How the Church Taught Me to Hate My Body

I grew up fat and loving Jesus. I was frequently distracted and burdened by what I saw as my biggest spiritual and personal flaw: my weight. I was fat. I am fat. That has never changed. I now see the image of God reflected in my body, marveling at the way my size reveals parts of the heart and character of God—contributing to the full body of Christ that is the Church. That was not always the case.From an early age, I heard fatness mentioned as a sin from the pulpit. I eventually grew to hate my