59 | Gluttony, Appetite and Self-Control — What Christians Get Wrong About Hunger

Could your struggle with food sometimes be more than hunger, cravings or hormones?

How do you know when appetite has moved from being something you experience to something that is beginning to rule you?

And how can you address gluttony honestly as a Christian without falling into shame, harsh restriction or food obsession?

In this episode, I’m sharing a clear, Biblical look at gluttony, appetite and self-control so you can recognise when food may be taking a place it wasn't supposed to occupy, understand the difference between legitimate hunger and disordered gratification, and respond with both conviction and hope. We’ll look at five signs your appetite may be ruling you, why biology can explain appetite without always excusing our response to it, and how grace helps us practise genuine self-government rather than condemnation. I’ll also show you why not every hunger signal should be answered with food — and how learning to discern what your appetite is actually asking for can help you move towards greater freedom.

In this episode:

What gluttony actually is — and what it is not

Why body size cannot diagnose gluttony

Five signs appetite may be becoming a master

The difference between hunger, desire, comfort-seeking and excess

When the right response is nourishment — and when it may simply be “no”

How repentance differs from food shame

Why grace trains us into freedom and self-control