I realize that this will upset a few
people and probably even dampen my “popularity” for a while, but I feel a great
responsibility to say these things. Most
of you will understand that thousands of people are looking to us for guidance
and some are getting mixed signals.
I am deeply concerned about the large
amounts of church people that are peddling “quick fix”. “do nothing” weight
loss products. I for one definitely
believe that gluttony and over indulgence are huge sins in the church and that
a better life of a moderate, more natural diet and minimal exercise would be
Biblical and Godly. (I lost some of you
already) But the problem is, many are
promoting chemicals, herbs and systems that are faddish and attempt to remove
the personal responsibility of the weight problem. Personal responsibility is something that the
church should be absolutely encouraging not discouraging. I have listened to many of the pitches for
these products and they almost always hurt rather than help the idea of personal
responsibility. They say things
like. “Eat what you want and lose weight
too.” “Just take this product and don’t
change anything about your lifestyle”.
“Watch the pounds and inches MAGICALLY fall off.” You may think that I am being ridiculous and
radical but this sounds like a charismatic, “come to Jesus and He will give you
money and a gorgeous spouse and a great job” routine. These products sound like something that
would be promoted by the likes of Joel Osteen.
How can we tell a generation that they can eat as much as they want, not
exercise, fill up on sugar, fat and caffeine AND lose weight and then expect
them to believe that it doesn’t work the same way with not paying your tithes
and offerings, not attending church faithfully, not having a prayer life???
I also am concerned about the way that it
is presented in subtle undertones that lead people to believe that skinny and
pretty equals happy and content. Is that
the taste we want to leave in their mouths?
That sounds like something Hollywood movies or MTV would try to slip
in.
It worries me when Godly people can
seemingly remove their spiritual direction long enough to make money or can
possibly do something wrong as long as the ultimate outcome is right. I cringe at the idea of some people believing
that God would want ministries and ministers making income off of telling
people that they can have something for nothing. To me that is the slippery slope.
I know that this will create a little
controversy and some are even going to say that this makes me look like a flip
flopper or a hypocrite from my last major “controversy”. But that is not true. I feel the same way both times. Do not expect me to start hating or
mistreating people that sell these products.
Many of them are my close personal friends and I love everyone and try
to show it every time. Many of these
people are very spiritual and I have a lot of confidence in them and I am sure
that I am doing some things that they wish I would stop doing too. (like posting on fb haha)
While none of us are perfect we should all be free to speak our hearts
to each other without risk of being alienated.
It could actually help us all mature one from the other.
Some may immediately want to bring up my
wife and her weight loss. I will take
care of that right now. My wife lost
almost 60 pounds in about a year and a half and did it 100% by eating smaller
portions, educating herself on nutrition and very mild and minimal
exercise. In doing so she has made
herself healthier in the long run, improved her lifestyle biblically and
responsibly and not brought any reproach on her testimony or our ministry.
This is not a scold or a scandal. This is a clarification. Please do not use this as an opportunity to
start a big fb war. I didn’t post this
on your page, I posted it on mine. Any
rude, crude and argumentative comments will be removed.
It seems I spend much of my ministry
trying to show people that one radical view over another doesn’t make either side
right. There are right principals and
there are right ways to go about them.
And everyone of them takes some PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY.
I love everyone of you and this is how
Brother Sloggett feels but do not hold these concerns to anyone else’s charge
but mine. God bless you.
Your humble servant,
Rev. D. Todd Sloggett
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