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Jesus Hates Fat People
10.3.2006 by Tim Reed
From here:
A few years ago I was sitting in on a worship service in the church where I grew up and was struck by an odd sight. The worship singers, ranging in age from their 20’s to 40’s, were all significantly overweight. Let me emphasize the word “significant.” It seemed odd to me and slightly comical. The whole time I couldn’t focus on the words to the songs as these three obese people squeezed together on the tiny stage to lead us in worship. I looked around to see if anyone else was tilting their head to the side, puzzled at what they saw on the stage. Finally I leaned over and whispered to my dad, “Did your Weight Watchers support group check in for your worship team?”
The author goes on to make the case that fat people shouldn’t be participating in the leading of worship.
Quick question, what’s the difference between this author’s argument and our resident Christian nut-job’s argument that blue mohawks are an invention of Satan’s barbershop.?
Different cultural standards, same result. One doesn’t like mohawks, another doesn’t like fat people. I suppose the only difference is that the vast majority of our culture doesn’t have a problem with mohawks (Chad Johnson anyone?) while we’re currently going through a breathy, hysterical anti-fat crusade so chances are if you’re a Christian of the non-nutjob variety or not a Christian at all you’ll join in with Brian on the fat jokes, and if you’re a nutjob Christian you’ll join in with Ingrid on the mohawk condemnatin.
Although a thought did occur to me as to how we could turn the respective prejudices of our commenter’s camps into a Christian unification project. We hold a conference, invite Ingrid and her merry band of nutjobs, and we invite Brian and his merry band of non-nutjobs, and then we have a fat guy with a blue mohawk lead worship and preach. The two groups can join together in Christian love in their condemnation of the poor, fat sap we hire to do this and we have peace in the body of Christ. Of course that means we’ll have to hire a fat, blue-mohawked non-Christian to do the preaching and worship leading, but since being fat and blue mohawked immediately puts you at odds with God that shouldn’t be a problem.
October 3rd, 2006 at 2:00 pm
I understand that you are criticizing this person’s view of fat people. But in labeling his view as cultural, it appears as though you make obesity a christian freedom (such as blue hair mohawks). To think that what leads to such obesity in the majority of people as perfectly okay is unbiblical. In no way I’m I referring here to God not loving a person. But we are given wisdom in the word even to things like taking care of the physical body.
October 3rd, 2006 at 2:13 pm
This was in no way a fat-acceptance manifesto, or an encouragement to bulk up on the gravy and meat lovers pizza diet.
What it is, is me pointing out that his view of fat people and the way he wants to deal with fat people is just as cultural as Ingrid’s view of blue mohawks.
The next step is, obviously, to do a background check on everyone who doesn’t match up to a height/weight chart and figure out why they are the way they are in order to determine if they’re sinning. Of course, anyone on the other end of the height/weight chart should be checked out for eating disorders. And just to be safe we should probably just hire a PI to check on everyone else. You know for affairs, poor stewardship, being mean to small animals and any other type of sin that should exclude them from leading worship.
My point is that Brian is singling out particular sins based on his cultural awareness. our culture doesn’t like fatties so Brian doesn’t like fatties. Its not different than the church historically viewing sexual sins as being untenable but not paying much attentino to other types of sin.
October 3rd, 2006 at 5:50 pm
Maybe we should do a background check for affairs…
October 3rd, 2006 at 5:55 pm
Only on ministers.
December 9th, 2006 at 12:32 am
Yes, we should never let anyone who is unattractive “up front” because that is an “exaulted” place. Dont you know: all eyes up front? its all about how we look up front. Wow, maybe is would be shocking to the world to have real people “up front” they would be so offended if we were all real, wouldnt they. And of course everyone wants to see “up front” as a show, right? it is more important than, “out of the building” or “hands on” or “up close and personal”, right? No one wants to be touched or moved by the spirit, they just want a good show (good-looking-show at that) right? Demonstration of power and spirt? well that’s not for today, people want “pretty” right? Wrong. I dont think hurting people want or are impressed by our high class, polished, unblemished show, not really cause they dont come to “our” church for that, but… but some church goers do. They want the cute little team and church so they can impress people. But God impresses, but not like that. If someone wants to come to “our” church, they arent going to convert because the worship team was size 9. Anyone who has a problem with this needs a rough tour of the world of missions and street ministry, being real and getting relevant.