Form of Idolatry

• Gluttony is a form of idolatry, a grave sin that is forbidden in five out of the 10 commandments. Idolatry is the act of valuing lesser objects above God. Paul warns that gluttons focus on physical things and neglect their spiritual relationship with God. "For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is in their belly, and whose glory is in their shame - who set their mind on earthly things (Philippians 3:18-19)."
  
  

Sin of Evil People

• The Bible considers gluttony a character trait of an evil person, and it instructs people to stay away from gluttonous individuals. "Do not mix with winebibbers, or with gluttonous eaters of meat (Proverbs 23:20)." Christian author Martin Collins points out that the word "meat" in this verse represents food in general; the word "meat" was commonly used in the Bible to indicate a filling meal. Collins says that spending time with gluttons will tempt Christians to eat too much food. He says that Christians should not continue spending time with willfully sinning people, who see no problem with their sin, whether it is gluttony or idol worship or any other sin.
  
  

Leads to Carnal Security

• Carnal security is a feeling of security through the physical rather than spiritual world. The Bible says that gluttony leads to a sense of carnal security. The Apostle Luke writes, "And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry (Luke 12:19)." Isaiah likewise writes about this false sense of security, "And behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine: let us eat and drink; for to morrow we shall die (Isaiah 22:13)."
  
  

Leads to Poverty

• The Scriptures make it clear that gluttony is not the way to success. "For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags (Proverbs 23:21)." While it may sound harsh to group gluttony in with drunkenness, they are similar sins, related by their over-indulgence in fleshly appetites.