Enemies of the Cross – God Is Their Stomach

A few thoughts...

I understand that Paul is talking about non-believers and how they are entrenched in the material world. Yet, the phrase "god is their stomach" made me think about the mega agri-food companies. (Yes I know they are amoral, as they are corporate entities and not people!) In a way the mega agri-food companies are evangelizing for people to join "their religion" and to worship their appetites. We need food, but we don't need to make it the center of our focus such that it creates separation from God.

For example ... look at how many of the major food companies in the diet & fitness space advertise. So many of their marketing efforts is to prey on emotions like shame and negative inner talk (not good enough to be loved). They want you to spend your time obsessing that what you are doing is never enough. If there was a point where the consumer felt they achieved good enough, the company would lose sales. The companies want people continually paying into their system - not to enter once for some help and then exit happy. For the consumer this takes a lot of time, focus and energy. It crowds out serving God. When these external influences amplify negative inner self talk, it can lead people away from feeling God's unconditional love and can create noise to make it harder to hear the Holy Spirit.

Ultra Processed Food Creates Worldly Focus

Now, review the top categories of ultra processed food, as measured by the percentage of total calories consumed (as per Google Bard AI):

1. Sugar-sweetened beverages (19.8%)
2. Packaged sweet snacks (19.0%)
3. Flavored milk and yogurt drinks (13.5%)
4. Ready-to-eat breakfast cereals (12.6%)
5. Salty snacks (12.4%)
6. Frozen pizza (10.9%)
7. Fast food sandwiches (10.7%)
8. Desserts (8.8%)
9. Fruit-flavored yogurt (7.5%)
10. Other packaged sweets (7.1%)

These ten categories of ultra-processed foods account for over 60% of all calories consumed by adults in the U.S. The consumption of ultra-processed foods has been linked to a number of health problems, including obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer. Despite the risks, even when they are feeling the impact of the early signs, many people don't want to or can't make the changes to food choice or lifestyle. These can all be major distractions to keep the mind on earthly things.

I'd say these are enemies to those that believe in God - foods that are empty of real nourishment that are able to strongly pull people into fulfilling worldly desires and appetites.

Prayer and Journal

How is your relationship with food? Is it supportive or detrimental to your faith? How much does food pre-occupy your thoughts? Have you not been able to act on your purpose because of how you feel? Is your mind set on earthly things or on your citizenship in heaven?

Do you have sufficient energy from your food and lifestyle to accomplish all the things that God wants you to be doing? Are there changes that can be made?

Comparing convenience meals and home cooked meals (even if semi-homemade), do you equally feel appreciation and gratitude for God's gifts?

When you think about nourishment as fulfilling needs of body, mind and spirit - is there a difference in how ultra-processed foods versus real foods nourishes you? Do these each bring equal joy?

My hope for you...

I hope that these words (or what you experience through doing this as a journaling exercise) can serve to inspire and energize changes in lifestyle and food choices. You deserve to have flourishing health to be able to serve God, Family & Country.