IT WAS amusing that in his column in the February 14 Sunday Sun, Peter Wickham should respond to the “fat-shaming debate” with an attempt at church-shaming, which has become popular these days, and engaged in some “fat-shaming” of his own.
In attempting to prove his outrageous claim that “one of the roots our proclivity towards fat-shaming is biblical”, Mr Wickham calls overweight people greedy, gluttonous and slothful by saying that “greed”, “gluttony” and “sloth” are directly related to obesity.
That is what Mr Wickham says. However, Christian teaching on greed is usually about wealth, money and economic justice, not obesity. Teaching about gluttony is usually about being a servant to desire, over-indulgence and selfishness, and less about obesity. Teaching about sloth is usually about industry (Proverbs 23:21) and stewardship, not obesity.
It is a further misrepresentation to suggest that the Christian faith is simply about bashing people based on differences. The admonitions and prohibitions that are found in the Bible reflect a concern for life, righteousness mand good living. In today’s parlance, a healthy lifestyle.
– Rev. Ezra Parris
