Whose God is their belly...

 

"Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things." (Philippians 3:19)

If what Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin said; "Dis-moi ce que tu manges, je te dirai ce que tu es’’, which translates to ‘Tell me what you eat and I will tell you what you are," or more commonly stated You are what you eat," then arriving at a stage where our bellies become our god is a dangerous affair.

Diet causes more sickness, disease, cancer, inflammation, and general unwell being than many other environmental factors combined. These negative results from what we stuff in our gullets are often dealt with by modern medications, procedures, and the like in order for us to keep eating what is killing us. 

I have had many a gut problem over the past year and as some of you know, it's gotten serious of late. I have been hospitalized, probed, tested, stuck with needles etc. I have been down for the count, laid up in bed, suffered anemia, weight loss, and much pain. 

Of course being who I am, I can't help but think of the spiritual aspects of my condition and wonder what part that plays in my current sufferings. Am I unwilling to change what I consume-- what I put in my mouth? Has my 'belly' become a god or an idol to me? Is the Elohim of Healing helping me to kill off the god of my belly? Is He helping me to put a particular idol or set of idols to death by using my pain as a megaphone? 

Funny thing is, that over the past 6 years or so, I have eaten healthier, more whole foods, less sugar, almost no vegetable oils, and kosher. But, what is currently happening in my gut has probably been happening for quite some time and now it is, once again, time for a lifestyle change especially when it comes to food. Changing what one eats, is an incredibly difficult task. Changing who is Lord of your gut, even harder.