Chris Opp

I called myself a Christian, but when I needed something, I ran to food, alcohol, money, antidepressants, and approval of others instead of to God. None of those things gave me what I needed; in fact I was enslaved by them. I was miserable, and didn't know why I wasn't experiencing life as a new creation, as described in the Bible. I pasted a smile on my face, but I hated my life. Then I started really listening to the Bible-based teachings of Weigh Down, a ministry founded by Gwen Shamblin, M.S., R.D. There were many testimonies of people who had been able to let go of their relationship with the fridge in exchange for a deep relationship with God and that idea had great appeal for me. It was exciting to think that it was actually possible to really leave my old life of slavery to food and other things, and to follow Jesus (who said "not my will but Yours be done" - Luke 22:42) as the disciples did. The main false comforts that I have permanently laid down are: overeating, bulimia - 20 years, antidepressants - 16 years overdrinking, marital discord , lazy parenting, general laziness and chronic unemployment, pride, anger, dissatisfaction and complaining, lying, insatiable seeking approval of people, overspending and chronic debt. The people I got to know through Weigh Down and Remnant Fellowship lived in the freedom which is only available in Christ: freedom FROM sin, not freedom TO sin. They were radiant with peace and joy and exemplified the love of Christ. This was in marked contrast to what I saw and experienced in the rest of the world (sadly, just as much in the churches as everywhere else). I stopped listening to the messages that told me I'd never be able to stop sinning and that God doesn't expect us to be holy. Those untrue teachings only let me continue in sin. Hebrews 10:26-29 points out, "If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?" I now finally understood the hope in verses like this (that we can stop sinning!), and I stopped skipping over them. Another verse that explains the wonderful Grace of our God: "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ?No? to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope'the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good." (Titus 2:11-14) I had found the hope that we, mere humans, can be pure--why else would God tell us to be? I had a lot to repent for and a lot to learn! I stayed in Weigh Down classes, joined Remnant Fellowship, and lost my excess weight. It's been off since the summer of 2004. (My before and after photos are on our family's testimony website, http://weighdownworks.blogspot.com/.) At last I was surrounded by people, in person and online, who lived what they preached. I found out that by obeying God's Spirit in eating and in everything else, I could do it too! I finally had support in letting go of habitual sin and began  living a life pleasing to God, instead of hearing "oh, it's all right, I can't stop either, but God understands". Now I love waking up every day, and I can't wait to see what GOD's plans for the day are! My smile is genuine now--you can't wipe it off my face! I wouldn't go back to my old life for anything.