Anorexia must be a rather terrifying condition to suffer from. Largely a women's problem, I believe. Why, as a Christian, did you not believe you were loved? Can you trace it back to your childhood? Or a subsequent time? And can you now say that ALL things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose?
As a Christian from age 11, I didn't grow up in a Christian home or environment, but I went to the only evangelical church in my little town then tried some at universities I went to as an undergraduate and postgraduate. I always wondered why people were friendly and knew each other in an apparently lovingly but superficial way on Sundays yet didn't really 'know' each other. I also always wondered why they didn't look much like the radical Jesus I read about in the Bible and interacted with on a very deep and personal level. They looked like every other suburban middle class good living family and clean ish living city dwelling person, but with very few of the new testament ways of interacting within their community. The great 'exegetical' intellectual lectures that they went to listen to on a Sunday were definitely the pre curser to a good Sunday roast maybe even with people joining together to discuss how good a sermon it was... But I heard little of transformed lives and real sharing of difficult issues. When a divorce happened it was apparently sudden, without anyone in the church really knowing or walking the difficult journey with them. When teenagers struggled, it was a nice pat on the arm and we'll pray for your family. But the biggest thing that impacted me was the guilt. Most of the sermons were made to make you feel guilty and not good enough... Even if the minister didn't fully realise he was doing this. Your sin needed much repentance and dealing with, in fact it was so bad that weekly you needed to see the depths of your depravity and worthlessness. Any of this sound like a breeding ground for eating disorders depression or anxiety? This is NOT the good news of the personal relationship with Jesus... Who came to save and to bring joy in its fullest and in whom there is no condemnation. We are so worthy and so valuable and so precious that he came and performance has no place in a relationship with Jesus. But in the West we've lived such a left brain Christianity based on truth and performance and getting it right that we've forgotten that it's love and belonging and identity in relationship with Jesus and people that transform us.
Hi David! Anorexia is both a problem in women and in men, but it is still a taboo subject for men, unfortunately. I've suffered from it for years, and came across some boys that suffered from it too. I found freedom in Jesus Christ when I became a christian. Life is so much better when you give up control, and give it to God!
Oh my, Thank you....
Thank you.
Inspiring to hear you on Radio 4 Prayer for Today, 8/10/19. Thanks.
Excellent post.
Glen's wife or sister?
Anorexia must be a rather terrifying condition to suffer from. Largely a women's problem, I believe. Why, as a Christian, did you not believe you were loved? Can you trace it back to your childhood? Or a subsequent time? And can you now say that ALL things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose?
As a Christian from age 11, I didn't grow up in a Christian home or environment, but I went to the only evangelical church in my little town then tried some at universities I went to as an undergraduate and postgraduate. I always wondered why people were friendly and knew each other in an apparently lovingly but superficial way on Sundays yet didn't really 'know' each other. I also always wondered why they didn't look much like the radical Jesus I read about in the Bible and interacted with on a very deep and personal level. They looked like every other suburban middle class good living family and clean ish living city dwelling person, but with very few of the new testament ways of interacting within their community. The great 'exegetical' intellectual lectures that they went to listen to on a Sunday were definitely the pre curser to a good Sunday roast maybe even with people joining together to discuss how good a sermon it was... But I heard little of transformed lives and real sharing of difficult issues. When a divorce happened it was apparently sudden, without anyone in the church really knowing or walking the difficult journey with them. When teenagers struggled, it was a nice pat on the arm and we'll pray for your family. But the biggest thing that impacted me was the guilt. Most of the sermons were made to make you feel guilty and not good enough... Even if the minister didn't fully realise he was doing this. Your sin needed much repentance and dealing with, in fact it was so bad that weekly you needed to see the depths of your depravity and worthlessness. Any of this sound like a breeding ground for eating disorders depression or anxiety? This is NOT the good news of the personal relationship with Jesus... Who came to save and to bring joy in its fullest and in whom there is no condemnation. We are so worthy and so valuable and so precious that he came and performance has no place in a relationship with Jesus. But in the West we've lived such a left brain Christianity based on truth and performance and getting it right that we've forgotten that it's love and belonging and identity in relationship with Jesus and people that transform us.
Hi David! Anorexia is both a problem in women and in men, but it is still a taboo subject for men, unfortunately. I've suffered from it for years, and came across some boys that suffered from it too. I found freedom in Jesus Christ when I became a christian. Life is so much better when you give up control, and give it to God!