…whose god is their belly”

Phillipians 3:18-19

(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 their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

From ancient Hebrew we understand that the anatomy of the human body is used to "allegorize" the basic mental and physical attributes of humanity. The “belly” in the scripture above refers to the seat of the emotional and instinctive parts of the human psyche (the stomach is the source of physical life, the intestines the instincts, the kidneys are the seat of emotions, etc. All these organs are in the belly). This includes things such as need, lust and desire. It also includes emotional responses to the things that give rise to our learned “tastes” that come from experience. That means the root of addictions lies in what the Hebrew mind referred to as “the belly”. The Biblical use of "belly" is to describe that which comes forth. One concrete use is the birth of a child that comes forth out of the belly. In many cases the use of "belly" is allegorical. Therefore, anything associated with the belly will be transformed into something in the character of the individual, or concretely into their life.

If that is the case in this reference, then it is possible to understand further what the Apostle was writing to us about

The phrases in this passage suggest to us carnality as a way of thinking. The behavior of such a person will become distasteful to others because of habitual craving for things. Lest we think that this is related only to drugs or alcohol, it must be pointed out that it relates to any addicting thing. It does not have to be foodstuffs or any other material consumable. It can be anything related to the emotional context as well.

A short list of these will bring to mind the power that this phenomenon has over people.

We can start with the obvious:

-Drugs that affect the psyche
-Foods that affect the psyche including intense flavorings or over consumption as a response to the psychological discomfort of hunger, or as a simple lust for variety.
-Mind altering environmental factors such as music or even vocal chanting
-Stimuli: such as sexual ones, or egotistically inflating ones, or any other form of
gratification, especially self gratification.
-Athletic challenges which give a sense of command to the individual where physical skill or strength produces the euphoria associated with self-reliance and self-ability to overcome.

to the more subtle:
Recent research suggests that many young people are completely addicted to gaming because they can win often. This produces the same chemical responses in the brain that winning a major goal in life would cause. The result is that young people who are naturally impatient and without resources are now able to receive the psychological gratification of winning. This boosts the ego and supports self-importance internally while reducing or eliminating the responsibility associated with the real gaining of personal ground. This then results in irresponsible behavior.

Research also points out that a chemical stimulus in the brain is responsible for the triggering of energy bursts, emotional outbursts, and feeling of superiority or self-aggrandizement and is a result of certain types of music. This stimulus can be so intense as to elicit physical changes and in the mentality of the individual over time.

This leads us to the following realization: sensuality is larger in scope and meaning than just sexual responses and desires. Sensuality includes all of the psychological needs for stimuli from any addicting phenomenon.

One of the most important and effective sources of sensuality for virtually any age group is television and it’s originator, the movie. This form of stimulus is so pervasive and so intense that there is little hope of spontaneous recovery. It takes more than 20 days of complete abstinence before the struggle to avoid it begins to diminish. The combination of sound, visual stimulus and story line produce the greatest non-chemical narcotic available today. Demonstrations of non-sensuous material, even Bible oriented material, can lead to over-stimulation and sensuality. In this fashion it is possible to avoid negative material and propaganda but still be addicted to the source.

This lust to satisfy the mental addiction of entertainment is from your "belly". The attempt to obtain both material and time to use in this fashion costs the home many thousands of dollars in equipment and materials, and untold costs in terms of time.

The important thing to recognize about sensuality is that it can come from a variety of sources and is caused by several different mechanisms; but because of the effect in the brain, it is a powerful mechanism and is entirely addicting. According to the Apostle Paul this makes us an enemy to the cross of Christ. What that means is that our life is not a testament to the saving Grace of God. We are an open epistle read of all men, and the story is not about salvation:

Rom 16:17
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple

The effects of sensuality are described clearly in the epistles. It is important to note specific things about the sensual:

Jude 17-19
But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.


James 3:13-17
Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

The sensual person cannot display godly wisdom, cannot avoid contention, and will not be a partaker of the fellowship of other Christians. The sensual person is marked. Their walk is after the things they are addicted to, that they are placing above God. The result is clear to everyone who observes the life of such people. We are warned to stay away from such as they will be the deceitful mockers of Jesus Christ and all that follow Him, given the opportunity.

On the other hand, the person who is not sensual will have the meekness of true wisdom from above. They will not be forward and will not be self-willed. The spiritual minded person will attempt to foster understanding, cooperation, and will portray the other characteristics listed by James: being first pure (not deceitful), peaceable and gentle, full of mercy and good fruits (good works and success in ministering to others) fair and not hypocritical in their lifestyle.

James is clear about one important point: where sensuality is, every other devilish work will eventually be found.

Sensuality is the gateway where those who will loose their salvation may pass, initially.

Fasting is a mechanism for diminishing the effects of the “belly”. An overwhelming stimulus to eat begins after a few hours without food. It is necessary to stop this “belly” response in order to accentuate your connection with heaven and disconnect from the instinctive drive to eat. It is necessary to exert control over the stomach which attempts to use your psyche against you to provide the nourishment the body craves. Being willing to not listen to the craving of your system for the things that spring from your “belly” makes it possible to sense what springs from the river of living water, which may have been displaced to the background when we wander from the path we should be following.

I believe that we are commanded to fast, in part, to show that we can control the instinctive and addictive urges within us. Knowing that you can control, at least for a time, the addictions of carnal nature will produce in you the desire to shun other addictive behavior because you sense an increase in spiritual contact with heaven. The Bible declares we are given power over sin, and this must include addictive things.

John 7:37 -39
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

Jesus said that “out of your belly will flow rivers of living water”. This is another application of the word "belly" to indicate the effect of the rivers of living water. This is terminology from Judaism, where water is a reference to the Messiah (that which comes from above) and indicates the real meaning of the phrase. This living water will satisfy all physical need for the things that were previously fulfilled by sensuality; including any type of psychological crutch or addiction. All carnality is replaced with the power of this salvation. The "River of Living Water" is in sufficient supply so that you will not ever run out; that which prevents the stimuli from your carnal nature overtaking you will always be available, and an excess provided to you that can be directed toward others.

Power over addictive behavior is the blessing of salvation. Jesus addressed this particular point in His declaration that we could be free indeed from the lusts and addictions of carnal human nature when we are saved.