Some scripture verses present an image that is difficult to embrace. One of these for me has always been Mark 9:47 - "And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire" (KJT). Other translations differ slightly on the "offend:" some say "if thy eye causeth thee to fall into sin," or "causes you to stumble..." But they're all quite consistent on plucking (or gouging!) our own eyes out so we can get into Heaven.
This is not a pretty image, and it isn't entirely obvious how to interpret this and apply it in our lives. Salvation through self-mutilation? What's that about?
I do think this verse applies, and particularly in the area of personal change - of overcoming self-destructive behavior patterns. Whatever our addiction is - cigarettes, alcohol, sugar - there's something about it that we love. On some level, I do have a love of eating too much. I enjoy the pleasure of eating, and I enjoy the full, satisfied feeling. That enjoyment is a part of me, and like anyone else, I have a natural impulse to defend and protect anything that's a part of me. I think this is why we're so defensive about our bad habits. They may be bad habits, and they may cause us all kinds of misery, but they're part of us and something deep inside the lizard brain tells us to hold on and protect these parts of ourselves. This is why idea of stopping a behavior - however maladaptive it may be - can feel like someone proposing that we tear off some part of our own bodies.
The Lord's answer to this is right there in the scripture: even if I have to give up beloved part of myself, it's better to give it up and go to Heaven (and enjoy a healthier life here on Earth) than hold onto it and go to Hell (or make my own Earthly life into a kind of Hell).
I don't mean to imply by this that if I continue overeating (or if someone else continues drinking or smoking or whatever) that we're all condemned. Judgements about who goes where in the hereafter are made by the Boss up there, not by the help down here. One thing I can say, though, is that as I've progressed in my program and experienced some detachment from food, I've experienced some real spiritual benefits. Some of the things I'd been "smoothing over with food" - like friction in relationships, faults in myself, problems I'd been neglecting - have become more apparent to me and I'm learning to deal with them in healthier ways. I used to say I wanted to lose weight because I didn't want my son to be the one kid whose dad couldn't go on the hike because he's too fat. Now, I'm seeing this a bit differently: I want to be in recovery because I don't want to rob my son of the better dad I'll be when I really deal with my issues, rather than just burying them in food. Whether this will get me into Heaven or not - again, not my call. But it does seem like it's leading me to a better life here on Earth; a life closer to the Lord and closer to my loved ones.
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He that cometh to me shall never hunger
A web community for people seeking peaceful balance in food, activity, and rest
2 comments:
I've read somewhere, several sources perhaps, that when Jesus talked about "entering into Life" or "entering the Kingdom of God" He isn't necessarily talking about our eternal disposition after our physical death. Rather He is referring to the Kingdom that is "at hand", the Life that we live here on Earth when He lives in us and we in Him. It's the abundant life, our cup overflowing with His grace and blessing, that is impossible and unattainable for us if we are carrying around the baggage of addiction, lusts of the flesh, or a sin-causing eye.
Not speaking as any kind of theological authority, but I have always thought that made sense. Surely the kind of spiritual growth that prepares us for eternity should also serve us well in the here and now.
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