Gluttony VS. Binging

Ok guys, today is gonna be a little bit of a touchy subject. Just the word gluttony in general is a word we don’t like to use much anymore. Now why is that? I think it is because gluttony is a sin and deep down we know that. But we don’t want to be confronted with that sin, it is way easier to call our actions a binge or blame it on a disorder then to admit it is a sin. 

Today I want to try to talk about the difference and similarities between gluttony and binging. Now if you look up both of these words then you will see that they both pretty much have the same definition. Both words are described as excessive eating. I have done both and experienced both. But I believe there is ever so slight a difference between these two. Here are my personal definitions.

Gluttony: Excessive eating (or anything else) due to rebellion and a lack of self control.  

Binging: Excessive eating (or anything else) due to a disorder, or mental distress.

There was a time when I was twisted in a disorder and was binging because I was using it as a way to numb the pain of my heart and surroundings. I would also binge because I had restricted myself from food and so my body was starving for food and therefore would binge. I also would binge to hurt myself because I hated who I was. 

But then there were times when I knew what I was doing by eating whatever I wanted and ate without moderation and I was aware that I just didn’t want to have self control. I was gluttonous because I didn't want to have self control. I didn’t want moderation and I wanted to do what I wanted to do and I wanted to eat how I wanted to eat. 

At night before bed, I would read some Bible verses from Proverbs and there are a couple of verses that talk about gluttony. Any time I would read one of those verses at night when I was stuck in bulimia, I would just feel so much guilt because I knew that when I would binge it was gluttony. I was showing no self control and I was eating whatever I wanted. I didn’t want to have moderation and I wanted to do what I wanted. 

The conflict in my heart and mind knowing that I was sinning by binging yet binging because of actual problems from my disorder was almost unbearable. So then I would feel even more guilt, shame and confusion and would end up binging more because of the guilt of being stuck in a disorder that was sinful!! It was a horrible cycle. 

That confusion weighed me down so much - I remember that feeling so vividly. But when I started understanding the slight difference between the two it really helped clear up that confusion that was weighing me down. I needed to realize that I was binging because I was stuck in a disorder AND because it was a sin. It was both. It wasn’t one or the other - it was both even though there was a difference. 

There is such a fine line between these two. I really want to do my best to explain the difference between the two and point out the similarities between these because they go hand in hand. The difference between these two comes from the spiritual and physical side of things … that’s it. Other than that … they are actually one in the same. I think if we understand how the two of these go together it will actually help us to recover because if we never understand that the action of binging is gluttony and yet the action of binging is because of gluttony … then it will make recovering harder. Understanding the difference is key. 

Gluttony is a sin. Period. So there is gluttony in binging which makes binging a sin. But binging is also an act of a disorder so therefore there is disorder in gluttony. 

It is easy in today's society to excuse sin. We can excuse our binging behavior (or whatever else it is we struggle with for example: excessive buying, watching tv, partying, drugs, alcohol, money, sex) because I have a “disorder”. Well, I wonder how much of it is the fact we don’t want to accept that we just don’t want to have self control? We don’t want to accept that we are stuck in a sinful habit and can’t get out unless we surrender it to the Lord. I am just so curious how many disorders would go away if we would just admit that we are stuck in sin and that we need God’s help to get out. 

Side note: Not only do we not mention gluttony any more … but we actually celebrate it! The serving sizes at restaurants alone are insane! The over the top amount of foods we have access to, the unlimited buffet lines at restaurants, eat what you want with no restrictions. Or being able to watch endless tv shows, having entertainment via our phones 24/7, buying and ordering things offline and have it be at your house within hours … it is gluttonous! But we don’t admit that - we just celebrate it. So much of the time we are unaware of the gluttony that is actually around us, which makes it that much harder to accept the fact that gluttony is a sin. 

When I was stuck in my bulimia, there was a part of me that knew I didn’t want to have moderation and I wanted to eat what I wanted to eat. And then there was the other side of me that was reacting - via binging - because I was physically restricting and because I was self hating myself so much I went to food to comfort me. 

Basically, it goes along with my earlier blogs. I mention how there is a spiritual side to recovery and a physical side. Same with this. There is gluttony which is more the spiritual side to things, and then there is binging, which is more the physical side of things. 

I had to go through bulimia and bulimia was actually a big part of my recovery. I had to learn that I was binging because I was doing things to myself physically that would then make me binge. When you restrict, you will binge it’s almost always going to be like that. 

But I also was gluttonous and had to learn that in my heart I actually didn’t want to surrender to the Lord. I didn’t want to have self control and I wanted to eat what I wanted to eat! 

So I had to learn the difference between the two. And on top of that, I had to have a lot of grace. I think instead of drowning in shame because of my gluttony, I had to learn that the shame I was feeling was actually guilt because deep down I knew it was a sin. I then didn’t need to wallow in self pity, (because wallowing in self pity in shame only fed my eating disorder) but instead admit that I was being gluttonous and needed help. I had to confront that sin, surrender it and then accept God’s forgiveness. And I had to forgive myself. 

Satan wanted to keep me in confusion. He wanted to keep me so weighed down by shame and guilt and confusion so that I stayed not only in bulimia but trapped in the sin of gluttony. He does that so we can’t recover. 

I don’t know why but gluttony holds so much shame. But as a society if we could just admit that it is a sin, just like pride, jealousy, anger … if we could see it for what it is, stop trying to cover it up and hide it, admit our sin and ask for help … I just think we would find so much more healing from our “disorders”! God isn’t confusing. His ways are straight, they make sense and they are freeing. They free us from our disorders and sins. 

Do you see how it’s different but the same? Does this make sense? I sure hope it does. There is no need to feel shame over our sin. Yes, we can feel guilt but guilt is healthy because it points us to the Lord and shows us just how much we need a Savior. But once we admit our sin, and really know we are forgiven … then the healing process, the recovery goes so much better. 

The goal is everlasting recovery after all, don’t forget that. The process doesn't feel good but the end result is so much better than staying in the miserable cycles we were in before. I truly hope this helps you and encourages you. You aren’t alone. I have done both and learned from both and that’s why I wanted to write about it. At the end of the day, we are all sinners in need of a Savior. And Jesus Christ died on the cross so that He could save you and me from the messed up sin and disorders we get stuck in. He has forgiven you, He has provided the ultimate way to recovery and He loves you. 

~ Natalie