Mental Obesity

When someone indulges in an obscene amount of overeating and lack of exercise, we can all mutually accept the outcome: obesity. This isn't to shame, it's just a reality. Gas makes car go vroom, fat makes man go less. But when someone indulges in an obscene amount of overeating and lack of exercise mentally, we don't accept a mutual outcome. We consider the screen's influence to be arbitrarily amusing - the brain rot is inconsequentially funny. And when our last remaining brain cells tickle together in the recollection of last week's viral video, our laughter drowns out any and all consideration for the truth: mental obesity.

Think about the aftermath of a long doom-scrolling session. You have bed rotted, couch rotted, and/or brain rotted for 1, 2, 3 hours (or more) and you finally hit the lock button to turn off the endless feed of social content. "Feed" is the key word here - you are literally feeding yourself mentally. And just like that of the physical diet, we have options as to what we consume.

Here's an easy way to make this stick: what goes in is what comes out. Those who have health goals may track their macros (proteins, carbs, fats) as to get a grip on what goes in. They already have the goal of what they'd like to see come out and adjust their intake accordingly. Those who do not care intake whatever they want and live with whatever outcome they get. Usually a mix of lack of energy and more frequent trips to the bathroom.

And the over-indulgent mind does just that. Social media is like consuming candy and fast food all day. By the time it's digested, your brain is fried and you lack mental clarity. We all too easily say, "I'm tired" and fail to attribute that to our mental gorging on absolute junk. We think the answer is more "rest" but the idleness in bed only tempts us to turn the screen back on. And that is the cycle of mental lack of exercise.

So here, I pivot. We no longer need to belabor the concept of mental obesity, we need to aggressively address its effect on the Christian walk. For the non-believer, mental obesity is no different from the downward sin trajectory explained in Romans 1:18-32, a caution to all people, non-believers and "believers" alike. But for those who truly profess faith in Jesus Christ, claiming to love Him and be His follower, here is what you face from His Holy Word:

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment." (Matthew 22:37-38)

That's straight from Jesus Himself who also says in John 14:15, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." So, if Jesus says the great and first commandment includes loving Him with "all your mind", that's a non-negotiable. Can we be perfect at it? - no. But we can sure do better than racking up 4-8 hours of screen time each day! (Go research daily screen time averages in young people and check yours.)

You really think you can rack up that much screen time and claim to love The Lord your God with all your mind? "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:21) Compare your weekly time at church or in your Bible against your time on your phone and you tell me where your treasure is.

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2).

Christians nowadays (especially young adults) are frequently charged with, "So what is God's will for your life?" And it falls flat for two reasons: 1) God's will for your life is your sanctification, not some aspect of the American Dream (see 1 Thessalonians 4:3) and 2) you're incapable of discerning the will of God unless you renew your mind!

God's Word calls you to "not be conformed to this world" and yet we willingly expedite the world's garbage into our minds through the pump of social media and more. Stand then, convicted, and repent.

Repent by renewing your mind. If you wanted to renew your body, you would cut out the junk food, and hit the gym. It's no different for the mind. Less scrolling and more scripture. Get out of bed and go to church, your pastors are charged to feed the sheep. Failure to do so is sin and costly to your relationship with your Savior.

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." (Philippians 4:8)

Reread those adjectives and consider how much of your screen time includes them. I would estimate a solid 0-2% of that, but then again I'm angsty while writing this (prove me wrong though).

The garbage pump of doom scrolling can't possibly be all that true, especially in the age of AI. Neither can it be very honorable, just, or pure considering the idiotic humor, injustice of political content, and innate impurity of rampant over-sexualized imagery.

Lovely, commendable, excellent…with the exception of a small percentage of content truly exemplary of God's beauty in creation, I wouldn't bank on these being descriptors for social content either. Think about what you're viewing and tell me how commendable it is.

This Philippians verse concludes with "if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." This verse immediately follows the call to not be anxious but rather let the peace of God guard your hearts and minds. Oh gee, wonder why anxiety is so high in society right now? Probably because your intake is the antithesis of what Scripture calls you to set your mind on.

You're eating garbage! Take a look in the mental mirror and address the reality of your mental obesity. Peace will remain far from those whose minds are hoarded with garbage. You have left no room for that which is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, or worthy of praise.

And those are not just descriptors of "good things in life", those are descriptors of Christ. He is true in His Word, honorable in His work, just in His sovereignty, pure in His holiness, lovely in His Triune being, commendable in His character, excellent in all His ways, and above all else - King Jesus Christ is the only one worthy of praise.

Have you the capacity to praise Him? Or have you let yourself go like the sluggard of Proverbs 26:15, "The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth." Are you mentally obese?

To the Glory of God, Pastor Matt.

Scripture References

Romans 1:18-32

Matthew 22:37-38

John 14:15

Matthew 6:21

Romans 12:2

1 Thessalonians 4:3

Philippians 4:8

Proverbs 26:15