipped a toe into a 12 Step program for overeating, it most certainly is a spiritual problem! I happen to be a believer, but many in the program are not. However, they speak freely of having made food (without even realizing it!) one’s Higher Power. In other words, seeking comfort, soothing, etc. in food rather than turning one’s problems and even one’s life over to Someone who can help. I sincerely hope this helps someone. For most of my life I have sought comfort in food, so I have been there in a big way.
Blessings to you and thank you for a wonderful website!
Do you have a list of recommended books that focus on the Christian perspective of emotional eating?
Hi Laurien, thanks for your comment. I don’t have a list of books, but I would encourage you to check out our Faithful Finish Lines course + membership, where we go in depth into this topic. Here is a free challenge that introduces our concepts – https://theholymess.com/free-christian-weight-loss-challenge-grow-your-faith-lose-the-weight/ Blessings!
I am a emotional eater
The sin of overeating: Turning to a worldly possession (food) for comfort vs. Turning to Our Father GOD. Overeating can be a default that we need GOD to help us to reset. 🙏🏾❤️🙏🏾
There is a lot of food for thought here in your message as well as in the many comments. As I have been thinking over the sin issue of overeating and my thought response to it which was “ yeah but….” , I realized that same response has affected other areas of my life. So what I need to do is daily surrender these thoughts to God and truly allow God to work in my life. I know I will struggle with the defeated attitude so I would truly appreciate your prayers. I need to get in a right place before God.
You’re right and my drug of choice is food. I really try not over eating, I just eat the wrong thing when I’m stressed
Ouch. If your message is a hammer, I’m the nail. Really hurts when you hit it square.
Andrea what an insightful response! I can totally relate to swinging from one extreme to the other and I think many of us have been there. We make dieting and looking good an idol just as much as food has been. I encourage you to continue to invite God into this area of your life and you will be amazed at how you will grow closer to him. We have lots of resources for this in our Faithful Finish Lines program. Please check it out. 🙂
I believe overeating is a sin. I’m in a daily battle to choose to eat in proper portions. I do feel guilty when I overeat. Why? I know it is wrong but in the moment of my binge all I see is the food. I also made weight loss, meal planning, and exercise an idol. I put a lot of time thinking about eating healthier, and exercise to the point I feel exhausted thinking about and reach for something unhealthy to eat. I have a habit of going from one extreme to the next. To be honest I only wanted to lose weight to do the before and after pictures, wear clothes I couldn’t fit, and finally feel better and like myself. Basically I wanted weight loss for prideful, vain and wrong reasons. My weight loss did not include God at all. I wanted to try every quick fix instead of doing the real work. I also didn’t want to include God because I knew God call me out on my bad eating behaviors and patterns.. How do you have balance when starting a healthy lifestyle journey without making it an idol? How can I include God in my journey so my weight loss glorifies him and not me?
I do believe it is a sin. Anything that separates us from serving God. Anything that does not honor your body as God’s temple is a sin. Sin can be omission or comission. I am sure this is not a popular answer. We each will have to answer to God for what we do. But taking care of God’s temple no matter what our age. Food addiction is just as bad as alcohol or drugs.
Yes. I think food addiction is worse. We can live without drugs and alcohol but not without food. So we have to still have a daily, active relationship with food.
Thanks for sharing 🙏🏾‼️
I was just thinking this morning about overeating being a sin, and wondering where in the Bible it says that. God’s timing is perfect so thank you for listening to HIM.
Eye opening. Of course I’ve read those scriptures. But I’m convicted on how my thoughts turn to my belly. How big it is. How I might look. How much I obsess over what I can or can’t, should or shouldn’t eat. How I will change what I will eat. What if all those moments I had instead spent on pondering God’s goodness, or seeking His will , or wondering who I could reach out to in HIs name? How many times have I reached for more food than I need. How many times have I snuck food? I stopped right here at work and asked for forgiveness.
Thanks for sharing!!
Jen, way to go on joining WW. It’s eye opening, isn’t it? I’m glad the article was helpful.
Thank you for posting this, Sara. I just started WW last week, and am astonished at how much I was eating without even being aware. As I’m now trying to make better choices, the struggle to avoid emotional or comfort eating is so real! It helps with making that choice when you call overeating what it is – sin.
Thanks for sharing!!!! 🙏🏾❤️🙏🏾