January 21,1998
Dear Br. Richard:
I understand that you are trying to loose weight, I applaud your efforts. Weight loss is not easy.
I have also tried to reduce, at the insistence of the Lord, and
thought I might share some of my experiences with you.
As you understand, the control of the appetite is the MOST difficult
sin to overcome. Many people suppose that sexual sins or drug
addictions are difficult, and while it is true that these sins
of the flesh are troublesome, they are insignificant compared
to control of the appetite.
I began fasting about a week ago, but fell off the wagon six days
later. The second day of fasting, I wanted to quit and have something
to eat. Wondering out to the kitchen in search of FOOD, the Lord
spoke to me, “Allen, lets talk this over before you eat.”
While he didn’t use these exact words, the impression was
vivid. Returning to my study, the Lord presented to me the basic
concept of dieting.
A time of trouble is shortly to over spread the entire world as
the forces of wickedness gain the ascendancy to fill the vacuum
left by the departure of the Holy Spirit. These forces will combine
to harass and destroy, if possible, those few Christians who remain
loyal to the Lord. One method of their destruction is the denial
of the basic necessities of life, such as food. The Lord reminded
me of the very real possibility, that, should I remain loyal to
him, I could face the very real threat of starvation. How would
I react under these circumstances to the use of food as a weapon
in my spiritual destruction. At this time, my only safety would
be the principled refusal to comply even if the results were certain
death.
God asked me a very pertinent question, how could I refuse to
eat then, if I couldn’t gain the victory now? Principal,
then is the basis to any successful dieting plan. To eat or not
to eat, based on sound nutritional ideas, irrespective of hunger,
appetite, or emotional reasons, is our key to success.
The particular method, we choose, of loosing weight, is not significant
as long as the appetite is controlled by principal or reason.
I stuck it out for another four days before giving in to Satan’s
suggestions. How he must have triumphed when I took that first
bite of food. We little realize or understand the intensity of
his desire to destroy us by separating us from Christ’s will.
The second lesson this experience taught me is to value food as
much as I value a shower, a shave, brushing my teeth, getting
dressed in the morning, or shining my shoes. Sevilla experience
no problems with appetite, aside from an overly fond sweet tooth.
With amazement, I have watched her attitude and reactions to food.
She eats once or twice a day, the amount of food she consumes
is minuscule, but it is her attitude of indifference toward eating
that impresses me. Food is no big thing. Weather she eats or doesn’t
eat, is of little consequence. She would rather talk then eat,
while I would rather eat then talk. Incidently, I have never noticed
her health suffering because of the amount of food she consumes.
It is said of Christ that he ate whatever was set before him.
For those who are over weight and many who are not, food is very
important, this ought not to be. But how to attain unto the desired
goal, I know not, yet, however, all things are possible with God.
The second PRINCIPAL of diet control, therefore, seems to me,
to be an indifference toward food, viewing it as inconsequential.
The third lesson I learned through this experience of fasting
was the realization that the commitment to diet must run deeper
then I supposed, even deeper then the love of life itself. Whenever
I have tried to control my appetite, it has been with the subconscious
hope that I could resume normal eating as soon as the weight was
gone. This, of course, is a delusion for to do so is to regain
the lost weight.
I have not yet reconciled myself to the view that food is a necessity
of life and not its meaning. I drink water, not because I love
this liquid, but because it is essential to life. But, in the
short term, food isn’t essential.
You may remember, several years ago, that I juice fasted for 90
days without any ill effects. By this reckoning, water and air
are vastly more important then food.
But the question remains, why did I choose to eat after six days
of fasting? I didn’t eat because I enjoy food. I can think
of nothing that I really enjoy eating. I didn’t eat because
I was hungry, for I wasn’t. I ate because I felt emotionally
deprived and couldn’t tolerate the deprivation any longer.
Did I feel better after eating. No! Was I emotionally satisfied
after eating. No! In fact, when the realization of my failure
set in the next day, I experienced some depression.
Dear brother, I don’t have the ultimate answer to weight
control. I am still struggling. But these things I know, the answers
do not lie with any particular diet or method of weight management
of which there are a plethora, but it does lay deep within our
own mind and attitudes.
Successful dieting is a spiritual matter and it is in the spiritual
realm that victory is obtained.
Perhaps, dieting, then, is a manifestation of our trust or lack
of trust in the Lord. I have often wondered wether fat isn’t
a visible denial of our Christian commitment. It seems unfair
to me that many Christians eat more food then us fat Christians,
yet their metabolism prevents them from showing their indiscretion.
Dear brother, be encouraged, God loves you and desires that you
succeed in controlling your weight. What better witness for Christ
can be afforded the unbeliever by a fat Christian who successfully
looses weight and keeps it off. Perhaps this is one reason Satan
tries so hard to discourage and dissuade us from doggedly, single-mindedly
pursuing this illusive goal.
May the Lord guide you through this troublesome matter. I hope
these words will encourage you. Be of good cheer. Your brother
in Christ.
Allen A. Benson
PS. I want to add a postscript
to this letter. While I may have failed in the latest attempt
to lose weight, I am unwilling to give up. The victory is assured
and I shall ultimately triumph because the Lord vanquished appetite.
Never give up.