The Church’s Obesity Problem: A Call to Action for Christian Leaders

Can I Say That?

I’ve been contemplating the subject matter of this article for quite a while. A number of years ago when reading the below statement by John G. Lake, I was taken aback and thought to myself, “Can we as Christians actually say that to people? I know several folks who probably need to hear such words, but am I allowed to say that?”

On March 24^th, 1927, Lake wrote a letter to Charles Parham addressing the concerns he had for Parham’s “vision of the future of the Pentecostal movement.” In this letter, he addressed several issues and also wrote of a personal concern he had for Parham:

“In my spirit I have been troubled about you. The last time I saw you, you were too fat. You were eating too much and manifestly you were eating more meat than a man of your years can assimilate without producing blood pressure and heart strains.”¹

Yep, he just came out and said it – you’re too fat! Lake called out Parham for eating too much and being overweight, and he also cautioned him about his health. That seems harsh by today’s standards.

Today’s Preachers

What would Lake say today about many of our preachers and leaders in the body of Christ? I’ve been in full-time ministry (mostly international mission work) since 2011 and have been around many ministers and preachers and have witnessed firsthand this plague of fatness in the church. As Erik Raymond said in 2010, “If you want to get a gauge on how prevalent this is, you just have to visit a pastors’ conference.”²

In his article, So, Why Are Pastors Fat, Raymond gives several reasons why he believes so many are given to this preacher’s paradox. He lists 1) busy schedules, 2) an abundance of lunch meetings, 3) some may be given to extremes, 4) some are lazy, 5) some are hypocritical, 6) the work/reward mentality, and 7) the de-emphasis on the body. I believe he lists some valid reasons for this paradox, but I would like to add to it a bit.

Shame Off You

If what Lake said to Parham in 1927 was said to a preacher today, Lake would be accused of body shaming; he would be seen as the one with the issues instead of Parham. I have been taught that shame is not a great motivator, and I agree with that. But I also recognize that we as sinful humans can do shameful things at times.

In his first letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul addressed some of the sinful actions of the people of Corinth by saying things like, “I say this to your shame” (1 Corinthians 15:34) or “I am saying this to shame you.” (1 Corinthians 6:5) Yet another time he said, “I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children.” (1 Corinthians 4:14)

I don’t believe Paul ever intentionally meant to heap shame upon the believers to whom he was addressing. I also think he was not afraid to speak the truth and let them know when they were participating in shameful acts.

My desire in writing this article is not to shame people, but rather to warn them. To warn them of the negative impact their lifestyle choices are making on their own bodies and on the Body of Christ. I believe that being overweight is a horrible example of stewardship of the body that God has given us. It’s also a poor example of a lifestyle of self-denial to which we’ve been called to live. (Matthew 16:24) Unfortunately, it seems there are no men like John G. Lake who will speak out and say something about this issue today because no one wants to be the bad guy or labeled a body shamer.

Skinny Dad, Fat Dad

One of the first things that comes to mind when I think about the issue of obesity is discipline and self-control. Speaking on the topic of self-discipline and having “the mental fortitude of directing money,” the famous author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad, Robert Kiyosaki, says, “If a person cannot master the power of self-discipline, it is best not to try to get rich.” Even secular people speaking on secular topics recognize the importance of self-control and discipline.

When it comes to the eating habits of the gospel preacher, I would say, that if a person cannot master the habit of self-control, he ought not to have a public platform to promote his or her gluttonous lifestyle. I don’t want to call people out and embarrass them, but obesity is an epidemic in our society and our churches. Someone needs to say something about it. Peter tells us that “it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God.” (1 Peter 4:17) I take that verse to mean that we, “God’s household,” are responsible for bringing needed correction to those in the Body of Christ.

The second thing that comes to mind is exercise. The sedentary lifestyle contributes to being overweight, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, depression and anxiety, osteoporosis, colon, breast, and uterine cancers.³ I’m not a gym rat nor a fitness buff but I have found that a simple 30-minute HIIT full-body dumbbell workout performed three times a week is quite sufficient for keeping fit, burning calories, and getting your heart rate up. It truly is a daily battle so pastor, leader, member of the Body of Christ, put on your gloves (or gym shorts) and jump in the ring! Just remember, you can’t out-train a bad diet.

And finally, the simple rule of calories in vs. calories out is an easy one to follow. If you consume more calories than you burn in a days time then you’re going to gain weight. And so, the opposite is true as well. In a recent YouTube reel, I saw Dr. Joel Fuhrman say that when he is asked how many calories should a person consume each day his answer was, “as few as possible without becoming anorexic.” Now there’s a revolutionary dieting principle for you! It’s the key to staying lean and fit he said. Instead of thinking how many calories I CAN eat in a day think of how FEW I can eat instead.

My Own Personal Struggle

Solomon tells us, “When you sit down to eat with a ruler, observe carefully what is before you, and put a knife to your throat if you are given to appetite. Do not desire his delicacies, for they are deceptive food.” (Proverbs 23:1-3) Listen, I get it. Living in America, there are delicacies all around us on a daily basis and we have to say no A LOT! Unfortunately, most of us don’t say no as often as we should. I for one have failed to live by the above principle more times than I’d like to admit.

I have struggled with my weight for years. My ideal weight is 175 lbs. Although I’ve only gotten close to that once in the past 20 years, I still keep that as a targeted goal set before me. At one point in my early thirties, I was up to 210 lbs. That’s 35 lbs. over my desired weight. Thankfully, today I’m just under 190 lbs. but it takes work and awareness to keep the weight off.

I am a father of three beautiful children and there are always sweet treats, desserts, and multiple flavors of ice cream in my house. I have to exercise self-control on a daily basis, and unfortunately, more times than not, I don’t always win the battle. Last night it was stuffed-crust pizza and homemade cookie dough ice cream that took me down!

But this morning I got on the scale (which has been a daily habit of mine for almost 20 years) and recognized that today, I needed to tighten things up and exercise more self-control with my eating. It seems intermittent fasting (skipping breakfast and eating a later lunch) is on the menu for today.

Weighing myself every single day when I first wake up helps me to see right away when I’ve overdone it the day before and it helps me see the need to control my eating habits for a few days. I would highly encourage you to create a similar habit.

Breaking The Stronghold of Food

In closing, I want to reiterate that I understand this is a huge struggle for many people. I also understand that sometimes we may need some extra help getting free from our addictions. Recognizing the patterns and triggers behind our unhealthy eating habits is the first step to breaking free and developing healthier choices. Thankfully, we as Christians have the fruit of the Spirit (i.e. self-control) and the power of the Spirit on our side, and we have others who have gained victory in this area.

My dear friend and mentor, Dr. Michael Brown, has written a book entitled Breaking The Stronghold Of Food in which he shares his own story of food addiction. The book description states, “Michael and Nancy Brown share the inspiring, practical, and humorous story of their own journey from obesity to vibrant health. If you want to break free from the stronghold of food and discover a wonderful new way of life, this book will show you the way.”

Going from obesity to vibrancy is possible. If you need more help getting free in the area of food addiction, then I highly recommend this book!

Post Draft Plea

Since drafting this article and before posting it, I had a chance to spend time with Dr. Michael Brown and his wife Nancy whom I mentioned above. I was invited to their house to participate in a timed workout with Dr. Brown and some fellow minister colleagues. At the end of our workout, we had time to discuss diet and health with him and Nancy and hear firsthand their life-transforming story. During the discussion, one of the minister’s young sons was zooming around the gym trying out all the machines when Dr. Brown made this observation which I’ll paraphrase:

Look at this guy, full of life and non-stop energy but unfortunately lacking any real wisdom since he is just a child. For the average minister, by the time he is older and full of wisdom which he can pass on to the next generation he is lifeless, out of shape, and lacking in energy. Before changing my diet I was the same way, but since making radical changes in my diet I am now full of life, energy, and strength.

The man is nearly seventy years old and kicked all of our butts in the workout. He completed multiple rounds of strength exercises in ten minutes. Being fifty-two and in decent shape, I came in second place at fifteen minutes but the other three fellows (all in their forties) doubled Dr. Brown’s time and one was unable to even finish the workout.

So, my plea to you dear minister friend, is to resist the temptation of Nebuchadnezzar’s table, where the enemy seeks to drain your energy and vitality. As a leader, you are called to run the race with endurance, and the next generation needs godly men and women who can inspire and guide them through the challenges ahead.  You must prioritize your spiritual AND physical well-being, so you can continue to serve with wisdom, vitality, and passion. 

A Short Clip From Our Workout

1. https://healingrooms.com/about/johnGLake/?document=40 ↩︎
2. https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/erik-raymond/so-why-are-pastors-fat/ ↩︎
3. https://medlineplus.gov/healthrisksofaninactivelifestyle.html?utm_source=email&utm_medium=share&utm_campaign=mplus_share ↩︎