Eating Disorders and Idolatry
by Suzanne Hadley Gosselin on 07/10/2007 at 3:05 PM
In her blog entry "Slave to Food," Boundless writer Carolyn McCulley shares the testimony of her friend Michele, a woman who struggled with anorexia and bulimia. Michele writes:
If I mention that I’m writing about worship, most of you will not feel threatened. You know that you worship the true and living God. Maybe it’s a particular worship chorus, a passage of Scripture, or the Sunday-scents of your sanctuary that come to mind. Whatever it is, you know exactly when it is that you are a worshipper.
Would you laugh at me if I said that I’ve worshipped a bowl of oatmeal? That I’ve worshipped gods of porcelain, fiber, caffeine, and plastic? If I tell you that I’m about to confess my own idolatry—or misplaced worship—will you keep reading?
In his message "Discern Your Heart" (available for free download here), given at the 2007 New Attitude Conference, C.J. Mahaney emphasized that idolatry isn't about wanting something but wanting something too much. Michele identifies the root of her disordered eating as a heart issue:
Proverbs 9:17 says, “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant." Though, in context the passage talks about adultery, it applies well to the sins of anorexia, bulimia, or overeating. For years and years, I have participated in sinful eating habits that damaged my body, depleted my resources, and alienated all of the important people in my life. I can’t go too far into this discussion without asking the obvious question why. I never started these behaviors because they were convenient; neither could I stop them for that reason. Why did I—and do I—do these things? Because I wanted to—because the bread eaten in secret was pleasant. And my “wants” always reflect my heart.
Jeremiah 2:13 conveys this same idea:
My people have committed two sins:
They have forsaken me,
the spring of living water,
and have dug their own cisterns,
broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
My friend Sarah who is recovering from an eating disorder often mentions this verse. "An eating disorder, or any disorder—homosexuality, drug abuse, addiction—is a broken cistern," she says. The root issue is that a good gift—in this case food—has become the object of worship instead of the Giver of that gift. Thus, what was once good becomes an idol. Michele's story is a testament to how returning to the spring of living water can reshape the heart.
1. Staci Quivers said the following at 4:09 PM on Jul 10:
How did wanting something too much become the definition of idolatry? I think that wanting something so much that it causes you to sin against God's commands is an idol, not something you want really badly. How much is too much, you see?
2. Suzanne said the following at 4:48 PM on Jul 10:
Great clarification, Staci. That is exactly the point. The sin is desiring something more than God and His way.
3. Megan said the following at 5:49 PM on Jul 10:
I don't think it's quite as simple as "wanting" too much.
The problem is more when people distort or destroy something God created to be good because their focus is on that instead of on God.
God created men and women to love each other. He did not create them to kill each other out of "love". If a man commits suicide over a girl, he's taken something God meant for good - attraction to a girl aiming toward loving and claiming her as his wife - and turned it into an idolatrous obsession.
If you have something that's getting in the way of living the way God created you to be you've become an idol worshiper. You've given your allegiance to something instead of God. He's no longer the most important consideration in your life.
This is something I've had to be very careful of when it comes to marriage. I want to be married; but I reached a point a few years ago when I realized I thought more about wanting to be married than I thought about wanting to please God. I don't think it's wrong to want marriage or to think about it or plan for it (by developing skills that would be useful in a marriage, for example), but it's wrong to be always pondering it instead of focusing on how God wants me to behave in this situation that's happening right at this moment.
4. Laura S said the following at 6:45 PM on Jul 10:
Staci, to expound on the thought of idolatry being wanting something too much:
Whatever I love so much that it competes with my love for God is an idol.
Whatever I set up in my mind as essential for my happiness over satisfaction in Christ is an idol.
Whatever I look to for ultimate significance apart from Christ is an idol.
Whatever I seek to satisfy the thirst in my heart apart from Christ is an idol.
Whatever area of my life I try to control without Christ is an idol.
Only the Holy Spirit can guide each of us into the truth of what has become an idol in our lives. What is an idol to one person (food, for example) may not be to another person.
I think that idolatry is a sin that is so common in believer's lives today . . . so common that it often goes unrecognized for what it is. The Apostle John, writing to believers, exhorts us, "Dear children, keep yourselves from idols."
5. Anonymous said the following at 2:02 AM on Jul 11:
"I reached a point a few years ago when I realized I thought more about wanting to be married than I thought about wanting to please God."
Rather than "idolatry", perhaps that's just the way God made us to be?
There is a peak age for fertility (23 I believe), and the Bible speaks about the "wife of your youth" several times.
Maybe, at a particular stage in life, thinking a lot about marriage is actually what does please God, rather than it being an either/or.
Look at it this way: Say you have a vocation to be a nurse - you really, really want to go into nursing, and you feel you can serve God best in that profession.
Imagine you are in the run-up to your final nursing exams. In those frantic, revision-filled days, is it possible that you might be thinking more about the functions of the liver (or something!) instead of thinking about "how to please God"? Besides, if you did think about "how to please God" you may well find God answering your prayers with: "Well, you could start by getting on with your studying!"
Couldn't the same be true of marriage?
Maybe God wants us to think about marriage a lot at a particular age as He wants us to get married and have children, and there is actually only a relatively small window when this can be achieved most fruitfully.
I think it's not the "thinking more about wanting marriage than wanting to please God" that is the problem here.
The problem is that this thinking is not actually leading to marriage, and that is a whole other discussion! (Lack of men in the church, the new teaching that singleness is a "gift", encouraging "waiting on the Lord" instead of proactivity, making God-given desires for marriage out to be an "idol" etc. etc!)
6. Molly said the following at 6:37 AM on Jul 11:
Are you KIDDING me? Anorexia and bulimia are "sinful behavior" caused by our evil hearts? PLEASE, Suzanne, could you do your research before making post? Anorexia and bulimia are caused by mental disorders far beyond the victim's control! They can't just stop it even if they truly wish to. Recovering from either is a VERY long, hard, and complicated process.
7. Anonymous said the following at 7:17 AM on Jul 11:
Suzanne, I have to agree with Molly in this instance; you really are getting into dangerous territory and acting irresponsibly by equating eating disorders with idolatry. Anorexia and bulimia are complicated diseases, and they are ultimately not about food. An earnest Christian to whom I am very close has been in the process of recovering from a serious eating disorder for many years, and I'm one hundred percent certain she would not say her disease was caused by food worship! She would also be very insulted and hurt by this post if I were to show it to her. Suzanne, you owe your readers an apology.
8. Lauren said the following at 7:22 AM on Jul 11:
Although I think that Molly was a little harsh, I will agree that eating disorders really are a mental illness that we should treat with compassion and understanding, not by condemnation. You would not tell someone who is suffering from schizophrenia that they just need to discern their heart, you would make sure they got the proper medical attention. Now, my reaching for the second piece of cheesecake that I don't need might be idolatry, but someone who is suffering from anorexia or bulimia is mentally ill and needs to be cared for both medically and spiritually.
9. Kevin said the following at 7:53 AM on Jul 11:
Eating, or not eating, are not "far beyond the 'victim's' control." The bible instructs us to use self-control. Self-control is a fruit of the spirit. Part of that includes controlling your eating habits. Would you go far as to say that obesity is out of a person's control? For some yes, I think obesity for some (however, very few out of the total of those who are overweight) is a genetic thing. BUT, is EATING out of that person's control? No. A person decides whether or not they will eat. It is not a reflex nor is it a subconscious function. Eating (or not eating) is something you must consciously decide to do or not do. As with bulimia, regurgitating what you eat is something you must consciously decide to do. Your finger does not force itself down your throat. Perhaps there are a few out there who are mentally unable to control their bodily functions, but I think the great majority of those who are anorexic/bulemic are in complete control and simply decide to do them. I think that most people who "suffer" from these eating disorders simply use the excuse that "they can't help it, it's a mental disorder beyond my control" in order to justify their problem to themselves.
10. Carie said the following at 8:01 AM on Jul 11:
"Anorexia and bulimia are "sinful behavior" caused by our evil hearts? PLEASE, Suzanne, could you do your research before making post? Anorexia and bulimia are caused by mental disorders far beyond the victim's control!"
Molly, you speak as if we can actualy control our evil hearts on our own!? If we could do such things, God's intervention (on the cross) would not be necessary! Suzanne, although I don't know her personally, I am sure has spoken with more than a few women in her lifetime. Not only that, she is a woman herself and knows a little bit about what it is like to be a woman living in this world.
As one who does tend to overeat, I know (through experience, study, and counsel) that eating disorders are something that we can't control ON. OUR. OWN. !!! We desperately need God's grace and mercy in EVERY realm of life and eating disorders are no exception.
Believe you me, I totally know and understand what Suzanne wrote "'An eating disorder, or any disorder—homosexuality, drug abuse, addiction—is a broken cistern,' (Sarah) says. The root issue is that a good gift—in this case food—has become the object of worship instead of the Giver of that gift."
When I go into my overeating mode I am definitely not focusing "Being still and 'knowing' He is God". I am urgently trying to fill a void I am feeling at that particular moment. When someone is anorexic or bulemic they are so convinced that their body is unpleasing to people that they are willing to do ANYTHING to get their body into a state to where they feel comfortable. The sad thing is the only that makes them feel comfortable is abusing their body.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand eating disorders -- they are caused by a very unheatly, disordered image of self. Suzanne understands better than I do, I am sure.
Instead of accusing someone of not doing enough research because her words have offended your eyes, maybe you should do some research of your own and figure out how many women Suzanne has talked to, how many books she has read, how many counseling sessions she has been a part of, and how many tears she has shed with women who have suffered from eating disorders.
Please, take the log out of your own eye before complaining about the speck of dust in your sister's eye.
11. P&P said the following at 8:08 AM on Jul 11:
This kind of writing is deplorable. It prevents women (and men) from seeking help from qualified medical professionals because they feel their mental illness is the result of "sin" rather than a chemical imbalance in the brain.
Pray all you want, but get some professional help in the meantime.
12. k. said the following at 8:11 AM on Jul 11:
The causes of eating disorders are complicated. Equating eating disorders with idolatry is overly simplistic.
As a side note, "disordered eating" and an "eating disorder" are different things, NOT synonymous as your post indicates (http://www.4woman.gov/owh/pub/factsheets/eatingdis.htm).
13. Naomi said the following at 8:25 AM on Jul 11:
I've known several people that have been delivered from eating disorders... I used the word "delivered" for a reason. It is part of their testimonies of the saving power of Christ. They recognize the root of sin (whether pride, idolatry, etc.) that caused them to practice destructive behaviour. After true repentance, God set them free from bulimia and anorexia.
No matter what secular research shows, I choose to believe that God is the Savior & Deliverer and when He sets one free, we are free indeed!
14. EKB said the following at 8:44 AM on Jul 11:
While I agree that eating disorders can contain elements of idolatry for some people, they are a psychiatric illness. Scientists don't know exactly what causes them, but it appears to be a mix of neurobiological, environmental and psychological factors.
Several people very close to me, including a family member, struggle with anorexia, and they do not have control over this. I fear that an anorexic or bulimic who reads your post could feel condemned for something they did not choose and have very little control over. Mental illness is still very misunderstood in our society and I think well-meaning people overly spiritualize the issue. Eating disorders require treatment by a doctor, and while spiritual advice may help, it does not replace medical treatment any more than prayer should replace chemotherapy for cancer.
I don't want to come down too hard on you, Suzanne, but I think this post is way off base. I have seen firsthand the devastation these disorders cause, and the sufferers usually already feel like the illness is there fault. They need support and encouragement, not condemnation.
15. Suzanne said the following at 9:45 AM on Jul 11:
Thank you for your comments and concerns. First let me say that this post was not intended to be an exhaustive or authoritative overview of the complex issue of eating disorders. I did study eating disorders extensively in college, conducting many interviews and doing a lot of writing on them (under the guidance of a counselor who specialized in the subject).
Whether or not eating disorders are idolatry, as Michele and Sarah profess, they are bondage. Galatians 5:1 says: "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." I must believe from this passage that God desires to set us free, which puts anything that is bondage at odds with His will.
I do not claim to know everything about eating disorders. In this post, I was simply providing the testimonies of two women. Women who, through their recovery from eating disorders, discovered a spiritual problem at the root.
I would like to apologize for anything I wrote that was my own flawed opinion (Col. 2:18) or generalized the issue in an insensitive way. However, idolatry takes many forms—many of which I see in myself. My hope in sharing Michele's words was that we would recognize our propensity to fixate on things other than the Spring of Living Water. I have cried with women who are struggling with eating disorders, and I understand that becoming free is not a simple matter. I sincerely pray that if you are in a dark place, the Lord will tenderly meet you there and show you how to drink from Him.
16. Adam said the following at 9:46 AM on Jul 11:
Anon 2:02AM,
Rather than "idolatry", perhaps that's just the way God made us to be?
There is a peak age for fertility (23 I believe), and the Bible speaks about the "wife of your youth" several times.
Maybe, at a particular stage in life, thinking a lot about marriage is actually what does please God, rather than it being an either/or.
The Bible also mentions the phrase sins "of your youth" [Job 13:26, Psalm 25:7, Jeremiah 31:19, and Ezekiel 23:21]. Does that mean that God made it natural for us to sin when we are young, and that thinking a lot about sinning is not idolatrious, but actually what pleases God?
I think it's not the "thinking more about wanting marriage than wanting to please God" that is the problem here.
The problem is that this thinking is not actually leading to marriage, and that is a whole other discussion! (Lack of men in the church, the new teaching that singleness is a "gift", encouraging "waiting on the Lord" instead of proactivity, making God-given desires for marriage out to be an "idol" etc. etc!)
I don't think that Megan was saying that it is wrong to desire marriage. Note what she said:
I don't think it's wrong to want marriage or to think about it or plan for it (by developing skills that would be useful in a marriage, for example), but it's wrong to be always pondering it instead of focusing on how God wants me to behave in this situation that's happening right at this moment.
I don't think it is wrong to desire marriage either. However, when you violate what Christ said to "not worry about tomorrow," then you are, indeed, engaging in the sin of idolatry, simply because you are disobeying God's command to not worry about your life.
Hence, there needs to be a distinction here. Desiring marriage is not wrong. However, desiring marriage to the point of loathing it, or to getting depression because you do not have it *is* wrong. That is because of the fact that our Lord tells us to not even do this over not having food, drink, or clothing [Matthew 6:25, 31].
What Megan is pointing out is a very good point, and that is that we have to be careful that good natural desires for marriage don't become perverted by our own sinful desire to worship something other than God. When that line is crossed, we do become guilty of idolatry, just like the people who have these eating disorders.
God Bless,
Adam
17. Suzanne said the following at 9:51 AM on Jul 11:
Also, I am not in any way downplaying the need for medical help. Thank you for pointing that out, EKB.
You may find Focus' Eating Disorders Resource List helpful.
18. Lisa said the following at 11:15 AM on Jul 11:
Sorry Adam, but I have to disagree with you. When Jesus said, "Take no thought for your life," etc, he was trying to be encouraging. He was saying that our Heavenly Father loves us, and wants to provide for our needs. In my opinion, it is not a "Command." You have taken something which our Lord meant to be an encouragment and have turned it into a "commandment" and are trying to make people who are lonely and suffering already feel guilty. I am glad that you have never felt loneliness or depression over being single, but just because someone else does, it doesn't mean they don't love their Lord. The way I see it, if you are going to define "idolatry" that loosely, then virtually EVERYONE of us is an idolator in one way or another, at some point in our lives. So stop trying to shame and blame people. You are a human being too.
19. Christine said the following at 11:55 AM on Jul 11:
I think it is important to note that Suzanne is quoting from ONE woman's experience with an eating disorder.
We can't make sweeping judgments based on any one person's experience. I think that, for some, this article may ring true.
I'd also echo the call for those struggling with eating disorders to seek medical attention. A careful look into the state of one's spiritual life is also something that would be beneficial, but that is something that all of us need to be doing - not just those who have eating disorders!
20. Carrie said the following at 12:29 PM on Jul 11:
"The way I see it, if you are going to define "idolatry" that loosely, then virtually EVERYONE of us is an idolator in one way or another, at some point in our lives."
Thanks for backing Scripture up!
Romans 3:19-25
"Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. . ."
Where Did All This Calvinism Come From? (Maybe, just maybe, from Scripture! *gasp* Who knew????)
21. Mrs. B said the following at 2:44 PM on Jul 11:
While I understand the heart and kind intentions behind saying that people with eating disorders "can't help themselves", I think this is one of those mental disorders people can take personal responsibility for (and recover from!) To reduce the seriousness of their condition to something they have no control over is to encourage them to feel helpless and to more easily give in to their condition because, again, "they can't help themselves", which is not an attitude conducive to healing and can lead to a victim mentality, which is not of God.
Let me explain: I think there is a difference between mental disorders like anorexia/bulimia, depression, OCD, and disorders like schizophrenia, dementia, etc. The former, in my personal opinion, are disorders people let happen to them, whether consciously or not, and by God's mercy He can give us the strength to find the root of sin in those conditions and overcome them by His healing power. Having had two of those conditions all my life until very recently, I think my opinion does not go without merit. By the use of Christian counseling, a church recovery group, the support of my friends, and of course prayer, God healed me and gave me strength (His, not mine!) to overcome these disorders by recognizing the root of sin and claiming the power of God over these conditions.
In recovery I learned that the root of any sin can be boiled down to pride and/or idolatry. I'm not trying to be harsh, but in my opinion eating disorders do indeed boil down to these, and I think it's important to recognize that as part of the recovery process instead of watering down the seriousness of this condition to make those who are hurting feel better, because, again, that isn't always conducive to actually healing.
All this to say, even if it's not pretty, we need to call things what they are in order to really see their face and fight them accordingly. Again, I'm not trying to be harsh, and I empathize with those struggling with this terrible disorder. But there is hope!
22. Megan said the following at 5:01 PM on Jul 11:
Adam: Thanks!
I've never even tried to get rid of the desire for marriage - I believe it's a good and pure desire to have. The problem I encountered was letting it take up way too much of my time and energy because I didn't have it. I've never subscribed to the idea that if I get rid of all desire for marriage, that'll be a sign I'm content enough to get married.
If 23 is the peak time for when a person should get married, those few years ago were too early. ;-) I was in my late teens.
Lisa said:
"You have taken something which our Lord meant to be an encouragment and have turned it into a "commandment" and are trying to make people who are lonely and suffering already feel guilty."
Not true. If a person is lonely and suffering, Jesus' instruction to "not worry about what to eat and wear" ought to be very encouraging!
If God doesn't let a sparrow die without his notice, why wouldn't he know that someone wants to be married and has times when they feel lonely because they're not? And if he knows and he's taking care of it, to allow oneself to be depressed because "I don't have something I want", it's certainly not trusting God to provide. That was the case for me a few years ago and it could easily be the case again if I'm not vigilant in reminding myself that God's in charge.
Adam wasn't trying to make people guilty: he was pointing out a way to fix loneliness and depression due to this particular situation. Most situations, as a matter of fact.
23. Lisa said the following at 7:51 PM on Jul 11:
Well, we will just have to agree to disagree on this one. Good Luck on finding a husband, Megan. I really do mean that.
24. Rebekah said the following at 8:32 PM on Jul 11:
I am troubled by so many of the responses, because whether it is sin (which it probably is--we are not suppossed to live like that) or idolatry (personally, I think idolatry is not accurately applied here), eating disorders are about PAIN. PAIN, because of something that went horribly wrong and pushed you to that point. PAIN, because you hate what you are doing. PAIN, because you don't ever feel like you're good enough. And the recovery is hard. It's one thing to realize that you don't want to live like that anylonger, it's quite another matter to eat and put the weight back on.
Suzzanne, thank you for clariying. Eating Disorders are bondage.
Pray for the women you know and compliment them for who they are--fearfully and wonderfully made by God Himself.
25. Chris said the following at 8:51 PM on Jul 11:
Mrs. B.,
Am I reading your post correctly in which you imply that depression is somehow different from schizophrenia in terms of personal responsibility?
People do not "let" depression "happen" to them. It's well known that depression is caused by chemical imbalances in the brain. A large part of it has to do with genetics, as evidenced by the history of depression within families. The same can be said for OCD, anxiety, or any other number of mental health problems.
This is not to say that there is not a personal responsibility component. I would agree that many people have a responsibility to seek help for such problems. (And, of course, there are those who suffer so badly from such problems that they cannot be expected to be rational enough to understand the problem and seek help on their own.) Beyond that, however, I don't believe you can claim that people let these conditions happen to them. That's like saying those with Down syndrome let it happen to them.
There is no sin that causes depression, or severe anxiety, or OCD, or anorexia, or any other debilitating mental problem. This is an outdated belief stemming from a time when people attributed disease and illness to some type of sin or bad behavior. While personal behavior can affect your health (getting cancer after smoking three packs a day for 30 years is your own fault), mental health conditions hardly fall into that category.
26. Artie said the following at 7:15 AM on Jul 12:
The comments and feelings expressed by many of you on eating disorders are somewhat fragmented. This is understandable as no one could possibly cover the subject in a few paragraphs. I am a RN and have some faith in our medical knowledge and ongoing research into the human body and mind. One thing I have definitely discerned is that research is ongoing, often biased, results and conclusions change significantly as time goes on. It is not a place to place much faith. Our theories about eating disorders (and other things) change often!
Gods word does not change, and I think He has the final say on who and what we are as humans. Our flaws are many. Our brokenness is massive. At the root of most of our problems are issues between us and God. He made us, only He fully knows us and can "fix" us when some part of who we are is hurt and broken.
I think we need to exhibit great compassion towards each other as we share our weaknesses and sin. We also need to realise in a very real sense we are all mentally ill. Many of the people suffering from eating disorders would be helped by a combination of medical knowledge, therapy with someone who really knows Christ and eating disorders. Certainly we are people created by God with free choice-we can choose, with God's strength and help, to change ourselves. It is just so very tough to do this on an ongoing basis.
27. Ted Slater said the following at 8:35 AM on Jul 12:
Chris -- of course many (perhaps most) instances of depression are chemically related.
But sometimes depression results from sin. If you steal something, or lie about someone, or abuse drugs, for example, and then "don't make it right," the guilt/conviction can grow until you have symptoms of "depression." In these cases, it's imperative to confess the sin and repent from it, attempting to make restitution.
Depression may be like any "defect" -- some are present at birth, others result from environmental interaction (e.g., accidents, abuse). And treatment should be related to cause.
Therapy has its place. But sometimes problems are the simple result of sin, and no amount of "therapy" is going to free some people from something best treated by engaging God in humble repentance.
28. JMarie said the following at 9:29 AM on Jul 12:
As someone who has struggled off an on with depression for more than a decade now (always stubbornly refusing medication) I agree with Mrs. B that *some* people do let depression happen to them. Perhaps the first time it starts with being overwhelmed and not putting their faith and focus in the right place, and then they slip into depression unaware; however, after a few cycles of depression, one typically begins to notice the signs (or if they don't, a friend or family member does). Upon seeking help, people can often learn to recognize signs of their depression creeping up on them again. Also, by being vigilant about caring for their own mental (and physical!) health, many people are able to manage their depression and often prevent further depression, or at least lessen the time and depth of the depressive episodes. Depression is a brain chemistry issue, yes, but it's one that many people can *do* something about (and should, since it often gets worse with time, as the brain gets used to being "down"). Of course, I can't speak for all, and many others may never be able to recognize their own depression signals or recover without medication.
OCD -often related to eating disorders- is another matter. People can often learn tricks for managing the behavior, but the thought patterns are harder. The best way I've heard it described is "mis-firing" in the brain, where the brain fixates on something normal and insists there's a problem to be fixed. A good friend of mine has OCD, and while she does better with it now than she used to, medication is the only thing that really helps her be "normal".
All this simply to say that yes, mental disorders are complicated, and yes, there are probably spiritual and physical elements to each individual's situation. The danger is in generalizations, and I thought Suzanne's post was clear about reflecting individual experiences that others might relate to.
29. Mrs. B said the following at 10:46 AM on Jul 12:
Chris,
Thank you for your opinion on my post. Please understand that I'm trying to say there is a difference between disorders like anorexia, depression, etc. and those like schizophrenia, down syndrome, and things like that, as well as from physical ailments like cancer. I understand people cannot "choose" to not have down syndrome or cancer; there is a fundamental difference there (that's why people don't go to therapy do "overcome" down syndrome)
I agree with you that there is a chemical component to depression and OCD and don't deny how helpful medicine can be for some people. But I think there is some willpower component that puts people in a cycle of depression or compulsive behavior. In therapy I learned to recognize that cycle and *chose* to face it and stop it. It took time, but it worked and I don't have to take medicine. For me, personally, the root of sin that lead to my depression and compulsive behavior was putting my personal happiness in my life's circumstances and letting them dictate my moods and my willingness to live. My joy should not come from those things but from God. Yes, depression can be sparked by painful circumstances, but how you react to those circumstances makes the difference. You can choose edifying thought patterns and deny the lies that lead to these conditions, or you can succumb to them. Also, and correct me if I'm wrong, but our brain chemicals change with our moods, so just saying that disorders are chemically based doesn't mean someone is helplessly controlled by them (I know that is an oversimplification, but we'll not go into the nuances of the brain's chemical behavior at this time).
I understand that sounds simpler than it is in real life, but the core of my point is that passing off certain conditions as something people cannot help can be dangerous to the healing process.
Thanks again for your opinion :)
30. Jethro said the following at 3:22 PM on Jul 12:
Boy, I just cannot get anything posted on this site anymore. Have I been blacklisted or something?
31. Katalaya said the following at 10:14 AM on Jul 13:
The "dichotomy" in this discussion is interesting to me... because it seems to reveal two parts of how sin works in general. It has been seen as hurtful and offensive to suggest personal responsibility for eating disorders as diseases, and eating disorders have been portrayed in an equally unbalanced way as direct results of rebellious, selfish personal choice. (generally speaking of course, many of the comments have not seemed this extreme)
Of course nobody deliberately makes decisions that will lead to an eating disorder or depression, or even lung cancer. Smokers don't make an educated, deliberate choice each time lighting up, considering the likely health problems that will result and their own genetic vulnerabilities... and then decide it's worth it to have that smoke. There are several unconscious influences on their behavior, like nicotine addiction, social habits etc. Yet individual choice and responsibility must be there, as well as some sort of community responsibility for care.
It is in ill-advised beginning decisions and behaviors, which may be allowed because a person is isolated/abused/hurt/neglected/uninformed/not equipped with effective coping strategies/etc, that an illness like eating disorders are born. Certainly it's a complex web of causes... an interaction between genetic predispositions, personal thought patterns and coping strategies, and the effects of one's social environment. These are the conclusions I've gathered based on my study with my b.s. in psychology anyway. Depression does not just come out of nowhere. It has a cognitive, biological and social context.
But aren't social isolation and personal unawareness (especially when combined with genetic predispositions!) the perfect conditions to breed a life dominated by sin? Isn't that exactly how it works... to accidentally give up freedom through small decisions done in dark, isolated despair, which spirals into something that seems totally out of control and destroys an individual as well as hurting everyone around? That is the elusive, deceptive quality of it all. Interestingly, I feel this is somewhat the point of the original post.
32. Nina said the following at 4:01 PM on Jul 16:
Wow! It's (sort of) nice to know that people get so bent out of shape in defense of a bulimic or anorexic's screwed-up way of thinking! Yes, I said screwed up, and I'm allowed, because I'm talking about myself. I struggle with anorexia and bulimia (yep, both at the same time, it's possible - they even have a cute name for it - bulimirexia) and I feel like I should add something to this blog. Thank you for pointing out that they are indeed mental disorders and that they aren't completely in one's control. However, to a certain degree it still is sin. Each is a type of addiction to food that needs to be treated physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. As an addiction or an obsession (or idol) it frequently steals time and thought away from God and other things that I should be doing other than worrying about how many fat grams I have had or worrying about whether or not anyone noticed that I had to wear size 10 jeans today instead of size 8 because I gained more weight back. It is a long road to recovery from these disorders, but part of it is recognizing the part of it that is sin. Yes, a great deal of counseling is definitely necessary, among a host of other things, but the idolatry analogy wasn't really off. That's a big part of it for me, now that I'm recovering and relatively healthy again, is breaking the thought habits and confessing the sin of redirecting my Christian walk to a walk with my refridgerator. I hope this helps.