Diet-gospel vs. Christian-lite

Ayy yo,

As most Black folks in America continue to reel and quake at the latest reports of Steve Harvey and one of his ex-wives going at it toe-to-toe in the media over what "was" or "wasn't" done to whom during their marriage, I would just like to take a minute of your time and switch the focus to something entirely different and point out some news that's truly affecting us in other ways - obesity in the religious community or as I call it: Chubbies for Christ. 

Did anyone see the Celebration of Gospel TV show last night?  OMG!   They should have renamed it "The Diabetes World Tour" , "American Bigstand," or "Gravy Train."  Yo, they had some pretty well-fed folks up on stage for real, f'real.  Some of the performers actually had me shaking my head saying out loud, "There but for the grace of Gawd, go I..."  I'm telling you it was like a 5 car pile up on the Garden State Parkway in rainy snowy weather or an Amtrak train colliding head on with a freight train; I just couldn't help but look on with complete shock and awe.  One sista, Cathy Taylor, who can sing, bless her heart struggling to beat under all that... uh...  ummm...  Christian womanliness, came out in a giant blue moo-moo and made me wanna go leaping through the TV-set and hand her my WLS surgeon's business card on the spot.  Another group, James Fortune & FIYA, had some mighty big brothas on there sporting leather suits that looked like it took a whole heard of cattle to make.

I just knew all was lost when fellow NJ native, Whitney Houston, came strutting out from behind the curtain to sing a duet sporting a big beer gut and swollen mannish thighs in a tight mini-dress, looking like she definitely went from crack to snacks.  Those skinny-azz days of binging and purging on illegal narcotics and alcohol, or what medical journalists call living with Bobby Brown, may be over but she obviously swapped one addiction for another one.  Not a good look, Whit.  Not a good look at all, Baby Girl. 

Now I know whatcha thinking, how could I of all people say these things if I was in fact once as big as some of these folks I'm speaking of?  Well I'll answer that by telling you what my Aunt Hattie used to tell me, "God helps those who helps themselves..." and if I can change so can they.  Simple as that.  It's high time we as a people stop this utter nonsense of saying things like "y'all betta not talk about ___________ 'cause they can sang; are annointed by God; I like them; or some other stuff" that won't help them get up, get out, and move something to better themselves.  Listen, most of the physical ailments that are often sung about in gospel music that God is working to deliver people from are quite often obesity-related so let us petition our favorite gospel singers to set an example to live by, by becoming living examples themselves.  What's your take on it, BAF?  Holla atcha boy.

Not into gospel, didn't see the program, agree with the overall sentiment. 

Anyone who has tried and failed; and succeeded and regained; and given up; or never tried knowing the 95% failure rate, needs to move on to their next best option.  Being fat people ourselves, even if only still mentally fat, we can and should talk about obesity. 

WLS is not for everyone.  Perhaps its weight loss medications, or hormones, or addressing eating disorders that is needed for sustained wl.  We are fat for a variety of reasons and treatments must reflect this. 

If you really believe in the power of prayer, while you are laying on hands and asking for healing, be aware of the solutions God is putting right in front of you.  Its up to each of us to accept the opportunities He gives us.  We turn our backs on the blessings we have today through medicine and science.  We keep waiting for some divine miracle when we've already been handed our miracle. 

Putting soap box away now. 

I agree that WLS is NOT for everyone, nor am I suggesting that everyone who is over-weight and singing gospel needs to run out and have it done.  However, I believe the thought pattern for most folks in gospel (which directly mimics the church body) leads them to the following acceptance criteria regarding their weight:

1.  Don't judge me.  That's God's job.
2.  He/she can sing so they get a pass on not being healthy.
3.  Any help offered is seen as being mean, something evil or devilsh; therefore it's not even brought up.

We need to change belief systems and thought patterns; no matter how talented we are.  

You're preaching to the formerly obese (but still mentlly fat) choir.     I'm whole heartedly agreeing with you.  I took your comments to mean do something, anything, about the fat that's killing you.   God has not decreed that church folk can't actively seek good health. 
 @
1.  Don't judge me.  That's God's job.
2.  He/she can sing so they get a pass on not being healthy.
3.  Any help offered is seen as being mean, something evil or devilsh; therefore it's not even brought up.
All are ways of taking no action at all.  Just a different pattern of excuses to stay stuck as is.  I agree, the thinking is warped. 

@ "James Fortune & FIYA, had some mighty big brothas on there sporting leather suits that looked like it took a whole heard of cattle to make." & "looking like she definitely went from crack to snacks."

Whoooweee you made my day with the wise cracks...but for real its no joke and I feel ya! I have had similar observations when I look at the typical gospel choir (in or out of church).  While heightened spirituality definitely has its advantages there most definitely are more than a few draw backs (at least in the area of nutrition)..just tooooooooooo many daggum opportunities to eat anything and everything under the sun!!!: Those traditional after church Sunday Dinners (just not not complete without Aunt ReRe' s Mac n Cheese), then you have choir rehearsal meals, the Pastor's appreciation Dinner, the Building Fund banquet, the Mother's Appreciation Dinner, the Member Appreciation Dinner,  Birthday Celebration dinners for each and every member of the congregation (and you best not opt out of "nair" one);  wheeee...on a roll now...the couple retreat dinners, the Pastor's and Mother's Anniverary Dinner, the New Member Welcome dinners.......Lawd have mercy....the multitude of repass meals. I know my family members who are avid church goer....attends at least one funeral a week....and I don't think they even know the deceased.. hey...yet another opportunity to get the grub on.  Its get REAL crazy....when you really think about how much eating goes on in these circles.  Temptation is knocking on your door even when you might be trying to do right. 

When I think about the black church/family  and then think about every member having a plate at a banquet or family reunion with a piece of meat the size of a deck of cards, 1/2 cup of vegetable and 1/2 baked potatoes.... A loud bell goes off in my head that this meal just does not compute..rather I see a LOT of pissed off faces..christians or not.  ....folks trying to sneak back in line for a second helping.....and thats really sad when you think about it.  As black people in general...in church or not, we do need to make a change. We are predisposed to a lot of the medical conditions that plaque us. Then again....its like preaching to the church choir who don't want to even think about singing a different song. 

Thanks for the love, Luv.

While heightened spirituality definitely has its advantages there most definitely are more than a few draw backs (at least in the area of nutrition).

Glad you went there.  Nutrition should now be the focus.  We should consider ourselves evolving to a newer and better "us" across the board.  What is the sense of acquiring wealth, good credit, fame, and fortune, only to die a slow agonizing preventable death from diabetes and heart failure due to complications associated to obesity.  

But (<-- big butt here)

if you point that out to the average church goer, let alone the famous gospel singers, you'll get a earful of sermon on why YOU should mine your business and how the devil is using YOU to bring them down.  Meanwhile, the real devil is mentally patting you on your back to calm down as he helps you shovel more and more unhealthy foods into your mouth.  Shameful. 

 @ just tooooooooooo many daggum opportunities to eat anything and everything under the sun!!!
 
I know that's right.  And most of those meals you mentioned are so heavily carbohydrate ladened, cholesterol raising, and fat filled oozing with syrupy sweetness until if Richard Simmons and Martha Stewart were to watch just one of those meals being prepared they'd both run outside and faint outta fear that if they did it inside somebody would try and put a fried chicken leg under their nose to try and revive them.
  

Didn't see the show, my heathen ass was watching a comedy roast on the comedy channel.

I hear what ya saying and definitely believe from my church going days that the on going belief was that "God made me this way, so it must be good."

I really do believe a lot of Christians feel as if they are dishonoring their maker by going to 'man' to change them. I simply believe that if God didn't want us to have options, we wouldn't have the resoources available.

Sorry, I just woke up from a nap and haven't dound my funny yet.

Didn't see the show, my heathen ass was watching a comedy roast on the comedy channel.

I normally don'****ch them either but I wanted to see what everyone was texting me about so I put it on.

I hear what ya saying and definitely believe from my church going days that the on going belief was that "God made me this way, so it must be good."

Right, but we both know that's just church-speak for a cop out.  It's hard to change that mentality if the pastor is overweight and so are the deacons; the choir and the usher board, etc...

I really do believe a lot of Christians feel as if they are dishonoring their maker by going to 'man' to change them. I simply believe that if God didn't want us to have options, we wouldn't have the resoources available.

Yup!  Fo sho..

Sorry, I just woke up from a nap and haven't dound my funny yet.

You'll get it.  I have faith in you.

i missed most of it too i was watch "basketball wives, what chilli wants and the atlanta housewives! but i did catch chaka khan and she didnt look to good either! as usually someone made a comment about weight loss surgery and the person said "this is the way god made me and this is the way i am going to stay! well all i could do is turn in my high heel boots and skinny jeans and walk away. i used to be one of those thick girls singing in the background too. black, white, yellow, christian bad habits are hard to break especially bad eating habits, some churches have adopted health ministries to aid in the obesity epidemic and even some gospel singers are losing weight but the dont admit they had "surgery" its a big dark secret, until people see obesity as a disease thats a danger to the black community, instead of embarressment or even a badge of honor we will see church folk continue to die from obesity related illnesses. i myself tried every diet in the book before having weight loss surgery, and i heard it all from so called church folk,but the main thing is they were not around to help me take off my heels when my feet hurt or give me a ride home after church because my feet hurt! or carry my bag with my bible and my high pressure,diabetes and cholestrol medication and a bottle of water, and snack because i was tired and my feet hurt! i thank god for the strength not to stick with tradition and make a choice to improve my health, oh well you can lead a christain to water but you cant make them drink!

Honestly, I don't get the whole "won't admit they had surgery' thing.  To me it's like the weave epidemic of the late 80's.  One night at the club, Shaneekwa is as bald as a Chia Pet; the next night she's got hair down her ankles like Crystal Gale ...and it's blond.  What?! She really thought people didn't know she had a weave?  Yeah right.

Same thing if you're a WLS patient.  If in late September Raymond the Plumber is as round as a doughnut but come early Spring he's as thin as a sheet of paper, ya think people ain't gonna talk N-E-G-A-T-I-V-E-L-Y about him.  Please...  He'd better come clean on WLS before the rumor-mill starts generating reports that he has AIDS or is a crackhead on the low.  Then he couldn't find work in the dictionary.