Feeding the Eyes

While I was away at seminary for 3 weeks, I made the comment to one of my friends that I was really enjoying the Food Network.  She asked, "Isn't that kind of like 'lust'?"  We laughed about it at the time.

However, the more I think about it, the more it doesn't seem so funny.

This has made me see the concept of lust in a different light.  Watching something that you lust after certainly does increase your craving for it.  I realized that some of my worst days were those in which I watched shows like "Chopped" or "Cupcake Wars".

If this is true for me in regard to food, it must be true for those with other issues besides hunger.

Why is just looking at something that we want so dangerous?  Because it often leads to action.

Of course you know where I'm going with this.  The whole "sex industry" (porn, strip clubs, prostitution) is set up to provide the eye candy to make people want to act on their desires.  At some point, looking is no longer good enough.

In fact, Jesus says, "But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." --Matthew 5:28

Is the Food Network a type of "food porn"?  Have I been committing some kind of "food adultery" by "cheating" on my project in this way?  This is one issue that starving people in foreign countries don't have to deal with much...if at all.  But for those who are hungry right here in our midst, it's painful.  I know.

I had no idea that the impact of this visual stimuli was so strong.  I'm avoiding the Food Network at this point.  In fact I don't watch much TV at all.  Enticing food is visually promoted everywhere!  No wonder we're such a fat nation.

Be careful what you feed your eyes.