I am not talking about fettish type stuff. I am talking about commercials. I am pretty sure I've heard this phrase before referring to food commercials, probably on some NightLine news presentation or something. Whatever the case may be, I don't think it's far from the truth at all. In fact, I think the phrase is spot-on.

Of course, food porn doesn't make us horny. It is meant to make us think that we are hungry. Just look at your average fast food commercial. Big, juicy burgers. Crisp, fresh looking vegetables. Meh. Screw the vegetables, right? Anyway, how about a big stack of pancakes, greasy sausage or bacon, eggs scrambled with cheese, or perfectly sunny-side up with a runny yolk. Donuts!!! Look at them! All fluffy and soft with just the right amount of crispness from being deep fried, and that perfect custard center. OMG! *salivate* PIZZA!!! With all it's cheesy, salty yumminess. Oooooh. Melty, melty mozzarella! BIG HUGE LOBSTER CLAWS dipped in melted butter! Oh, and FoodNetwork? Fuggetabotit.

Now, did you have breakfast? Did you have lunch? Dinner? Healthy snack? Did any of that which I wrote spark something in your brain to make you think, "Yeah, man. That sounds SOOOO good right now."

It's food porn. It teases that gluttonous response, and just makes us want to go out and get whatever it is that is being advertised. That is what it is meant to do. You could have had all the calories as you should have, and yet still, if you see a commercial, and have the means to get the item being advertised, want to go and get that item or have it delivered to you. Why do we do that? I'm including myself, because I'm super guilty, too. We give in to that lust of the flesh that has absolutely NOTHING to do with sex, but is still over indulgence. Because we're not really thinking of it as sinful, because-dude-it's just food, it doesn't bother us.
Then, we look at the scale. WHAT THE HELL WAS I THINKING? Four tacos, a burrito, AND a super large soda? Why can't I lose weight? Lust of the flesh, that came from lust of the eyes. We see the food. We lust after it. We buy it. We eat it.
Eating is not a sin. Liking food is not a sin. ENJOYING food is not a sin. God gave it to us for it to be enjoyed. Giving in to gluttony? A sin. A sin which I have been over abundantly prone to fall into and a sin which I still struggle with. I want to eat mindfully. I want to eat to honor God's temple. I want to eat to live and not live to eat. When it is a time of feasting, I still want to eat mindfully. I do not want food to be an obsession, whether it's wanting it or abstaining from it. I want to be thankful for the food I eat, and I don't want to let food eat me-if that makes any sense to you at all.
Father, I ask sincerely that you help me not give in to the sin of gluttony. Help me not to give in to the lusts of the eyes and flesh when it comes to food. Help me to care for your temple in such a way that will honor you.
In Jesus' Name, Amen.