Is one sin worse than another? Does it really matter?
The reality is that if you sin, you sin. End of story. But if you take Jesus as your personal saviour, He will help you not sin, and not want to sin.
So I don't think it even matters. If you know it's wrong to be obese, and you continue to eat in such a way that puts on more weight, you are not following the word of the lord. You must lose weight, and be fit and trim.
All sins are equal in my opinion. The act does not matter, only that it's against the word of the lord.
fun2believe, you are coming across as being rather harsh on the obese.
I agree that being overweight is unhealthy, and leads to disease and many health problems.
I do not agree that being overweight or obese is a sin. I do not find that the Bible or SOP teach that it is a sin. But maybe I am not looking in the right place, perhaps you could share from scripture or SOP, that obesity is a sin?
That being said, there is lust and gluttony that are sins.
Deuteronomy 21:20, 21 Counsels on Health (1923), page 50, paragraph 3
Chapter Title: Section II - Essentials to Health
Excessive indulgence in eating and drinking is sin.
Healthful Living (1897, 1898), page 307, paragraph 1
Chapter Title: Chapter XLIV. - The Spirit-Filled Life.
1236. God cannot let his Holy Spirit rest upon those who are enfeebling themselves by gluttony.-- R. and H., 1883, No. 19.
Medical Ministry (1932), page 288, paragraph 3
Chapter Title: Section Fifteen - Diet and Health
While working against gluttony and intemperance, we are to remember the means and appliances of gospel truth, which commend themselves to sound judgment. In order to do our work in straight, simple lines, we must recognize the conditions to which the human family are subjected.
The Story of Jesus (1896, 1900) [Adapted from EGW material], page 180, paragraph 7
Chapter Title: A Day of Judgment
The people of Noah's day abused the gifts of God. Their eating and drinking led to gluttony and drunkenness.
Men are doing the same things today. Gluttony, intemperance, untamable passions, evil practices, are filling the earth with wickedness.
181
It is necessary for us to eat and to drink that we may have physical strength to serve the Lord, but when we carry our eating to gluttony, without a thought of pleasing our heavenly Father, eating just that which is pleasing to our taste, we are doing just as they did in the days of Noah.
Conflict and Courage (1970), page 35, paragraph 6
Chapter Title: An Affluent Society
Testimony Studies on Diet and Foods (1926), page 25, paragraph 11
Chapter Title: Chapter 8 - Diet and Morals
1 T.--486-487
Gluttony is the prevailing sin of this age. Lustful appetite makes slaves of men and women, and beclouds their intellects and stupefies their moral
26
sensibilities to such a degree that the sacred, elevated truths of God's word are not appreciated. The lower propensities have ruled men and women.
The Review and Herald, May 27, 1902, paragraph 4
Article Title: A Reform NeededMrs. E. G. White
Those who indulge in meat eating, tea drinking, and gluttony are sowing seeds for a harvest of pain and death. The unhealthful food placed in the stomach strengthens the appetites that war against the soul, developing the lower propensities. A diet of flesh meat tends to develop animalism. A development of animalism lessens spirituality, rendering the mind incapable of understanding truth.
Article Title: A Reform NeededMrs. E. G. White
The Word of God plainly warns us that unless we abstain from fleshly lusts, the physical nature will be brought into conflict with the spiritual nature. Lustful eating wars against health and peace. Thus a warfare is instituted between the higher and the lower attributes of the man. The lower propensities, strong and active, oppress the soul. The highest interests of the being are imperiled by the indulgence of appetites unsanctioned by Heaven.
Article Title: A Reform NeededMrs. E. G. White
Great care should be taken to form right habits of eating and drinking. The food eaten should be that which will make the best blood. The delicate organs of digestion should be respected. God requires us, by being temperate in all things, to act our part, toward keeping ourselves in health. He cannot enlighten the mind of a man who makes a cesspool of his stomach. He does not hear the prayers of those who are walking in the light of the sparks of their own kindling.
Gotta appreciate some of Ellen's descriptions. "walking in the light of the sparks of their own kindling."