Is it morally wrong to eat junk food?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Semiotic
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
S

Semiotic

Guest
Hi folks,

I’m sure this question has been asked before, but I’d like a fresh discussion in case new people want one.

I’m terrible for comfort eating, and really putting effort into stopping it, although I know it won’t go away until I sort out the underlying issue. I just finished a bag of doughnuts.

Since one is made in the image of God, treating ones body any less than of that, is being dishonest about that reality, and therefore commits a sort of moral lie. Junk food is junk for obvious reasons. So I’ve concluded it’s wrong. It seems to me, that eating junk food for a quick buzz is equivalent to masturbation or something similar. Thus from this point, I’m going to take my diet far more seriously. It’s supposed to be a temple for the holy spirit.

But the people will argue, that it’s okay every now and then, and that God created such stuff for us to enjoy. If so, then why is it ‘okay’ to eat it on special occasions only? It’s still junk food.

Any thoughts?
 
I think, in moderation, anything is fine. If it’s to an extent where it affects your health, lifestyle, or activities, it’s too much. You could probably compare it to drinking alcohol. If you want it so much that you are spending your rent money on it, there is a problem. If you have something now and again, it’s fine!
 
Semiotic said:
Since one is made in the image of God, treating ones body any less than of that, is being dishonest about that reality, and therefore commits a sort of moral lie. Junk food is junk for obvious reasons. So I’ve concluded it’s wrong. It seems to me, that eating junk food for a quick buzz is equivalent to masturbation or something similar. Thus from this point, I’m going to take my diet far more seriously. It’s supposed to be a temple for the holy spirit.

But the people will argue, that it’s okay every now and then, and that God created such stuff for us to enjoy. If so, then why is it ‘okay’ to eat it on special occasions only? It’s still junk food.
Click to expand...
A few points:

a) Masturbation is always wrong. Sex outside of marriage is categorically wrong. The value of food/beverages are different by degree, not by category, since…

b) All food/beverages provide some degree of nutrition for us. Eating and drinking is how we sustain our bodies, and “junk food” contributes to this.

c) Any food can become bad for us when our nutritional needs are exceeded. It is easier to exceed our needs with junk food, because it’s typically very high in calories and easily accessible.

d) But, where we are not exceeding our nutritional needs, and we’re not lacking nutritional content because of lack of variety in diet, there’s nothing inherently wrong with “junk food”.
 
Semiotic said:
Hi folks,

I’m sure this question has been asked before, but I’d like a fresh discussion in case new people want one.

I’m terrible for comfort eating, and really putting effort into stopping it, although I know it won’t go away until I sort out the underlying issue. I just finished a bag of doughnuts.

Since one is made in the image of God, treating ones body any less than of that, is being dishonest about that reality, and therefore commits a sort of moral lie. Junk food is junk for obvious reasons. So I’ve concluded it’s wrong. It seems to me, that eating junk food for a quick buzz is equivalent to masturbation or something similar. Thus from this point, I’m going to take my diet far more seriously. It’s supposed to be a temple for the holy spirit.

But the people will argue, that it’s okay every now and then, and that God created such stuff for us to enjoy. If so, then why is it ‘okay’ to eat it on special occasions only? It’s still junk food.

Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
Yes, doritos are intrinsically evil. Jesus said, ‘‘Moses told you ‘you shall not eat doritos’, but I say to you, you shall not even think about eating doritos.’’
 
No food is morally bad in itself, it is the lack of moderation which is the problem. God has made eating food pleasurable, but if we don’t use moderation we can sin through gluttony.

I have this problem too. I think I use food as entertainment and also to reduce anxiety and other uncomfortable feelings.

We need to pray to God for Grace to overcome this, and to look at the virtues we need to practice. For me it would be Fortitude (courage) to face uncomfortable feelings instead of burying them, and maybe using exercise as an anxiety believer instead of food. The other one would be Temperence (moderation). Eating is enjoyable, but we have to balance nutritional needs and taste and we have to stop eating before being stuffed.

I really think it is a spiritual problem and it does have similarities to sexual sin. They are both about misuse something created good by God.
 
An interesting question and one I first asked myself when I became a Christian.

I am a believer in the “too much of anything is bad for you” theory (did someone say that, a famous doctor, perhaps?). I do like microwaveable burgers, for instance, but I limit my intake of those. If I were having 2-3 microwaveable burgers a day (every day of the week), whilst munching on doughnuts, chocolate, crisps and a bottle of fizzy pop, then I would have a problem, but as I do it in moderation, I see no problem.

One has to see the bigger picture. If you lost a job because you were spending most of your time eating in the kitchen - and then spent all of your unemployed time eating doughnuts and cakes - then you’d have a problem. However, if you live your life well and treat others, then the occasional big cake or doughnut wouldn’t be a problem.
 
jimmy said:
Yes, doritos are intrinsically evil. Jesus said, ‘‘Moses told you ‘you shall not eat doritos’, but I say to you, you shall not even think about eating doritos.’’
Click to expand...
And in Ecclesiastes we read: “To everything there is a season – except for corn dogs.”
 
no, and don’t worry about going to hell…everything you psycho cat-licks thinks will send you to “hell” actually. wont. (lol)
 
jimmy said:
Yes, doritos are intrinsically evil. Jesus said, ‘‘Moses told you ‘you shall not eat doritos’, but I say to you, you shall not even think about eating doritos.’’
Click to expand...
Love it! 👍

Whenever Paul’s letter to the Philppians comes up in the readings, I cringe when we get to chapter 3, verse 19: “Their God is their stomach…”

After I was diagnosed as a diabetic I had to face up to the fact that eating the wrong foods & overeating in general were, for me, sins. It’s taken me years to get it through my husband’s head that bringing home maple bars for me is not a kindness. Now he brings home the occasional cinnamon roll. I don’t think he’s quite getting it. But he never gains weight no matter what he eats.

But in spite of all the temptations around me, I’ve lost 65 pounds! And my blood glucose levels are evening out - not so many spikes.

I’ve just got to keep remembering that as far as I’m concerned, eating bread, desserts, & snacks are sins. Though it’s more the sins of gluttony & self-destruction.
 
Aggies08 said:
I think, in moderation, anything is fine. If it’s to an extent where it affects your health, lifestyle, or activities, it’s too much. You could probably compare it to drinking alcohol. If you want it so much that you are spending your rent money on it, there is a problem. If you have something now and again, it’s fine!
Click to expand...
Yes, well put.
jimmy said:
Yes, doritos are intrinsically evil. Jesus said, ‘‘Moses told you ‘you shall not eat doritos’, but I say to you, you shall not even think about eating doritos.’’
Click to expand...
Tarpeian_Rock said:
And in Ecclesiastes we read: “To everything there is a season – except for corn dogs.”
Click to expand...
:rotfl:
 
Like the corn dogs line. Well done.

As for the original topic, the relevant verses of Mark chapter 7 sums it up. Nothing that comes into the body from outside can defile it. Everything in moderation, recognizing the first principle of toxicology: the dose makes the poison.
 
Gluttony is a sin. Discerning excessive intake of junk food from moderate is, for most people, something you can measure with your belt.

Full disclosure, my belt is rather tighter than it should be. Hypocrisy isn’t when you don’t live up to your ideals, but when you only pretend to hold certain ideals that you actually don’t.

It’s not the end of the world. Repent and try harder to better respect the gift of your body. Repeat as necessary…
 
It is fine in moderation, you just need to be sure to be a good steward of the body God has given you. Junk food is a treat, not an all the time thing. As long as you maintain a healthy relationship with junk foods, I think you should be fine. Now, you may want to refrain entirely if you have major self control issues. If you think if you have it occasionally you will fall back into eating things like that all the time, then you probably should refrain entirely.

Eat healthy foods in healthy portions and remain active and you should be just fine and dandy.
 
God didn’t create junk food.

As for eating it to an excess, I do think it’s harmful to your body, and we are supposed to take care of our bodies. But, we live in a fast food culture, it’s hard for people to avoid, just like it’s hard to find time to exercise when the society is set up for cars.

If I were you I would make an effort to wean yourself from junk food, especially sugary food. Recent studies point to sugar, not fat, as being the biggest risk for diabetes and heart disease. Stop drinking pop, it’s poison. Give your body time to gradually adjust. Also, make an effort to gradually get more exercise.

In other words, start doing positive things for better health and I think God will be pleased. 👍
 
Country_Gal said:
God didn’t create junk food.

As for eating it to an excess, I do think it’s harmful to your body, and we are supposed to take care of our bodies. But, we live in a fast food culture, it’s hard for people to avoid, just like it’s hard to find time to exercise when the society is set up for cars.

If I were you I would make an effort to wean yourself from junk food, especially sugary food. Recent studies point to sugar, not fat, as being the biggest risk for diabetes and heart disease. Stop drinking pop, it’s poison. Give your body time to gradually adjust. Also, make an effort to gradually get more exercise.

In other words, start doing positive things for better health and I think God will be pleased. 👍
Click to expand...
God didn’t create the piano or even music in general. Since loud music can cause a man to lose his hearing, it is therefore sinful to listen to Mozart and Beethoven. Music is the devil.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top