Why America’s Pastors Are Fat 

FYI as a woman today.....This is refreshing to here. There's nothing more attractive than a godly man in shape and able to protect his woman

I visited a Church two years back where the pastor was obese, and started his sermon by making fun of exercise. As someone who exercises, this prevented me from taking the rest if his sermon seriously, and I never went back.

Wow, it is so refreshing to see men discussing this...I'm sick to death of the feminine men these days. My hubby and I have these convos frequently and try to help educate those around us and it's exhausting. Biblical wisdom, even in the church, is seriously lacking. Thank you for all the content you put out. It's much appreciated

Man, if folks were as militant about their diets as they were about their masks...

A lot of sloth & gluttony in America today. "Don't they have a pill for that?" mentality. We need to embrace the suffering & try to be honest with ourselves on where we fall short.

Doug Wilson has left the chat.

I think it helps to start recognizing and eating real, whole foods. And loving to cook helps, too. :)

"You're not sick because you're fat, you're fat because you're sick."

I work at a farm store and do a lot of lifting (feed bags, farm equipment, etc.) I love when bodybuilders come in and they can't lift something and I'm a third their size and just smile while I grab it for them. Very satisfying.

Keto or carnivore diet with intermitent fasting will solve this problem.

Asking the right question is a good start.

These are the conversations we need to be having. Thank you for this substantive discussion.

Excellent talk. I was 294 pounds several years ago. Today I'm at 215 with several pounds of muscle gained. The whole 'denial of the body' in Christian history casts a woefully long shadow and needs to be purged from Christian philosophy completely. Each human body is a gift from God to the person occupying it.

The lie of the SAD. Standard American Diet

I used to scoff at the whole “eating organic/natural food” craze. But then I started finding out about all the junk that they allow to be put in foods. As an ex college football player and army officer, I was seriously frustrated that everything that they both had pushed was so opposite…. My wife started changing our family’s diet around about 3 months ago. Eating organic, cutting out sugars, substituting raw honey for sugar when it’s needed, drinking raw milk, cutting out pasta, etc. I have lost almost 20 pounds. I’m 6’5” and 225 now and feel better than when I was doing crazy fitness for football/army. I am one of the 2 pastors at a small (50 people) church of mostly young families. We started a group fitness competition as a church. Almost everyone is involved in some capacity. Not only is it helping us with our quality of life but it helps build so many good relationships with our church body. Thanks for the good word!

It's funny you say that in the first 2 minutes. I 100% agree with you guys. I am in fact a C-5 quadriplegic and have been since I was sixteen. There are many ways to be masculine and I would push it upon my fellow brothers who are quads to be as absolutely strong and physically Capable as possible to be able to protect your wives to be able to take care of yourselves and not be a burden these things are important. You may have to compensate with preparedness and your brain In many situations, but even still, you were given the gift of being a man. It is also a beautiful burden

Cool. Can’t wait to hear this. (Genuinely excited)

Sloth and Gluttony are 2 of the 7 deadly sins. We gotta hate em just as much as we hate Lust, Envy, Wrath, Pride and Greed.

Where does the Bible speak about “retirement”?

I am a woman and when I was overweight I felt vulnerable. I thought "what if I have to pick up my kid and run from an attack? What if I end up in the water and have to keep myself and her afloat for ages or swim to shore? What if I need to lift something off someone?" I lost it all thankfully but despite being slim I know I'm not as healthy as I should be. Currently doing the "30 a week" plan. Its 30 different plant foods a week. You can still eat meat (which I love,) buts its to fix your gut microbiome. Its not just fruit and veg, its legumes, SOME grains, nuts and seeds, herbs and spices and even surprises like coffee, tea, popcorn, some oils and dark chocolate (if its 70% cocoa minimum.) Cocoa beans and coffee are fermented beans you see, sourdough bread can be included. Also, as the colour of plant foods indicates different benefits eating the same fruit but of a different colour can count as seperate fruits. So a watermelon and a canteloupe count as seperate or red apple and green apple. Its about filling up on foods that contain pre and post biotics, polyphenols and good stuff for your gut. If your gut microbiome is healthy and varied you will find weight loss easier too. Anyone can do this, meat eaters or vegans, because its about adding to the diet rather than cutting out. Of course you will find you naturally will cut out certain foods, your palate will change. I am currently doing it and adding in redmeat, fish, eggs and dairy. Its easier than you think. Id recommend to anyone with gut issues, auto immune conditions of the joints, skin, as well as anyone wanted to look and feel better.

This is how we live. Sally Fallon’s Nourishing Traditions book is a great gift for a wife. We need to eat like our ancestors. Healthy eating is almost dependent on women staying home to cook. Bring the wife home and teach her to cook like her great grandma and you have a healthy family!! Azure standard is a great resource for bulk healthy ancient grains and other good stuff. Nutrition and Physical Degeneration is another great book to get started with to help others to see the need to eat like we used to. Food for thought... what is the connection between women stopping wearing dresses, divorce and the gay boom. I think they are more connected than we think. Most women after 20 just don’t look great in a pair of jeans, but put her in a pretty long dress that accentuates her femaleness and a husband will drool. Love your content, I hope Christendom will listen and change accordingly.

😂😂 "Gotcha!" LOL!! You got me so good! I'm dying laughing right now on my way home from work 😂

Thank you for having this much needed conversation! 👏 I would love to hear Pastor Joel preach on Genesis 9:1-7, which includes life producing, life sustaining, life protecting divine commands/blessings. I think he would be able to handle and rightly divide that scripture very well. While at Apologia Church I met with Pastor Jeff a few times discussing what God created for us to consume. Jeff would be a great guest to have on as well about how to eat healthy and exercise.

Pastor Joel, this video is awesome! I changed my diet to super low carb and completely grass fed grass finished and organic with no refined carbs, sugar, or refined seed oils and lost 57 lbs. My blood pressure is in check now and I feel so much better! Christians should be healthy and strong so we are able to do the work that God has instructed us to do in scripture and so we are able to provide and protect our families and each other. Your shows and sermons just keep getting better and are such a blessing! You and Jeff Durbin are my go to pastors for real biblical instruction. Thank you so much for your hard work and for your dedication to our Lord Jesus and your fellow christians throughout this country and the world. God bless you brother!

Convicting conversation. I appreciate you brothers.

One reason is that fasting as a Christian practice has gone out the door. I'm obese by the way. 45lb over. Most people say I look good. LOL.

Sugar and bad carbs like wheats, grains aren't healthy. I feel terrible when I eat too much. But when I eat red meats, chicken, veggies, eggs, and some fruits I feel fine. No brain fog and stay fairly lean.

Because food gluttony is the only vice that they can participate in.

Would love a video on this topic for women.

Would love a review of Tim Alberta's book, "The Kingdom, the Power and the Glory."

Joel my brother!!!! I was starting to think I was the only person on this planet that detests mayonaise.

Excellent job, gentlemen! I sent it to my 22 year old son.

There are days when I cant stop thinking of food and eating...but mostly I feel annoyed when hunger comes and try to deny it as long as I can.

Anyone else start working out during this video? Appreciate the discussion. Inspiring me to get back on the horse.

Yes! It bugs me that there are so many overweight people in the church. It’s a sin and we ignore it. I’m overweight too but I’m fighting it. Not always successfully but I do try.

Enriched grains, I hear, are a no-no. I see some online getting tabletop grain mills and milling whole grains at home.

I personally think that our modern culture, with cheap and nasty food on the one side, and a gym culture that scares people away on the other side as a lot to say for this problem. I want to say from personal experience that getting in decent shape is not only not that difficult (intermittent fasting lost 30kg in less than 6 months) and 30 minutes a day of exercise will keep you feeling capable. But let me say this also, it's not just a body image thing. When we are able to move the way we were designed, when we can take a hike through nature, or play sports with friends, or generally just enjoy the life we have been given we will appreciate the world God gave us and the life he has given us so much more

Nice subject

Thank you. Finally someone in ministry saying what I, a layman, have been saying for 20 years. Would also add a segment regarding Biblical stewardship, i.e. taking care of this body that is a gift from God.

Excellent job....and vital....💥

A healthy diet would be very affordable if not for interventions by the USDA, FDA, and Federal Reserve. Without the distortions from these interventions, it would not be much, if at all, more costly/less profitable to raise livestock on a track of land than to grow crops. Much of the issue stems from shelf life. Because meat spoils more quickly, the cost to produce it increases the farther away a ranch is from population centers. On the other side of this, the closer land is to a population center, the more valuable it is for real estate development. This is a consequence of artificially low interest rates. These two factors alone drive the price of meat, eggs, and dairy far beyond where they otherwise would be. Then there is the FDA adding regulatory burden on production. Additionally, the USDA subsidizes a lot of farming in an attempt to keep food prices stable. When prices of one crop skyrocket, they will incentivize farmers to start growing it to lower prices while ignoring the causes of such price increases. They will also subsidize foods based on agendas, such as subsidizing corn to produce more ethanol for fuel, which (due to low demand for ethanol) really leads to corn being used in food products in ways that are unhealthy (i.e. high-fructose corn syrup). These subsidies tend to significantly decrease the cost of production for products used in processed foods. Using the Cheez-its example: You could probably make homemade cheez-its with just butter, flour, cheese, water, and maybe a little baking powder. But if you look at the ingredients list on the box it will show many ingredients that you probably don't even know about. It is only cheaper to use all these ingredients because they are either waste products conveniently approved for human consumption or because they are made from agricultural products that are heavily subsidized. TL;DR: Abolish the USDA, FDA, and Federal Reserve and you will see healthier foods become more affordable while increasing in quality.

They were eating meat but not large amounts. My grandmother born in 1887 said their beef, pork, and lamb portions were much smaller than now. Excesses is what we see too much of now, in all areas!

I'm literally making pudding as I'm listening to this lol. SMH

there's a word for this I'm looking for...

I would answer but I would be immediately banned, as truth is never tolerated with the intolerant. Edit: I am surprised this comment is still here, further replies to elaborate were BLOCKED. I WAS RIGHT!

Wondering this for a long time. I guess gluttony isn’t one of the seven deadly sins anymore, is it?

Max lugavere is a great resource regarding this topic with the food system

Dispensationalism has nothing to do with rampant obesity in our churches. I know many slender Dispys and many obese Postmillers. It's the fact pastors aren't preaching that gluttony is a sin. The key is simply obeying God and glorifying him in all things, including making our bodies a slave for the work of spreading the Gospel. Btw, I'm fit, in my early 40s, 5'9 and 136 lbs. Healthy diet and regular exercise is key including having self-control.

alright, brothers, you convinced me... pushups on the hour in the office. Let's do it! (I made it to the 3:00 mark and got motivated)

Because to many Christians gluttony is on the bottom of this list of sins. But they will harp on all the rest of the “popular sins.”

I agree with you completely, but what would be a good response to a rebuttal like “to be absent in the body is to be present with the lord”? Would it be ok to say paul is talking about death and not that physical things dont matter?

One of the reasons I work out is so that I can hopefully be as strong as my boys think I am.

Obesity among pastors is not just an American problem, its common in New Zealand among Pasifika pastor. Some of them are not full time workers so they do manual laboring. It's their form of "exercise" but their diet is very bad. Its awesome we address this now rather than never at all.

Although we do agree with Paul's statement in his letter to Timothy in that physical fitness only profits this body(1Tim.4:8), some people are using what little physical energy they have on the FastTrack to an early grave. Put that McRib back in the bag, man! That "food" ain't food.😂

I can’t recommend Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu enough. Particularly as an official curriculum at St. George as opposed to wrestling. I’ve taught teens for years and can give some pointers in how to handle it, but tldr: Get a good Purple Belt or higher to move to Georgetown 👍

42:46 for you guys wondering what video Andrew is talking about. 😅 ru-vid.comeNq0N32m-mg?si=eD26kjcmq2YPVv7W

I once got my lights knocked out for quipping, “It’s easier to be a Dispensationalist than a dieter.”

Yes yes yes So many (most) at my church are overweight Kids too! If I bring it up my daughter calls me out and calls me a food snob Maybe But soda, any store bought pre packaged dessert, boxed meals (hamburger helper) are a major part of their diet. I try not to consume anything with corn syrup, m.s.g. or white flour. I do try to eat only organic. Grass fed. And granola. Look out for round up in oats.I am underweight as the result of eight mos. in the hosp. as the result of a heart and kidney transplant. And other endocrinological issues. But its worth it. And no dreds. And cook from scratch!

People are fat not because they are eating seed oil. They’re fat because they are consuming more calories than they are burning. A professor proved this by eating twinkies and donuts everyday. He monitored his calories and lost weight doing it. Not recommending that diet (he felt like crud doing it), but the point is most “healthy” food; olive oil, avocados, nuts etc, are calorie dense. So watch out. You need to be in a deficit to lose weight.

Interesting talk, but I was expecting a conversation more about what the barriers of talking about health, specifically about obesity, in churches. I would challenge any church leaders to actually talk about obesity as a sin issue and lack of stewardship, and see how fast the complaints come in, mainly from women in the church. You’ll see the typical worldly accusations of “fat shaming”. Let’s face it: average church is attended mostly by women, because the modern church “game” is a game played by women and feminized men. The men that you’re talking about, the strong men who are the leaders of the business communities, guys who work out at the gym and care about what they eat… they’re typically are not the ones darkening the doorways of churches on their own. The real solution is how to draw these men into churches. I don’t know the answer, but I was expecting this conversation to talk about these issues. Maybe another time.

Well, at least they’re not dining on Whoppers and “biggie” fries during this panel discussion. Can someone tell me if guys who drink light beer really think it helps them lose weight? Especially if they have a six pack at a time.

Don t eat processed foods

What book are y’all referring to?

Regular fasting would help with that.

Does anyone have any recommendations for further study? Particularly on exercise and diet? I'm relatively new to trying to get into shape, especially as a young Christian man who is out of shape.

Hopefully, the next show will be entitled why are so many pastors effeminate nerdy bookworms

Three versions of Ron Burgundy

How could I not click this video 😂🤣 it’s an addiction to sensuality and comfort that’s the problem with modern life. Sensuality comes with gluttony, sexual sin and compliance with anything or anyone that would make our life slightly difficult.

Too many processed foods. The food pyramid nonsense was the beginning.

It's cheaper to pay the grocery than the doctor. To all of you out there, start slowly and eventually you'll get accustomed to making your own food. If I can do it anyone can. It's so worth it.

I’m an “ex” Marine and love Christ, and I would shudder to think about the skinny, feminine brothers in my church huddling alongside me to protect our families or nation in a war. Not that I trust in man of course, however, sometimes it seems my brothers in Christ almost believe it a virtue to flaunt a feminine physique in skinny jeans - it’s cringeworthy.

I have been an atheist for about 25 years now. I can remember going to church and being amazed at how many fat people there were. Most of the youth group, the pastors, many people in the congregation, everybody was so fat. If you started talking to people, you kind of realized that they were eating so bad because they didn’t care about their bodies. They just knew when they died they would be with Jesus. I called this “cheeseburgers with Jesus”. I don’t believe in God, but if he is real, I can say I’ve read enough of the Bible to know that he’s probably not gonna be pleased with the people that just destroy their body so they could go to heaven earlier. It seems like a bad move.

I am 50 years old and I weigh 150 lb I have weighed 150 lb as since I was 16 years old aside from the 4-year stretch their where I got up to almost 200 And restraining myself from indulgence and just eating whatever I want to whenever I want to because I'm some kind of slob or something is why

Not cover though. How many sermons against gluttony are we ever hearing? I have heard none or not in so long I can't remember. Also how many Pastors are effeminate and low T? Some guy that doesn't want to offend, and is low T and wants to cater toward women is why so many pastors are fat. I did like how you covered the Gnostic pressure from modern Evangelicals. I was surprised most of the conversation was about health food and not why we don't teach about heath in Church or at least teach against gluttony.

Overweight is one side of the sad coin; what about the feminine, skinny jean, flared hips brothers, as if the more feminine you look and more “vulnerable” you are, the more “godly” you are perceived to be by the young ladies. So sad and misguided.

Where thay been offered 10% extra food? instead of fasting

God told people what is healthy to eat back in Leviticus. We all took the permission to eat whatever and then believed the lies of the world about what to eat. People think everyone is fat because because of laziness/gluttony but often its just that they followed the food pyramid or other bad health advice.

Sitting and listening to this while eating frozen pizza…….

I totally agree, humans are meant to eat meat by God's design. However, I have always wondered why, if that's God's design, is meat not permitted to eat until after the flood?

I must get stronger

Has anyone seen a picture of Charles Spurgeon?

Someone called Ruslan lol

They also destroyed American cultural eating practices. Traditional 3 meals a day. Standard size portions that we used to have. Wives preparing good nutritious meals and sitting down to take care to eat in a timely manner instead of rushing out the door and grabbing food out.

Might want to publish a correction Omega-3 are good. They have good anti-inflammatory properties. He was referring to something else in the soy bean oil.

My grandfather had lard sandwiches for lunch Most meals as a child. He was lean and strong all through child hood. The lard was straight from their own hogs

Another stream of income for y’all could be comedian. I can’t even compose myself when you guys talk. So dang funny. God is good be strong 💪🏻 in the Lord and stop crying people lol. Blessings

“Strong people are harder to kill than weak people, and more useful in general.” - Mark Rippetoe

I would like these gentleman show one scintilla of independent thought from Doug Wilson.

35:46 why don’t Christians talk about how coffee is an addictive drug?

Fat pastors will claim they are fat because they have a sedentary lifestyle from studying the Bible every day. Meanwhile, many who work in an office setting, behind a computer eight hours a day manage to stay slim and healthy. Fat people are fat because they do the things that fat people do. If you want to be thin and healthy then do the things thin and healthy people do. Even for fat pastors, it's easy to lose the weight: 1. Stop eating all carbohydrates. You don't need any in your diet to be healthy. You especially don't want the storage hormone insulin from carb consumption keeping your fat stores from being accessed. 2. So, no carbs: Bread, beans, fruits, fruit juices, soda, potatoes, carrots, cakes, cookies, chips, pasta, or junk foods. 3. Eat more good fats and protein sources: Fish, poultry, beef, pork, bacon, eggs, kale, nuts, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, spinach, milk, and cheeses. Drink lots of water. Only use good oils like butter, olive oil, coconut oil, and ghee. Do not buy or use vegetable oils (corn, safflower, canola, etc.). 4. Eat as much of #3 above as you like. You won't be hungry and you won't overeat because these foods are filling. 5. Go to the gym. Not necessary but it helps to build muscle by lifting heavy weights. Build up to doing 3-6 sets of 5-15 reps each. Do complete movements (no cheating). Go to near failure on each set. Ensure when pulling up against gravity the weight is moved with force briskly but when fighting gravity downward the weight is withheld from dropping slower, on each rep. Always use a full range of motion, but pause the weight in the under-tension contracted position (such as the bar on the chest in a chest press) for 2-3 seconds before returning the weight to the starting position. Failure to grow muscle is related directly to lack of effort (and diet). After several months of training, increase from 1 set per week to 2 sets per week for major muscle groups. For instance, you can hit the back, legs, and chest twice per week. Don't stay in the gym exercising for more than 90 minutes. Work quickly. Try to decrease the rest interval between sets to 1-2 minutes. Stay off your phone. Focus on recruiting the muscle fibers - think and feel the exercise and put effort into it. It's rather easy and fun. So, go to the gym for 60 mins, 5 days per week. So, 5 hours at the gym per week and a simple change in the diet, and your body will heal itself. The weight will disappear without you doing anything else. You will build muscle. Most every disease you have: gout, upset stomach, acid reflux, memory loss, autoimmune diseases, joint pains, rashes, acne, sleep apnea, swelling, brain fog, listlessness, and mood swings -- will disappear on their own. Your mood will improve. Your memory sharpens. Your energy level skyrockets. Your sleep deepens. Your productivity goes up. Don't set a weight goal, just keep on the no-carb diet for at least 3-4 months and see where your body metabolism finally settles. Your final weight will be where your body is happiest and you will be healthiest. Then, when you are healthy and thin -- don't go back to your carb junk-food diet again. If you do, you will become fat and sickly again. Most people will NOT do this! Carbs are like crack cocaine and are highly addictive. Most people would rather die early full of pain and sorrow than adopt a healthy lifestyle. Pastors are no different, they are just as addicted as the rest of society. However, should you adopt this diet and exercise regime, within a few weeks it will be the new normal and become easy to maintain. But you have to actually do it first.

Avocado mayonnaise is good.

I probably need to lose a few kg... But so does Tom :) haha

Where's the statistics to back your claims? Where's the database that focuses on fat shepherds? Extraordinary claims needs extraordinary evidence

It makes a difference when the meat is raised the way God intended - intentionally rotationally grazed out on pasture. The nutritional value is off the charts better than a feed lot cow.

There is still a lot of the deep programming present in this dialog about eating. A lot of good discussion but it is unfortunate that so many Christians are still caught up in the "we need fats from meat" and "we need meat" conditioning. Gen. 1:29 was the only pre-fall instructions on eating for both man and animals. Sadly, all the disease that destroys lives is pervasive in only those who abandoned the plants and all that can be found in the Plant-Based Lifestyle (See Dan. 1). Not everyone who says they tried something does it right or even truly follows an effective protocol, so save the attempts at dismissing it by citing Uncle Tony or Aunt Jenny or yourselves. Much more to being healthy today in our overly toxic world than this chat can handle. BTW this discussion sounds like where my mind was about 20 years ago before so much grace in regard to understanding healing and lifestyle transformation. Much like sin is our biggest problem when it comes to weight toxins are THE GREATEST ISSUE few focus on. Toxins from food, water, coffee (among the worst possible liquids one can put into the body and addictive beyond belief), air & Medicines from in utero destroy human health yet what churches are training their body how to effectively do a liver cleanse, parasite cleanse, gut cleanse of glyphosate or heavy metals cleanse? All these have the capacity to transform health and resolve issues rapidly but who in leadership has sought insight and understanding in this before consigning the Brethren to toxic medical industrial complex abuse and rapid death? Food for thought. I would love to hear your thoughts - good, bad or aggressively harsh matters not, just starting a conversation.

Perhaps you could host a Registered dietician on the show.

Salvation. Root. Salve, latin. Salve - health. Gluttonous pastors make all Christians look weak. Take that "dad bod" and turn it into a "Father Figure".

This is an excellent topic that needs to be addressed; however, every time this is ever addressed all you hear is eat steak and eggs. I follow a whole- food plant based diet and before the comments fly, no, I’m not a liberal. I am a Post- Mill, Reformed, Exclusive Pslam singing, Patriarchal Presbyterian who believes in head coverings. Though I don’t think it’s wrong, there is no true, scientific evidence that meat, eggs, or dairy are good for you. Period. And if you go to look up any article to oppose this statement, then you’ll find it backed and supported by the Feds and oligarchs. If you then go to your Bible then to cite every verse that God allows for the consumption of meat, you are not in the wrong. God does allow for it. However, the consumption of meat, dairy, and eggs are the result of DEATH from the FALL. God did not create man to ever consume meat, eggs, or dairy. It is only the after death comes into the world that he allows for the consumption. God did not create you thought to eat products of death. The consumption of these items is what causes death and shortened lives. Everywhere in the world where people live to be one- hundred or more in good health, has minimal consumption of animal products. Not saying you can’t eat it, but don’t fall into the grain and carbs propaganda. A whole foods plant based diet is how God created us to eat and why it has helped so many people reverse coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and even autoimmune diseases.

So if you believe eating meat before the fall was acceptable, or even possible, how do you explain Genesis 1:29-31 29 And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. 31 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Fasting is good your your health and raisesI your testosterone and regenerates new stem cells and helps your brain and inflammation